Judge: Limerick’s violent reputation is not deserved
Judge Carroll Moran was speaking on his last day at Limerick Circuit Court before he takes up his position as a High Court judge. He said the city’s reputation was unfortunately a case of giving a dog a bad name.
He said: “Limerick is not a criminally, violent place. Limerick is now a peaceful place, and there has been only one homicide in Limerick since January 2013. By way of contrast the news from Dublin is one of constant murders and mayhem. In Limerick you can walk O’Connell Street and the side streets in comparative safety. The same cannot be said for Dublin.”
Judge Moran said the reason for the decline of serious crime in Limerick was due to the success and effective policing of the streets of the city.
Barrister Des Long, on behalf of his colleagues, said Judge Moran dispensed justice with fairness and equity to all, sometimes in very difficult and challenging circumstances.
Ted McCarthy, on behalf of solicitors using the court, said Judge Moran demonstrated humanity, fairness, consistency and politeness.
State solicitor Michael Murray said Judge Moran had served the people of Limerick well: “You have never sent anybody to jail lightly and in such circumstances you were very measured and agonised over your decision and more often than not erred on the side of leniency.”
Chief Supt David Sheahan said that, for a long time, there were fractious periods in Limerick’s history. He said during those difficult times when people were losing their heads, Judge Moran was always calm and collected and gave very fair and balanced judgments.
In reply, Judge Moran thanked all who assisted in the smooth running of the circuit court in Limerick during his time as senior judge. He praised the press and said he had never received a complaint about reporting standards in his court. Journalism in Limerick had always set very high standards, which had been maintained, he said.
Judge Moran recalled that senior counsel Joe Revington from Tralee and the late Mary Flannery from Scarriff devilled with him when he started out as a barrister and the years as judge in the South Western circuit were the happiest of his life.
He also paid tribute to courthouse caretaker Ollie McCarthy, who put him into good humour with his cheerful greetings each day.
