Andrew Carey
THE “dark days when Limerick was considered a wasteland for feuding gangs are thankfully behind us”, according to a newly elevated Circuit Court judge.
Making his comments before a packed court room, Judge Eugene O’Kelly said he was “humbled” by the praise he had received from colleagues on the news of his pending elevation to the Circuit Court as well as him being humbled by the nomination.
Limerick, a city that Judge O’Kelly said he holds with affection, has “thankfully changed” as “unfortunately in recent years it has had a bad reputation due to a small group committing serious crimes.
“Often referred to as ‘Stab City’ or known as a wasteland for feuding gangs, it was a reputation that was undeserved and it is wrong to say but thankfully it has changed”, noted Judge O’Kelly.
Credit for that change, he said, was as a “direct result of policing – be it through intelligence or in a physical sense”.
Speaking of his time in Limerick, judge O’Kelly said that everyday he came to court, “I felt warmth from everybody – I love this city”.
Judge O’Kelly said that it was largely due to the working relationship he had with the court staff, gardai and practioners, whom he said he could always rely on when describing them as the “most reliable group of people I have had the pleasure of working with”.
“Truly professional” is how Judge O’Kelly described the entire “behind the scenes court services staff and “in particular, Siobhan O’Connor the registrar. I am quite fortunate to have someone so knowledgable to work with and point out my errors and correct them”.
Praise was also given to the Limerick legal profession by Judge O’Kelly in his address as well as noting that he had great respect for the gardai.
“From my earlier days coming from a private practice and due to our adversarial legal system, I have had great respect for An Garda Siochana and that continues today and their approach continues to be excellent”.
Judge O’Kelly also thanked the Prison Officers who “deal with a small group of marginalised people who have to avail of their services, with courtesy and dignity”.
To the Court gardai, “who approach and deal with people who are agitated – without their efforts the court could not run”, he said.
Earlier tributes were paid to Judge O’Kelly by Ted McCarthy on behalf of the Limerick Solicitors noting the judge’s “humanity, fairness and consistency in dealing with cases and the manner in which you do it”, he said.
“The appointment is much deserved and very much a merited elevation” added Mr McCarthy.
Noting the “smiling delight” of legal aid defence solicitor John Devane, judge O’Kelly quipped if the joy was because the solicitor was happy to “see me off”, however Mr Devane offered his “heartfelt congratulations” on the news.
Judge O’Kelly is to be officially appointed to the Circuit Court next week it is understood where he will join fellow appointees; barristers, Francis Comerford; Karen Fergus, Karen O’Connor, John Hannan; Elma Sheahan and Gerard O’Brien (solicitor).
BIO
Judge Eugene O’Kelly
· Educated: University College Galway, University College Dublin, University College London and the Law Society of Ireland
· Enrolled as a Solicitor: 1981
· Wide experience in criminal law and civil litigation
· Former president of the Clare Law Association
· Appointed as a Judge of the District Court in April 2012 and assigned to District No. 13
