COURTS. Service News. Nuacht na Seirbhíse CÚirteaNNa. A Look back at WitH LESS PLAN. Courts Service.

Transcription

1 Volume 13, issue 3. Winter 2011 COURTS Service News Nuacht na Seirbhíse CÚirteaNNa Courts Service A Look back at 2011 NEw Strategic PLAN DELIVEriNG MorE WitH LESS

2 2 contents p9 p14 p16 p36 p37 p24 Contents Regulars Welcome Note 3 A look back at New Strategic Plan 19 Practice and Procedure 5 Appointments 26 Retirements 28 Book Review 38 Competition 39 News New Courts Service Board 8 Drug Treatment Court 10 Outreach 24 Through the Lens 40 Social Features Christmas Message 4 Reform and Change 12 November Mass 33 Film Review 36 Getting into the Christmas Spirit 37 The new Chief Justice 14

3 welcome 3 Welcome Welcome to the Winter issue of Courts Service News In a year when resources have been reduced across the public sector we review the positive work achieved by the Service over the last 11 months (pages 12 & 13 and 16 & 17). Looking to the future (pages 19 to 22) you can see highlights of our new Strategic Plan which envisages a transformation of the Service over the next three years. Since our last issue a new Chief Justice has been appointed (pages 14 & 15) and a new Courts Service Board is in place (page 8). Contributors to this issue Tom Ward Chief Clerk Dublin Circuit and District Civil Courts Sean Quigley Resource Management Directorate Darach Greene and Ciaran Caverly ICT Unit Kevin O Neill High Court And colleagues and friends of all the retired staff featured. There s an update on a successful pilot mediation initiative in the Family Law Courts in Dolphin House (page 9) and another success story - the Drug Treatment Court Programme (page 10). Our Outreach programme continues to bring in members of the public from many different walks of life (pages 24 & 25). Once more we fill several pages with tributes to colleagues who have retired recently (pages 28 to 32) and there are more retiring as we go to print so we will bring news of their retirements in our next issue. We have some recommendations for seasonal activities (page 37) a review of an equally seasonal film (page 36) and on (page 39) you ll find our quiz. A big thank you to everyone who supported us during the year especially those who took the time to write articles and send us photos. We wish them and all our readers a mild and peaceful Christmas and look forward to bringing you more news in If you would like to contribute a report, book or film review or to feature in an Out of Office article, please contact the editorial team at courtsservicenews@courts.ie Courts Service News Team Courts Service Courts Service News is the magazine of the Courts Service. Contributions are drawn from a wide area and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Courts Service. The editors reserve the right to edit all contributions, including letters. Courts Service News, Information Office, Phoenix Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7. Telephone: (01) Fax: (01) courtsservicenews@ courts.ie Web: Editorial Team: Helen Priestley, Fiona Farrell, Mairead Fitzsimons, Gerry Curran. Design: Design Communication, part of Ashville Media Group, 57/59 Sir John Rogerson s Quay, Dublin 2. Print: Fine Print Ltd Perigord House Damastown Industrial Park Dublin 15.

4 4 Christmas messages Christmas message from the Chief Justice s another year ends and the holiday period is upon us, and as we all look forward to a A time of leisure and relaxation a break from the duties of work and from the starkness of winter - we have time to pause and reflect on the year past. It has been a complex year in which the onerous tasks of administering the courts system have continued seamlessly; providing buildings, facilities, administration, advice, support, information and public service to courts, judges and court users the length and breadth of the country. The staff of the Courts Service have continued their work on a daily and continually professional basis meeting greater demands with less resources. I wish to express my gratitude and congratulations to the Board, management and staff of the Courts Service for another year of dedicated public service. Public service can often be taken for granted and go unrewarded in terms of public acclaim or regard. However, it is a critically important part of our democracy. I extend to my judicial colleagues and members of the legal profession every good wish of the season. And to all in the justice community, and agencies, I express my thanks for their interaction, suggestions and co-operation with the Courts Service throughout the year. I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas, and every good wish for the coming year. Susan Denham Christmas message from the Chief Executive Officer s another year ends and we enter the Christmas season I hope you will have time to relax A with family and friends and enjoy the festive period. Without doubt 2011 was a challenging year and the signs are all there that 2012 will not be any easier. However the Courts Service is fortunate to have such great staff with a great sense of public service and that goes a long way when times are difficult. The launch of our new Strategic Plan outlines what we would like to do over the next three years. We can only deliver on many of the objectives if adequate resources are made available to us. In the meantime we will strive to deliver the best quality service we can in the circumstances. I acknowledge the efforts that staff continue to make in offices all around the country every day. I express my gratitude to the Board, management and staff of the Courts Service for another excellent year of public service - a sense of service which will always have my appreciation as a colleague and Chief Executive. I extend season s greetings to the judiciary and members of the legal profession and thank the justice community and agencies for your ongoing support. I look forward to a continued and renewed partnership approach to the management of the courts throughout I wish all a happy and peaceful Christmas and everything which is good for the coming year. Brendan Ryan

5 practice and procedure 5 New Court Rules SuPErior Courts S.I. No. 348 of 2011 RuLES of the SuPErior Courts (Civil PartNErSHip AND CoHAbitation) These rules insert a new Order 70B in the Rules of the Superior Courts, to prescribe the procedure in respect of civil partnership law proceedings, as defined in section 139 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act, 2010, and proceedings under Part 15 of that Act ( cohabitation proceedings ), and make amendments to the rules concerning priorities of entitlement to a grant of letters of administration intestate in consequence of amendments to the Succession Act, 1965 effected by the 2010 Act. S.I. No. 406 of 2011 SuprEME Court AND High Court (FEES) OrDEr This order revokes the Supreme Court and High Court (Fees) Order, 2008 (S.I. No. 200 of 2008) and provides for the fees to be charged with effect from 22nd August 2011 in the Supreme Court Office, the Central Office, the Examiner s Office, the Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, the Taxing Master s Office, the Accountant s Office, the Office of Wards of Court, the Probate Office and District Probate Registries. It also provides for the exemption from fees of certain proceedings, including family law proceedings. Circuit Court S.I. No. 385 of 2011 Circuit Court RuLES (Civil PartNErSHip AND CoHAbitation) These rules insert a new Order 59A in the Circuit Court Rules, to prescribe the procedure in respect of civil partnership law proceedings, within the meaning of section 139 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act, 2010, and proceedings under Part 15 of that Act ( cohabitat ion proceedings ). S.I. No. 407 of 2011 Circuit Court (FEES) OrDEr This order revokes the Circuit Court (Fees) Order, 2008 (S.I. No. 201 of 2008). This Order provides for the fees to be charged in Circuit Court offices with effect from 22nd August The Order also provides for the exemption from fees of certain proceedings, including family law proceedings. DIStrict Courts S.I. No. 408 of 2011 District Court (FEES) OrDEr 2011 This order revokes the District Court (Fees) Order, 2008 (S.I. No. 202 of 2008). This Order provides for the fees to be charged in District Court offices with effect from 22 August The Order also provides for the exemption from fees of certain proceedings, including family law proceedings. S.I. No. 414 of 2011 District Court RuLES (Civil PartNErSHip AND CoHAbitation) RuLES 2011 These rules insert a new Order 54A in the District Court Rules, to prescribe the procedure in respect of civil partnership law proceedings within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act, 2010, and proceedings under Part 15 of that Act ( cohabitation proceedings ). S.I. No. 536 of 2011 District Court (CrimiNAL Justice (PsychoactiVE) SubstANcES) Act 2010) RuLES 2011 These rules amend Orders 23 and 34 and substitute Order 96B of the District Court Rules to prescribe procedure under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act, FEES orders The new fees orders are available in Court Fees section of the Courts Service website Additional sittings of the courts during August and September Additional sittings of the courts in Dublin during the Long Vacation months of August and September helped reduce the time litigants have to wait for their cases to come to court. Building on the success of the hearing of asylum judicial review cases in 2010, High Court judges conducted additional hearings again this September. At the request of the President of the High Court, additional Common Law Lists were scheduled during September to improve waiting times in those lists. The term vacation has become something of a misnomer in recent years, in circumstances where this would suggest that the High Court comes to a complete standstill, says High Court Principal Registrar, Kevin O Neill. Over the past couple of years there have increasingly been multiple sittings of the High Court on a daily basis during August and September. This year was no different with every High Court judge sitting. This resulted in hundreds of urgent and more routine matters being dealt with. In addition, extra Common Law lists were held for the first time during September. On a number of occasions it felt more like the last Monday in July given the number of practitioners in the Round Hall and the number of courts sitting. These extra sittings resulted in the disposal of an additional three hundred matters and have had a very positive effect on the waiting times for future dates in that list. The success of these additional sittings was a greater achievement given the judicial vacancies at the time and the decreased number of High Court registrars. It was a similar story in the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) where additional sittings of the District Court took place throughout September. These sittings contributed to a reduction in waiting times in the Dublin Metropolitan District area, says Geraldine Hurley, Courts Service Manager of the CCJ.

