Mick Clifford: Independent judicial republics living on borrowed time

The recent issues raised by three women against the retired Judge James O’Connor are unlikely to see any further inquiry into him. However, the start of the operation of the conduct committee, as part of the Judicial Council, in the summer should spell the beginning of the end of independent republics presided over by district court judges.

Judge James O'Connor who retired in 2018 at 66 years of age after being refused an extension to his tenure as a serving judge. Picture: Kerry's Eye

There were a few sniggers in the courtroom when the judge was called to appear before himself. It was January 2011, in Cahirciveen District Court and on the list of cases to be heard was one against Judge James O’Connor. 

During a sitting of the court the previous July, Garda Tomas Hurley had, on patrol outside the courthouse, noticed that the judge’s car was not displaying an NCT cert. The garda did as he would for any other citizen and issued a summons.