Judge’s warm tribute to Irish Examiner journalist

CHAIRMAN of the Planning Tribunal Judge Alan Mahon yesterday paid tribute to Irish Examiner journalist Jim Morahan, who formally retires from the newspaper after 35 years’ service today.

Judge Mahon described Mr Morahan as “an eminent journalist” who was one of a small group of reporters who faithfully attended public hearings of the inquiry on a daily basis.

“Mr Morahan and his colleagues undertake the often very difficult task of condensing a number of hours of evidence into a few column inches for their newspapers,” said the tribunal chairman.

“This is a most important service as it permits members of the public to follow the proceedings of the tribunal, which is a public inquiry, and in circumstances where the vast majority of the ordinary public cannot avail of the opportunity to witness first hand.”

He described Mr Morahan’s coverage of the tribunal as “fair and comprehensive and very professionally summarised and reported.

“We would like to thank him for all of his valuable work and we wish him well in his retirement,” Judge Mahon concluded.