6 6 news legislation watch: what s new? The Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 provides for changes to a wide range of legislation some of which will impact the work of the courts. Here we take a look at some of the topics covered. Bankruptcy The Act provides for a reduction from 12 years to 5 years in the period which a person who has been declared bankrupt must wait before applying to be discharged from the status of bankrupt. There are no changes in the conditions for the discharge. In order to be discharged from bankruptcy you will still have to pay all the expenses, fees and costs of the bankruptcy as well as all preferential payments (mainly the Revenue Commissioners and former employees). If you are unable to pay these, you will not be discharged. However, the Act also provides that there will be an automatic discharge from bankruptcy after 12 years. Until now, there was no provision for automatic discharge. The Act also includes a number of other changes to the bankruptcy regime. Enforcement of maintenance orders The Act gives power to District Court judges to regard a failure by a maintenance debtor to comply with a previous court order as contempt of court. Such contempt would then be dealt with in the usual way, which could include imprisonment until the contempt is purged. The debtor could qualify for civil legal aid for these proceedings, provided the usual conditions are met. The aim is to ensure that maintenance debtors who can afford to pay the maintenance orders do so. The Act also provides for new enforcement mechanisms for family maintenance orders. In such cases, the judge now has the power to make an order over money owed to the debtor by a third party. This is usually called a Garnishee Order and is similar to appointing a receiver over the money. Domestic violence The Act amends the Domestic Violence Act 1996 so that one parent may apply for a safety order against the other parent even where the parents do not live together or have never lived together. It also provides that same-sex couples who have not registered civil partnerships and unmarried opposite sex couples have the same rights to apply for orders under the Domestic Violence Act. There will no longer be a requirement that couples have lived together for a minimum period before one can apply for a safety order. Powers of County Registrars In addition to their role as court officials, County Registrars have a range of functions which they carry out without reference to the judges these are generally non-contentious. The Act provides that they can now carry out the following functions without reference to a judge: waive notice periods for intention to marry or enter a civil partnership (in general you must give three months notice but this requirement may be waived in certain circumstances) in certain circumstances, make orders relating to notice of applications to appoint care representatives for people who do not have mental capacity (this refers to the appointment of care representatives to deal with various issues relating to the Nursing Homes Support scheme) increase or shorten the time for service of documents or the carrying out of any act make orders enabling titles to land to pass from deceased owners to the successors in title. Taxing legal costs The Act makes changes to the appointment of Taxing Masters (the court officials who adjudicate on disputes in relation to costs of legal actions). The changes here are interim measures pending further changes to the regulation of the legal professions and the control of legal costs. We are grateful to our colleagues in the Citizens Information Board for permission to reproduce information from their publication Relate for this article.

7 news 7 Award recognises the value of dedicated staff As budgets tighten and funds get ever scarcer a trained, motivated and dedicated workforce is an increasingly invaluable resource. A recent Excellence Though People award for the Courts Service s Resource Management Directorate was due recognition of the continued efforts of a group of staff as their Director Seán Quigley tells us. AFÁS initiative, the Excellence Though People scheme aims to help organisations improve performance and achieve business goals through their employees. It is the only quality standard dedicated to the role of people and their impact on business. The focus is to get organisations to look at their people as a key source of competitive advantage. ETP is used by many of Ireland s most progressive and successful organisations, to become more efficient, productive, flexible, competitive and innovative. Our Directorate includes the Accountants Office, the Courts Accounts Office, the Financial Management Unit and Training and Development. All our staff wholeheartedly embraced the challenge of achieving this award and we were supported during the evaluation process by colleagues in our Infrastructure Services Directorate. There are many benefits from deploying good people management and HR practices. These include more engaged employees who are more productive; staff understand the business, where the company plans to go and the importance of customer service and meeting customer expectations; organisations recognise that employee engagement and communications are an important contribution to their business survival and success; quality improves and there is a continuous focus on better ways of doing business. In addition, the ETP process helps identify where improvements are required. The exercise has proven to be a valuable learning exercise for us and has contributed to improved communication, engagement and performance management. It has also contributed significantly to making more effective use of PMDS. A major area of improvement identified was the area of training (learning and development), particularly how we identify training requirements, assess the quality of training provided and monitor the benefits derived from training courses and programmes. n Top award for managers of Criminal Courts of Justice The managers of Dublin s Criminal Courts of Justice complex, G4S, were the first ever recipients of an award by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), Ireland Region recently. Speaking at the presentation of the award, John Farrell, of G4S said; We are delighted and honoured to be the first recipient of this prestigious award, the team worked extremely hard on this project and it is wonderful to see it recognised by the Facilities Management industry body. G4S were presented with the award at the BIFM Annual Conference in Belfast s Waterfront Hall. The event saw around 200 delegates from the field of Facilities Management across Ireland gather together to share knowledge, build contacts, learn from the industry experts and even gather information on the latest technology and products available to them. Wilton Farrelly of H&J Martin, a sponsor of the award said We were impressed with the overall professionalism of the G4S approach and their level and detail of management reporting. They should also be commended for the active part they are playing in ensuring the workplace activities are delivered in a sustainable manner.

