Top judges honoured by Cork law profession

TWO of the country’s most senior judges, who are both sitting outside Dublin for the first time, were honoured in Cork.

Chief Justice and Supreme Court judge, the Honourable Mr John Murray, and President of the High Court, the Honourable Mr Justice Richard Johnson, were guests of honour at a Southern Law Society reception held at the city’s circuit court.

Both judges are hearing High Court cases sitting in Cork all this week.

President of the Southern Law Society, Patrick Mullins, said it is unique for two of the country’s most senior judges to be on the circuit together and sitting in Cork at the same time.

Last night’s informal function, organised by the Law Society and which was attended by several district and circuit court judges, solicitors, barristers, senior counsel, and courts service personnel, was to mark the presence of the senior judges in the southern capital, Mr Mullins said: “Cork is becoming an independent High Court venue”

This will bring several benefits to the courts service, which had been struggling to cope with the volume of cases, he said.

And it will also bring benefits to citizens who previously would have had no option but to attend High Court cases in Dublin.

“People can now apply to have High Court cases heard in Cork,” Mr Mullins said.