Retiring judge blasts plans for 21m Cork courthouse

A retiring judge yesterday blasted plans for a new €21 million courthouse in Cork.

Judge Patrick J Moran, the most senior judge in Cork city and county, also questioned the wisdom of plans by the Courts Services to close some courts around Co Cork.

He chose the occasion of his retirement to launch a challenge to plans, at Anglesea St in Cork, for the development of a new courthouse to centralise the criminal courts.

The judge, who presided at the Washington St courthouse, referred to the new development as “the spending of €21m on a building for which there seems to be little demand”.

He was responding to a series of tributes paid to him by judicial colleagues, members of the legal profession, gardaí, and court staff when he made the comments.

“My colleagues and I were advised that it was planned to build a new criminal court complex at Anglesea St at a cost of €21m.

“Since 2005, plans were going on, plans were being prepared but we were not advised [until May this year]. We were taken aback.

“I have to raise a question as to why it is happening? Is it necessary? Is it required? “I know that representatives of the Court Service may not like to me raise this.

“There was an attitude that certain town courthouses on this circuit might cease. I wonder about the wisdom of this. Matters like this should be considered very carefully.”

Judge Moran who celebrated his retirement after almost 25 years as a circuit court judge reminded those who gathered, in his honour, it was as recently as 2005 when work was completed on the €28 million renovation of the courthouse at Washington Street. It had included seven courtrooms, including facilities for trials by judge and jury and technology for taking evidence by video link.

Meanwhile, Judge Moran who spent 23 of his 25 years as a Circuit Court judge in Cork, wondered if there was a van waiting outside the courthouse to whisk him back to his native Mulranny in Co Mayo.

Many speakers referred to the retiring judge as having a special place in Cork where he had become a passionate supporter of the Munster rugby team.

John Dillon-Leetch, solicitor representing practitioners in the West of Ireland, who thanked members of the legal profession in Cork for welcoming Judge Moran for so long but then sounded a fateful note when he said: “He was borrowed by you, I am here to redeem the loan and bring the judge back to his native county.”

In reality, the judge said he was looking forward to doing some serious reading, some more learning and more travelling.

Barrister Donal McCarthy on behalf of the Cork Bar, said the legal profession had benefited hugely from the manner in which the retiring judge had presided and he noted hard work, sympathy and tolerance as special attributes.

Circuit Court President, Judge Raymond Groarke described his friend and colleague, Judge Moran, as a patriarch and stalwart of the Circuit Court. “He epitomises everything that is real and proper about being a judge.”

Michael Enright, solicitor on behalf of the Southern Law Association, remarked on the judge’s work rate, consistency and politeness.

Edward O’Driscoll, in his 65th year of legal practice in Cork, thanked Judge Moran in a colourful speech on behalf of everyone who had benefited from his administration of justice.

State solicitor for Cork city, Barry Galvin, said “people who came before the criminal courts, the accused and the victims, almost impossible to reconcile the two, but throughout the years I am satisfied Judge Moran ran that narrow road in a most excellent manner. It was first class.”

Chief Supt Michael Finn thanked the judge for the courtesy he had shown towards garda witnesses. Deirdre O’Mahony, county registrar, thanked the judge on behalf of court staff for his kindness and courtesy.

Margaret O’Neill of the Court Service joined in wishing the judge well in his retirement. Registrar Martin O’Donovan, thanked the judge for his kindness and support over the years and joked he had known the judge longer than he had known his own wife.

Judge Moran thanked those paying tribute to him and said he was nervous the first day he sat in Cork and equally nervous yesterday.

“I was very fortunate here in meeting the sitting judge, the late Anthony G Murphy, who in time became a friend, a mentor, a guide and advisor,” he said, while also recalling two other colleagues, now deceased, Judges Sean O’Leary and Con Murphy. He also thanked his present colleagues, Judge Sean Ó Donnabháin and Judge David Riordan