8 8 news Changes to the Courts ServICE BOArd Mrs. Justice Susan Denham replaced Mr. Justice John L. Murray as Chief Justice in July 2011 and in this role becomes the Chairperson of the Board. The election for a new staff representative was held in October and John Glennon, Examiner of the High Court replaced Mr Brian Leonard, Wexford District Court who held the position for the last three years. The membership of the Courts Service Board with effect from 9 November 2011 is as follows: 1. Mrs. Justice Susan Denham Chief Justice and Chairperson of the Board 2. Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly Elected by the ordinary judges of the Supreme Court 3. Mr. Justice Nicholas Kearns President of the High Court 4. Mr. Justice Kevin Feeney Elected by the ordinary judges of the High Court 5. Mr. Justice Matthew Deery President of the Circuit Court 6. Judge Rory McCabe Elected by the ordinary judges of the Circuit Court 7. Judge Miriam Malone President of the District Court 8. Judge Gerard Haughton Elected by the ordinary judges of the District Court 9. Mr. Justice Paul Gilligan Chief Justice s nominee (Judge with special expertise) 10. Mr. Brendan Ryan Chief Executive Officer 11. Mr. Eoghan Fitzsimons Nominee of the Chairman of the Bar Council 12. Mr. Gerard Doherty Nominee of the President of the Law Society of Ireland 13. Mr. John Glennon Elected by the staff of the Courts Service 14. Awaiting nomination of the Minister Official of the Dept of Justice & Equality nominated by the Minister 15. Awaiting nomination by the Minister Nominated by the Minister to represent consumers of the services provided by the Courts 16. Mr. Liam Berney Nomimation by Irish Congress of Trade Unions 17. Awaiting nomination by the Minister Nominated by the Minister because of relevant knowledge and experience in commerce, finance or administration. Roll out of digital audio recording continues In a year of many challenges for the Courts Service one success has been the continued roll out of digital audio recording facilities around the country. Head of the ict Unit Darach Green and his colleague Ciaran Caverly look back on the progress made. The initial phases of the digital audio recording (DAR) project, which replaced the traditional stenography with digital recording, was completed prior to This continues to run smoothly ensuring quality recordings are available and transcripts are produced when required from the Central Criminal and Circuit Criminal Courts. In the early part of 2011 we focused on the training of courts staff in the High Court and Circuit Civil and Circuit Family courts in Dublin. We then turned our attention to the District Courts in Dublin. With training delivered the District Courts in Dublin began the operation of DAR during the summer. The next stage was the training of staff in the regional centres involved in Circuit Civil and District Courts including family law. To date we have delivered training to over 50% of the regional courts and will conclude the exercise before the end of As the training is completed in each regional office, the court goes live with DAR. The final phase of DAR involves those outlying courts which are not connected to the Courts Service computer network. These are mostly District Courts with a small number of Circuit Courts. To ensure a practical technical design we ran a pilot from Roscommon District Office which was approved by the DAR Project Board in July. The initial 20 courts to go live have now been identified and will be ready to go live by the end of the year. The remaining outlying courts will be DAR enabled in 2012 as finances become available. By the conclusion of the project some 230 courts around the country will have DAR facilities. n

9 news 9 MedIAtIOn Proving to be a winner In the last issue of Courts Service News we reported on the launch of the Dolphin House Mediation Initiative for clients of the Dublin District Family Law Courts. The initiative, a collaboration between the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Family Mediation Service, aims to encourage litigants resolve issues through mutual agreement rather than in a courtroom. It is proving to be very successful with considerable take up to date. The initiative is yielding good dividends for the organisations involved as well as for clients. In relation to the Legal Aid Board, 80% of callers expressed an interest in mediation who previously would only have sought legal representation. For those parties entitled to legal aid who participate in mediation, less than 10% saw the need to seek legal advice during the mediation. From the Courts Service perspective, there is the option for clients to have their mediated agreement ruled on by the Court. However, to date, only 30 couples have asked to have their agreements ruled upon. This appears to be because the mediation process itself has improved relations between the parties to such an extent that the reassurance of having a court order is not necessary. The statistics are impressive. Between 21st March 2011 and 30th September 2011, 126 couples concluded mediated agreements 50 couples were involved in on-going mediation processes Briefings on mediation were provided to 665 parties who previously would only have considered seeking a court remedy of that 665, more than 50% of their partners attended a briefing themselves. The project is being evaluated on an ongoing basis in conjunction with the UCD School of Law and it is expected to be substantially concluded by the end of the year. At that stage a report will be submitted to the Minister for Justice and Equality. By way of further encouraging mediation, the Minister recently signed the Commencement Order for Part 16 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 transferring the Family Mediation Service (FMS) to the Legal Aid Board. The functions of the Legal Aid Board have been extended under the Act to include a family mediation service. Announcing the transfer the Minister said This is a particularly significant development in the evolution of family related services in Ireland. It has long been evident to me that mediation in many family law cases offers a better route and outcome for the parties than the adversarial environment of the courts. n Change of approach for the Legal Diary It was a case of out with the old, on with the new when the Legal Diary appeared in hard copy for the last time recently. Cahill Printing Company had, in partnership with the Courts Service, produced the printed version of the Legal Diary since the start of the 2004/2005 legal year. Before that the Diary was printed for many years by Mount Salus Press with one particular employee overseeing its publication for over 25 years. However, the publication in recent years of the Legal Diary in electronic format has substantially reduced the demand for a hard copy version. The practice of publishing a list of court cases in the form of a Legal Diary goes back to the days of the Legal Express, a service that delivered legal papers to barristers homes primarily on the south side of Dublin along the coast particularly the stretch from Ballsbridge to Dún Laoghaire. Today the Legal Diary is published, by Courts Service staff, on the website, It allows judges, practitioners, litigants and others including witnesses to download the Diary in part or in its entirety. It can be read via hand held devices such as iphones, ipads and Androids and accessed twenty four hours a day from anywhere in the world. Future plans for the Diary include RSS feeds possibly via Twitter to inform users of changes to court lists and the addition of notices. n Courts Service on FACEBOOk Did you know the Courts Service has a Facebook page? We are sharing news, videos and photographs from courts all over the country with our followers. We also advise of changes to certain court sittings and provide links to our website We welcome your comments, suggestions and views on the page. You can find us at CourtsServiceofIreland

10 10 news Farewell to the Richmond Courthouse The Courts Service vacated the Richmond Courthouse (formerly the Richmond Hospital) in September. This historic site was the location of the first Dominican convent to open in Dublin after the Reformation. It was founded by charter of James II in 1688 but closed in Almost one hundred years later it became part of the Richmond Hospital where it s striking red brick and green turrets gave an exotic Eastern flavour to North Brunswick Street. The Summons Office is now in Chancery Courthouse beside the Bridewell Garda Station. The business heard in courts 50 to 54 has also been moved. Drink driving cases previously Last day in the Richmond Courthouse heard in Court 52 are now heard in Court 8 in the Criminal Courts of Justice. All the other business is heard in the courts 44, 45 and 46 in Chancery Courthouse. The Drug Treatment Court is now located in Court 45. n Drug Treatment Court ends year on a hopeful note It has been a positive year for the Drug Treatment Court (Dtc) with the long awaited extension to the catchment area, two graduations and others making very good progress as Chief Clerk of Dublin Circuit and District Civil Courts Tom Ward reports. For the past 10 years, the DTC Programme was confined to participants residing in Dublin 1, 3 or 7. This was extremely restrictive and frustrating for defendants residing outside these areas who met all the other criteria and wished to address their addiction with the help of the courts. It was also frustrating for members of the judiciary who wanted to refer a defendant to the DTC but were unable to do so. The Court can now accept participants from County Dublin north of the River Liffey as well as those attending or who are entitled to attend Castle Street Clinic, which covers people residing in Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8. The DTC has already had a number of new referrals to the Programme since the expansion was announced with an additional 16 defendants on the assessment stage. Jason Kelly receiving his certificate from Judge Anne Ryan The DTC team promoted the work of the Programme with members of the legal profession during the year. Defending solicitors have a big role to play in representing their client s best interests and they can apply on their client s behalf to refer them for assessment to the DTC. Once on the Programme, participants receive Raymond Ring with the Drug Treatment Court Team on his graduation day support from the multi-disciplinary team in areas such as education, personal development, medical and probation. On another positive note, the DTC had two graduations from the Gold Phase (Phase 3) of the Programme - Raymond Ring on 22nd June and Jason Kelly on 26th October. A number of participants completed the Bronze Phase (Phase 1) and moved to the Silver Phase (Phase 2) and others completed the Silver Phase and moved to the Gold Phase. We are looking forward to seeing more of our Gold Phase participants graduating over the next 6 months. n For more details about the Drug Treatment Court Programme visit

