The Mick Clifford Podcast: What it's like to be a court artist in Ireland

Mike O’Donnell covers high-profile trials and draws defendants, lawyers, judges and the public, all to give an insight and flavour of the environment of a court where serious, and usually tragic, drama takes place. 

Mike currently has an exhibition in which one of the main subjects is Gerry ‘the Monk’ Hutch whose trial he covered. Picture: @mikodonnell on X

Mike O’Donnell is one of the only if not the only court artists currently plying his trade in this country. 

He covers high-profile trials and draws defendants, lawyers, judges and the public, all to give an insight and flavour of the environment of a court where serious, and usually tragic, drama takes place. 

He currently has an exhibition in which one of the main subjects is Gerry ‘the Monk’ Hutch whose trial Mike covered. 

Afterwards, Hutch invited the artist to his home in Dublin where he “sat” for Mike. This week’s guest on the podcast gives a fascinating insight into his trade and those he has encountered along the way.