Tributes to ‘dedicated, unflappable’ solicitor Jeremy O’Connor

Tributes were paid yesterday at Cork Circuit Court to solicitor Jeremy O’Connor, who died recently.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said he knew the deceased man and described him as a man of considerable nobility.

“Jeremy had something over and above everyone else, a massive unflappability. Anything could happen, and more often than not in civil litigation it would, and he took it in his stride. He would do nothing except shrug his shoulders, throw his eyes to heaven and drive on. He never said anything bad about anybody. He was a meticulous, dedicated solicitor,” said Judge Ó Donnabháin.

Michael Enright, solicitor on behalf of the Southern Law Association, said the deceased commenced his working life with PW Bass & Co and he became an authority in dealing with maritime cases.

“He was a very brilliant lawyer who was consulted regularly by colleagues. He appeared to have a grumpy exterior but that was only a façade and he was a very co-operative and decent person.”

Mr Enright said Mr O’Connor was chairman of Munster Rugby Referees Association and was also previously a chairman of UCC’s Rugby Football Union and was never happier than when he was fishing in Waterville, Co Kerry.

Donal McCarthy barrister, on behalf of the Cork Bar, said of the late Mr O’Connor: “He worked extremely hard and liked to pretend that he did not. He was extremely helpful to people.”

Solicitor, John Purcell, on behalf of the Law Society, said the late Mr O’Connor was a great friend and colleague who had an outwardly gruff manner but was a kind man.

Martin O’Donovan, registrar, on behalf of court staff said Mr O’Connor got on well with members of the court staff and recalled banter from the late Mr O’Connor about civil service staff getting a half day if cases listed for hearing settled before lunch.

Mr O’Connor, late of Monkstown, Co Cork, died on February 29 at Cork University Hospital, and members of his family were present in court yesterday for the tributes paid by members of the legal profession.