11 news 11 Paying fines by instalment to be a new option The decision of the Government to that the instalments are accurately for fines. Through issuing fines orders provide funding for an upgrade recorded and tracked. and electronically generated reminders, of information and communications technology (ICT) systems will allow the Courts Service develop a process for the payment of fines by instalment. The Service anticipates a 12 month timeframe for the upgrade from the time amendments to legislation are made and the funding comes on stream. Section 15 of the Fines Act 2010 provides for the payment of fines by instalment. The current system of payment allows only for a single payment in respect of each fine to be made within a specified period. This payment is recorded on the Courts Service Criminal Case Tracking System (CCTS). To allow for a fine to be paid by instalments over a year (or longer as the Act provides), the system will have to be substantially modified to allow for the payment of instalments and to ensure Section 16 of the Act requires a judge, consequent on determining the fines be imposed, to make an order appointing an approved person, commonly referred to as a receiver, to recover the fine in the event of default. The Courts Service is engaged in discussions with the Revenue Sheriffs, who have relevant experience through their work in the recovery of outstanding tax liabilities on behalf of the State, with a view to Sheriffs being nominated as approved persons. Some modifications to CCTS will be necessary to allow for the electronic transfer of recovery orders and data exchange with the receivers. This work will take approximately six months to complete and will be done concurrently with the other upgrade works. The Service, together with other justice agencies, has focused in recent years on increasing the collection rates together with the engagement of external collection agencies, the rates of non payment have been reduced greatly. The collection rates for fines has increased from 50% to around 75% - on par with international rates. The fines collection process for Court imposed fines is a three way operation involving the Courts Service, An Garda Síochána and the Prisons Service. Traditionally fines had to be paid by cheque, postal order or cash to the office where the fine had been imposed. As people changed from cheque book to cash, laser and credit cards, payment became awkward and often necessitated a trip to the office to pay in cash. The system allowing for online and credit card payment brings savings for the Service in terms of time and money, and in terms of tracking and collecting fines. TO PAY A FINE ONLINE VISit WHAT S NEW on the Courts Service Website? The website continues to evolve in response to both legislative changes and feedback from users. Use the site for information on a wide range of matters relating to the work of the courts. Recent improvements include: The facility to search Circuit Court lists by venue or view lists for all courts in a particular circuit A guide to section on the homepage to bring users to popular topics A family law information section with explanatory guides to areas such as judicial separation, divorce, maintenance and custody The most commonly used court forms identified and formatted to enable users complete them on screen and print them down Publications in easy to download formats with information on a variety of court procedures.

12 12 feature Reform and Change anything but more of the same With the words public service reform on everyone s lips, many people are asking what is actually happening within organisations to spearhead greater efficencies? What is happening beyond cutting numbers and dealing with more business? Gerry Curran gives an over view of the efforts of the Courts Service to achieve more for less in the past year. Unified Office project So as to maintain frontline court services, offices of the Circuit and District Courts in every county are under review with the intention of unifying them into single Court Service offices. This will help the Service absorb the reduction in staff numbers, lessen duplication of work and facilities, ensure the maintenance of services, and enable the implementation of family friendly and flexible working arrangements. A preliminary review of the three offices already unified analysed the impact and benefits of the new structure and systems. Its recommendations are being implemented in the offices. Planning for the commencement of the roll out to all other court offices is underway. An indicative schedule for the roll out envisages the implementation as follows: counties Carlow, Galway, Leitrim, Laois and Waterford in February 2012, counties Kerry, Kilkenny, Mayo, Cavan, Westmeath, Roscommon and Limerick between February and June 2012, counties Wicklow, Sligo, Louth, Meath, Offaly and Tipperary in October 2012 and counties Wexford, Donegal, Longford and Cork in January, The vacancies which will arise

13 feature 13 from early retirements due before 29th February 2012 will have to be measured against this timetable. Rationalise the number of stand alone District Court Offices In some counties there is more than one District Court office. The objective is to amalgamate standalone offices with offices in county towns where appropriate. To date Killarney and Listowel have been amalgamated with the District Court Office in Tralee and arrangements are being made for the amalgamation of the Ballinasloe and Loughrea offices by the end of Rationalisation of court venues The Board of the Service recently approved the closure of a number of smaller court venues by early Separately, an exercise has been initiated to rationalise the sittings of the High Court on Circuit and integrate them with High Court Personal Injury sittings in regional venues freeing up sitting days and expenditure on sittings of the High Court. An example of this is the transfer of Donegal County to the Western Circuit from the 1st January Ways to increase the use of technology to realise savings across the Justice Sector through the use of videolink for giving evidence were examined. So as to maintain frontline court services, offices of the Circuit and District Courts in every county are under review with the intention of unifying them into single Court Service offices. for court hearings. In addition five County Registrars received their warrants of appointment as Vice Chairs of the Employment Appeals Tribunal recently. Optimisation of the use of courtroom technology Staff are operating digital audio recording equipment in courts in all jurisdictions. This will facilitate familiarisation with the technology in advance of the establishment of a Judicial Council. Ways to increase the use of technology to realise savings across the Justice Sector through the use of videolink for giving evidence were examined. Significant progress has been made in the extension of video-conferencing facilities. Video conference installations in Letterkenny and Galway have been completed. Video conference installations in Sligo and Monaghan have been tested with Castlerea Prison and Dundalk has been tested with Cloverhill Prison to facilitate bail and remand hearings. Video conferencing links to Limerick and Cloverhill prisons continue to operate successfully. The number of remand matters being dealt with by way of video link between Cloverhill District Court and Cloverhill Prison is increasing and will be extended to the High Court Bail List when legal issues have been resolved. There are considerable savings to be made from a reduction in the time and resources expended in transporting prisoners to court for straightforward and relatively short remand matters. Information and communications technology The reducing budgetary environment meant that the development of information and communications technology (ICT) systems was limited. Attention focused on upgrading and enhancing existing civil systems in the Circuit and District Courts and the development of an integrated management system for the criminal business of the Circuit Court. See also page16 & 17 where we look at other events during the year. Expand the adjudicative role of County Registrars A Statement of Principles has been agreed encompassing future support for County Registrars in a combined court office environment. Discussions in relation to additional powers which could be given to County Registrars are continuing. A number of functions could be transferred to County Registrars to maximise the use of their qualifications, skills and experience and free up judicial time Limerick Courthouse

14 14 feature Introducing the new ChIEF JustICE In July Mr. Justice John L. Murray ended his seven year term as Chief Justice and reverted to his role as a senior judge of the Supreme Court. At the end of July the Government nominated Mrs. Justice Susan Denham to be the new Chief Justice and she was duly appointed by then President Mary McAleese. She became the first female Chief Justice and head of the judiciary. She said she was very honoured to have been appointed to the position of Chief Justice. It is an office with heavy duties and responsibilities. I am very conscious of the distinguished men who have held the position previously. It will be a challenge, and I will do my best. She continued that in this time of national financial crisis it is particularly important that the three branches of government retain their integrity and strength and work together for the benefit of Ireland. I look forward to working with the Government, in accordance with constitutional conventions, in the years ahead. She particularly identified that in a bid to maintain the traditionally high standards of the judiciary it was now time to create a Judicial Council in Ireland; that with the growth in the number and complexity of cases coming before the Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeal, the State would be well served by a Court of Appeal; and that we need to develop a 21st century infrastructure for the judiciary of Ireland. Biography - Mrs. Justice Susan Denham Mrs. Justice Susan Denham was educated at Alexandra College, Dublin; University of Dublin, Trinity College; King s Inns and Columbia University, New York, U.S.A. She was called to the Bar in 1971 and became a Senior Counsel in She practised on the Midland Circuit and in Dublin, a general practice with a specialisation in judicial review cases. Appointed a judge of the High Court in 1991, she was the first woman appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in She chaired the Working Group on a Courts Commission established by the Government to review the management of the Courts, which published six reports and two working papers, leading to the establishment of the Courts Service in November She was a member of the Interim Board, and of the Courts Service Board 1999 to 2001; chaired the Family Law Development Committee until 2001; chaired the Courts Service Board 2001 to 2004; and the Finance Committee 2001 to She also chaired ISIS, the Steering Committee established to plan for and provide a system of information on sentencing - and as Chief Justice she once again chairs the Courts Service Board. She served as the Hon. Sec. of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Ethics which in 2000 advised the establishment of a Judicial Council in Ireland, a matter she has advocated for over a decade (see report on the interim Judicial Council on page 15). She was also part of the Irish delegation which, with Holland and Belgium, established the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) and she continues an involvement in this Network. She has been the long time Chairperson of the Committee on Court Practice and Procedure which advises on the need for change in various areas of the operation of the courts. One such recommendation saw the establishment of a Commercial Court in Dublin, and another the use of video conferencing in courtrooms. The Committee also advised on the establishment of a new administrative infrastructure for the Courts Rules Committees. In December 2006 the Government established a Working Group on a Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Denham. The Report of the Group recommending the establishment of a general Court of Appeal was presented to the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform and published in Judge Denham is a Bencher of the Honorable Society of King s Inns, and an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple in London. From 1996 to 2010 she was Pro-Chancellor of the University of Dublin. In July 2002, Queens University, Belfast, presented Judge Denham with an honorary Ll.D.

15 feature 15 Addressing the economic fragility of the country the new Chief Justice said that in these difficult times the need for an institution of independence and thoughtfulness, with an obligation to maintain the rule of law, is greater than ever. She said we are living through a national crisis, and while we can be thankful that our children and grandchildren are not going off to war, and that famine is not stalking the land, we are in the midst of a financial storm which has shaken families throughout the country, and imposed enormous stresses upon individuals, families, and communities. She said we shall persevere and prosper, but judges are very aware of the current crisis as the effects of the financial storm come before our courts every day: a trail of tragedy, fraught families, separating spouses, lost jobs, homes under siege, serious financial woes, companies being wound up, and stories of millions and billions of euros lost in the ether. In these areas, as in all others, it is critically important that judges administer justice and give an independent decision. Chief Justice Susan Denham had a busy few days in early November saying good-bye to our outgoing President Mary McAleese and administering the Declaration of Office to President Michael D. Higgins in Dublin Castle. The picture on the left shows the Chief Justice reciting the declaration to President Higgins before the Council of State, members of the Oireachtas, members of the Supreme and High Courts and the Diplomatic Corps. The picture on the right is of former President Mary McAleese visiting the Four Courts to deliver the Daniel O Connell memorial lecture - organised by the Bar Council - just days before she left office. Work to establish an interim JudICIAl Council begins The National Conference of the Judiciary recently agreed a proposal from the Chief Justice that they establish an interim Judicial Council. Mrs Justice Denham, said that, it is of critical importance that there is a formal institution to represent the judiciary, within which issues fundamental to the judiciary may be addressed, and from which there can be deliberations, study and publications on relevant judicial matters. She told Courts Service News, Ireland has not developed the institutions and systems which have been organised in other States to support the independence of the judiciary - to support the third branch of Government. This first step in establishing an interim Judicial Council will initiate a process which will provide a modern infrastructure for the judiciary to work within, learn within, set standards within, have a voice from, and within which to address issues of ethics and standards. When the required recording equipment is available in every court, and the legislation is enacted, the full extent of the proposed work of the Council can begin. The initiative goes back over a decade when a committee established by the then Chief Justice the late Mr. Justice Liam Hamilton recommended that a Judicial Council be established. The interim Judicial Council will be comprised of all judges - with a Board consisting of the President of each court jurisdiction, an elected representative of each jurisdiction, and a judge coopted by the Board. It will be housed in existing office accommodation in the historic Green Street Courthouse. The Board is empowered to establish such committees as may be proposed by members to the Board, or instigated by the Board itself, as it considers appropriate, during this interim time. For example, a committee could be established to draft ethical guidelines for consideration at a later date by a Judicial Council. n Green Street Courthouse

16 16 feature A look back at 2011 a year when the going Despite the background refrain of there s no money the Courts Service maintained its high standard of public service throughout Fiona Farrell looks back over the year as reported in Courts Service News and finds that as the purse strings tightened the need for inter agency cooperation and streamlining work came more and more into the spotlight: got tougher The year could be categorised as one when everything reduced staff numbers, budgetary allocations, court venues and infrastructural investment. In such an environment the need to re-examine how we do our work and re-evaluate our options took on an increasing significance and in many areas produced some interesting results. Interagency co-operation We demonstrated that inter agency co-operation has a lot of potential and should be explored further. In two areas in particular considerable dividends resulted from this combined approach to service delivery: The Criminal Justice Interoperability (CJIP) won the Cross Agency category at the egovernment Awards and was then selected as the Overall Winner. A project between the Service and An Garda Síochána, CJIP has eliminated 75% of the administrative steps involved in transactions between the District Court and An Garda Síochána in the area of summons applications and subsequent court documentation, freeing up over 100 Gardaí for operational duties and five Courts Service staff. A project between the Service, the Family Mediation Service (FMS) and the Legal Aid Board (LAB) in the area of mediation has seen commendable results in its first few months. Read about the success of this initiative on page 9. Examining how we do our work The need to streamline the management structure and administrative arrangements for court offices was a constant theme throughout the year. Following on from the report of the CEO signing the documents to establish the Combined Office Transforming the Administration and Structure of the Courts (TASC) project, the first offices to combine the work of the Circuit and District Courts commenced. Up and running since July in Naas, Ennis and Monaghan these offices now provide a one stop shop in the delivery of court services. The TASC project also provides opportunities to streamline business processes across the jurisdictions to ensure better use of staff time and resources. Read more about the progress of the initiative on page 12. Pictured from left: Judge Gerard Furlong, former Chief Justice Mr. Justice John L. Murray and Minster for Justice & Equality, Alan Shatter T.D. Information technology The plans for ICT development were another casualty of the reduction in funding. However the CJIP project (mentioned previously) was a positive development as was the continued roll out of digital audio recording. Facilities

17 feature 17 Monaghan Courthouse Opening are now available in almost every part of the country with the project due for completion during See page 8 for more information. Improving our building stock There was a considerable slow down in new construction projects with the reduction in funding having a particularly serious impact on building plans. One project completed was Monaghan courthouse. Originally built in 1829 the courthouse now provides three new modern courtrooms. There is universal access with induction loops provided for users of hearing aids. The courthouse was one of four buildings short-listed in the CMG Building and Design Awards 2011 in the category Public Building Project of the Year. Macroom courthouse, also built in 1829, received a much needed facelift. The interior was brightened up with the installation of a new window and freshly painted walls with facilities for practitioners greatly improved. Information for court users and the public The website continues to evolve in response to both legislative changes and feedback from users. Improvements were made during the year to the homepage, Legal Diary, family law, court forms and publications sections. Read more on page 9. The Courts Service Annual Report 2010 was published in June and presented to the Minister for Justice and Equality. The report provides detailed statistics across all jurisdictions and highlights the modernisation measures taken in 2010 and which continue to be developed in The report was collated and designed in-house making significant savings on the production costs compared with previous years. Outreach The Courts Service Visit Programme continued to be very popular with over 4,000 students and teachers visiting the Criminal Courts of Justice. Guided visits are conducted during legal terms with students meeting a practising barrister and attending a court hearing. We also hosted third level students from Ireland and abroad. Many visits included discussions with members of the judiciary. Staff continue to impress While continuing to carry out their day jobs many staff give their time and energy to fundraising for worthy causes. This year John O Dea of the Office of Wards of Court spent time on a building project in Zambia. Four staff of the Dublin District Court Summons Office (Maeve, Vicky, Helen and Emma) did a sky-dive in aid of the Make-A- Wish Foundation. A charity football tournament held during the Summer raised funds for Special Olympics Ireland and Crosscare (see page 39) while Olivia Kelly of Nenagh District Court office cycled from Nenagh to Galway to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. Welcomes and goodbyes By the end of the year the top three legal officers in the State were female the Chief Justice, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Read about the Chief Justice on page 14. We ve had many retirements this year and are bracing ourselves for many more. Farewell parties and goodbyes are a constant feature. However old colleagues are not forgotten and we continue to host events twice a year to meet them again. A large contingent came to the Summer Evening in Smithfield in June and to the Annual Mass in November. From left to right: Darach Green, ICT Office, John Leamy, Chief Administrative Officer, An Garda Síochána, Catherine Glackin, ICT Office, Paul Burns, Head of Infrastructure Services, Aeneas Leane, An Garda Síochána, Kieran Downey, An Garda Síochána and Siobhan Manning, ICT Office, the winning CJIP team. At the Summer evening in Smithfield, Frank Lyons and Tony & Noreen Lawlor

18 18 news A Chance for Chief Clerks to Share and Learn Chief Clerks of the Circuit and District Court were briefed on a number of initiatives at their recent Annual Conference in Mullingar. They left with a clearer vision of their future role within the new Combined Office structure and within the Courts Service generally. Chief Executive Officer, Brendan Ryan outlined the challenges the organisation is now facing. The Combined Office project was centre stage with John Coyle, Head of Circuit & District Court Operations talking about TASC and the operational issues concerning the Combined Office. Gerry Nugent, Eastern Regional Manager gave an update on the Combined Office and the office managers and deputy managers of the Combined Office pilot offices in Monaghan, Ennis & Naas shared their experiences. Sean Quigley, Head of Resource Management Directorate gave an update on the Strategic Plan while Noel Doherty of the Reform & Development Directorate gave a briefing on legislation and rules. Barry Conroy, Midland Regional Manager gave an update on the LEAN process, its benefits and how it will be implemented in the new office structure. Paul Burns, Head of Infrastructure Services Directorate spoke of ICT updates for all new offices and a demonstration of these new systems was provided by members of staff of the ICT section. n Children and the Law: Medical Treatment The Law Reform Commission recently made over 20 recommendations for reform in a Report concerning the medical treatment of children. The Report aims to (a) clarify existing law that 16 and 17 year olds can consent to medical treatment; (b) ensure that mature minors (those under 16) have their views fully taken into account when they seek medical treatment; and (c) provide clarity to parents, guardians and health care professionals. Amongst the recommendations are that 16 and 17 year olds should be presumed competent to consent to, and refuse, medical treatment, including advice, surgery, contraception and mental health services and that those under 16 should not be presumed to be competent to consent to, or refuse medial treatment. The Report also includes a draft Health (Children and Consent to Health Care Treatment) Bill and Outline Scheme of a Mental Health (Amendment) Bill to implement these recommendations. n Read the report in full on

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20 20 feature Planning In An Uncertain Environment - A Strategic Dilemma The new Courts Service Strategic Plan has been prepared at a time of unprecedented uncertainty for the country, the public sector and the Service. The Plan has been prepared on the basis that full funding to meet salary costs for approved staff numbers under the Employment Control Framework will be provided. It is not known what level of resources will be available to the Service over the next three years to manage the courts and implement the Plan. Further reductions in staffing and funding will present serious challenges in seeking to maintain service levels and will result in a situation, where a reduction in services, including court sittings, will have to be considered. The incoming Courts Service Board may be required to review the Plan and revise it as appropriate. The new Strategic Plan identifies the goals the Service aims to achieve in the period subject to the reservations identified. These goals must be viewed in the context of the changing landscape which is described in a number of key challenges and opportunities. Examples given in the Plan include: Reducing Staff Numbers Staffing levels will have reduced by 181 (17%) from the 2008 level by the end of 2014, per the Employment Control Framework. This combined with the loss of knowledge and expertise, as staff leave, will pose serious challenges in ensuring that court sittings operate effectively and service levels are maintained. Reducing Funding Non-pay and capital funding has been significantly reduced since With further reductions projected this poses a serious threat to the operation of the courts. Increased Workload The economic recession has generated additional work for the courts across a range of areas, including; bankruptcy, family law and crime. The introduction of new legislation also increases the work of the Courts Service. Transforming Service Delivery and Structures The Service has a highly dispersed geographic network of offices and court venues, which have changed little since the foundation of the State. Skills and capacity The work of the courts requires significant technical knowledge. The Service must ensure that staff at all levels, have the necessary skills, competencies and expertise to carry out their duties. It must also achieve optimal flexibility & mobility in their deployment. Performance Management Using agreed key performance indicators, and through the more The new Strategic Plan identifies the goals the Service aims to achieve in the period

21 feature 21 effective use of the performance management system (PMDS), the Service will move to a more performance oriented approach to managing performance and resource allocation. Enhanced Role for County Registrars Working with the Department of Justice and Equality, the Service will seek to expand the adjudicative role of County Registrars to capitalise on their specialist legal skills, qualifications and knowledge, by extending the areas in which they may exercise adjudicative functions. Working Relationship with the Judiciary In seeking to operate the courts and support the judiciary in a climate of reducing resources the Service will continue to work constructively with the judiciary to address issues that impact on the effective operation of the courts. Collaboration with Justice Sector Agencies The effective operation of the criminal justice The Courts Service s Action Plan demonstrates a willingness and commitment to be at the forefront of transforming public services system is contingent on a number of agencies and stakeholders working effectively together. There are a number of opportunities where the system could be improved and made more efficient. Processes There is an urgent need to standardise and streamline practices and processes in all court offices. Solving this issue will bring about a number of benefits, including; the elimination of inefficient processes, better return from training investment and more consistent customer service. Technology The Service will seek to maximise the potential of existing information technology and our website. As funding permits, the Service will invest further in the deployment of technology to improve service to court users and maximise performance. Programme for Government (PFG) and the Public Service Agreement (PSA) The PFG makes reference to a number of initiatives that will impact on the Service. These include the Fines Act 2010, the Judicial Council and the Civil Court of Appeal. The Service will respond positively in supporting these initiatives within available resources. The PSA identifies a number of major reforms in the public sector. The Courts Service s Action Plan demonstrates a willingness and commitment to be at the forefront of transforming public services.

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23 news 23 Opening of the New Legal Year Paul O Higgins S. C., Chairman of the Bar Council greets Dr. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin at St. Michan s Church, Halston Street, Dublin. (Photograph by Courtpix) From left: Mrs. Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland, Dr. Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin, Rev. David Mc Donald, Curator and Mrs Justice Susan Denham, Chief Justice at the Annual Law Service at St. Michan s Church, Church Street, Dublin. From left: Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O Neill, judge of the High Court, Mr. Justice Esmond Smyth, judge of the Circuit Court with Garda Commissioner Mr. Martin Callinan (Photograph by Courtpix) From left: Mr. Justice Adrian Hardiman, judge of the Supreme Court, Judge Yvonne Murphy, judge of the Circuit Court, Mr. Justice Hugh Geoghegan, retired judge of the Supreme Court and Ms. Justice Mary Finlay-Geoghegan, judge of the High Court Horsehair wigs now not a rule The wearing of ceremonial wigs is no longer a requirement for judges of the Circuit, High or Supreme Courts. At its first meeting chaired by the recently appointed Chief Justice Mrs. Justice Susan Denham, the Superior Court Rules Committee approved a change to the court rules which removes the traditional rule that judges should wear wigs. The change was signed by the Minister for Justice & Equality immediately. He said that he warmly welcomed this initiative from the Chief Justice and the Presidents of the High and Circuit Courts to dispense with the compulsory wearing of wigs by judges in court. It should be recognised as a further small but significant step in the ongoing process of reform. The wigs - which had been worn as a matter of rule, tradition and law since the time of the restoration of the monarchy in England - survived the transition to Independence in They cost almost 2,200 each. Exemptions to the requirement for a judge to wear a wig had existed in relation to family law proceedings for some time. This rule change is complementary to the rule change made some time ago, which removed the necessity to address a judge in court as My Lord etc. It is now the rule that a judge be referred to simply as Judge or A Bhreithimh.

24 24 outreach Showing the best side OF court buildings We ve mentioned before that court buildings are more than just places where court business is conducted. They are places of major historic importance and significant landmarks in towns and cities all around the country. The Courts Service continues to join with groups and agencies to open the doors after court hours to enable the community come and visit as Fiona Farrell reports. We ve been busy in recent months encouraging members of the public to come and enjoy the architecture and experience the variety in the design of court buildings around Ireland after the days work is done. In August we participated in National Heritage Week, coordinated by the Heritage Council with support from the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and Fáilte Ireland. National Heritage Week aims to build awareness and education about our heritage thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation. Many national and hundreds of local community organisations participate by organising events throughout the country. Once again Cork Courthouse in Washington Street was opened for the public and over 250 people came along. Staff of the office and some recently retired staff conducted tours sharing their knowledge of the workings of a court and providing an opportunity for their local community to get an insight into this landmark building. In September, we joined in Culture Night. Locals and visitors enjoyed a night of entertainment, discovery and adventure in a record 30 towns, cities, counties and islands in Ireland. Museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, artists studios and cultural centres opened their doors late into the evening welcoming people of all ages to taste and sample their cultural delights for free. Our Western Regional Manager, Brendan McDonald and Ennis Office Manager, Josephine Tone joined Clare Country Registrar, Pat Wallace to welcome visitors to Ennis courthouse. Visitors expressed their gratitude for the information and tour of the courthouse with the organisers in Clare County Council hoping that the Courts Service will repeat the National Heritage Week aims to build awareness and education about our heritage thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation. event next year such was the level of interest expressed. The Criminal Courts of Justice proved as popular as ever when we participated in Open House Dublin, Ireland s biggest architecture festival in October. Dublin buildings of all

25 outreach 25 Niamh O Connor, Stuart Neville and Declan Hughes look on as Arlene Hunt reads from her crime novel False Intentions. There were around people involved in the day. We held three official tours and lots of unofficial tours and the feedback was very positive. Thanks to the staff involved Dave Power, Richie O Connor, Orla Penney, Lisa Hurson, Martin O Donovan, Don Henley and back from retirement Marie Mackey. Three volunteers also gave a hand out from Cork City Council. Mary Crowley, Chief Clerk, Cork Circuit Court. types and periods opened their doors, with special tours by hundreds of professionals and enthusiasts, and all for free! Staff of the OPW and volunteers joined the architect who worked on the building to conduct tours of this award winning building for over 550 people on the day. The Four Courts was the setting for Scales of Justice, a Great Writing Great Places event to acknowledge Dublin s designation as a UNESCO: City of Literature. Dublin is one of only four such cities in the world (Edinburgh, Melbourne and Iowa City are the other three). This accolade recognises Dublin s cultural profile and its international standing as a city of literary excellence. Visitors could explore the magnificent Round Hall and listen to crime writers Declan Hughes, Arlene Hunt, Stuart Neville and Niamh O Connor read extracts from their publications. n A packed courtroom in Cork Awards for legendary court journalists Two well known faces around the Four Courts, Vivian Kilfeather and Tomas Mac Ruarí were recently honoured by the National Union of Journalists with life membership certificates. Pictured with Vivian on the left and Tomas on the right is Gerry Curran of the Courts Service Media Relations Office who was recently elected Cathaoirleach of the NUJ s Irish Executive Council. Vivian joined the NUJ in the 1960 s when he got a job in the Leinster Express. His best days in the union and profession were the protest march when RTE reporter Kevin O Kelly was jailed in 1972 and the mid 1970 s when we doubled our wages and journalism became attractive to many who previously would have taken a different path in life. Like many the low point was the closure of the Irish Press Group. Tomás joined the union in 1961 when he was reluctantly employed for two years in INNIU, the then weekly Irishlanguage paper. From his schooldays he had been writing light feature-type articles mainly in Irish with some in English for the Irish and Evening Press, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, and for INNIU. On his first day in the Press in 1968 he had just been handed his first story when the Father of the Chapel the late Mícheál Ó Cróinín, appeared, glowered around the newsroom, thumped the desk beside me and ordered Out, all out!. Talks on expenses with management had just broken down: we all trooped out, were then lockedout by the company, but returned some hours later when it all ended successfully.

26 26 appointments Appointments New Secretary General at Department of Justice and Equality Brian Purcell has been appointed by the Government as Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality. He has worked in the Department for nearly 20 years, serving most recently as Director General of the Irish Prison Service where he oversaw a substantial change programme in the prisons. He previously worked in the Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Industry and Commerce. From Dublin, Brian was educated at O Connell s CBS, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. n Brian Purcell New Director of Public Prosecutions The Government has appointed Claire Loftus as the new Director of Public Prosecutions to succeed James Hamilton who retired on 7th November Claire was educated at University College Dublin and qualified as a solicitor in She was Chief Prosecution Solicitor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2001 and 2009 and most recently was Head of the Directing Division. n Claire Loftus Judicial Appointments Judge Michael White of the Circuit Court has been appointed a judge of the High Court. He studied in University College Dublin and qualified as a solicitor in He was made a judge of the Circuit Court in n Mr. Justice Michael White

27 appointments 27 Mr. Kevin Cross B.L. has been appointed a judge of the High Court. He studied in University College Dublin and graduated as a barrister-at-law from The Honourable Society of Kings Inns in1975. He was made a senior counsel in 1997 and bencher of Kings Inns in n Mr. Justice Kevin Cross New judges of the District Court Judge. Gráinne Malone Ms. Gráinne Malone has been appointed a judge of the District Court. Judge Malone attended University College Dublin and DIT. She was admitted as a solicitor in Prior to her appointment she was a senior partner in Malone Hennessy & Co Solicitors, Tallaght, Dublin. n M r. Patrick Durcan has been appointed a judge of the District Court. Judge Durcan attended University College Dublin and The Incorporated Law Society, Blackhall Place where he qualified as a solicitor in He was a member of Mayo County Council from 1979 to n Judge Patrick Durcan

28 28 retirements Retirements Mr. Justice Budd retires The start of the new legal year saw the last sitting of a High Court presided over by Mr. Justice Declan Budd - a job he undertook with unique approaches and insights for twenty years. The court was packed with representatives of the judiciary, government, law profession, staff of the Courts Service and many others. In his farewell speech Judge Budd left little of his career unexplored. A Dartry man by birth and upbringing, he attended Park House School in Donnybrook, St. Stephen s in Dundrum and Radley College in England. He studied classic, history and political science in Trinity College Dublin and obtained an LLB in 1968 at the same time as graduating from Kings Inns as a barrister at law. His practiced on the South Eastern Circuit and took silk in In September 1991 he was appointed a judge of the High Court following in the footsteps of his late father, Gardner. In 2000 he was elevated to the role of President of the Law Reform Commission. In that role he was an early champion of the role of victim impact statements in sentencing, oversaw the adoption of programmes for legal reform by government and was a supporter of the development of a Judicial Council. During his career he fulfilled a number of other roles. He acted as the Commissioner of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland; was a trustee of the TCD Association and Trust; and was Honorary Registrar to the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick s Cathedral. He published an anthology of the Trinity College Historical Society. He was also a member of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Buttevant and Charleville railway disasters along with the Inspector of Railways. An accomplished sportsman in the fields of hockey and squash he will be remembered as a gentleman who showed the utmost courtesy and respect to everyone who appeared before him. n Mr. Justice Declan Budd Judge Olive Buttimer retires Judge Olive Buttimer Judge Olive Buttimer recently retired from the Bench after fourteen years. Tributes were paid by Judge Alice Doyle who said that Judge Buttimer had worked tirelessly, in her gentle and caring way, so that litigants did not go home disappointed that their case had not been reached. Senior Counsel Jack Fitzgerald said it was a sad day but also a day of triumph declaring that she had served the people of Ireland magnificently. Also in court were Judge Tom Teehan, Garda Superintendent John Courtney, and Fred Binchy, solicitor. Judge Buttimer thanked many people including her colleagues, barristers, solicitors, the Garda Síochána and the wonderful court staff for their loyalty and support. n Judge Patrick Brady retires Among the tributes paid to Judge Patrick Brady when he retired recently was that he was fair and even handed. He served as the permanent District Court judge in Swords and Balbriggan since Praising the amount of community service organised in his District, Judge Brady suggested different approaches to certain matters that come before the District Court. For example, he called for the use of on the spot fines for matters of public disorder, theft, drugs and criminal damage - where the amount involved was under rather than using up the resources of the State in costly court cases. He said the Children Court should be kept at local level with matters dealt with by An Garda Síochána and Probation Service as much as possible. n Judge Patrick Brady

29 retirements 29 Judge Anthony Kennedy retires Judge Anthony Kennedy S.C. recently retired as a judge of the Circuit Court and as the Circuit Judge for the Midland Circuit for the past 15 years. He did so, in his own way, very quietly and without an opportunity to hear the warm tributes that would have been paid to him. Judge Kennedy was respected greatly by all who appeared before him. His dedication to his duty was remarkable. He was clear and concise in his decisions and efficient and effective in the management of often very lengthy court lists. His capacity for work was enormous and his knowledge of the law could only be admired - it was always an education to sit in his court. The county registrars of the Midland Circuit together with the registrars who sat in court and the staff of the offices enjoyed a very good working relationship with Judge Kennedy. He will be greatly missed and we wish him well in his retirement. n Judge Anthony Kennedy Judge Joseph Mangan retires Warm tributes were paid to Judge Mangan at his last sitting in Ennis District Court recently. Appointed to the Bench in 1983 he has been the presiding judge in Clare since Judge Micheal Patwell, who retired himself recently, told the court that Judge Mangan has a mind like an encyclopaedia. He would be an ideal phone a friend nominee if you were ever on Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Other judges in attendance were Tom O Donnell, Gerard Haughton, Aeneas McCarthy, David Riordan, Eamon O Brien and Tim Lucy. There were tributes from Owen Ryan of the Probation Service, Mairead Doyle, President of the Clare Law Association and Brendan McDonald, Courts Service Western Regional Office Manager. State Solicitor for Clare, Martin Linane credited the judge with great patience while Ennis Chief Clerk Josephine Tone said that she and her staff were sorry to see the judge retire. She said that Judge Mangan was always fair and impartial and showed sensitivity for those with addictions or on the margins of society. The judge himself said that he was overwhelmed by the tributes. He described the court clerks as the unsung heroes of his court and went on to thank the Gardaí and the solicitors serving in Clare. Before leaving the court he paid tribute to his wife Susan and his children for their support over the years. n Judge Joseph Mangan Judge Michael Patwell retires Colleague judges, solicitors, Gardaí and Courts Service staff paid tribute to Judge Michael Patwell as he retired after 21 years on the District Court Bench earlier this year. Many recalled his hard line approach to offences including drink driving, assaults and robberies. Other praised his handling of family law cases. Superintendent Pat McCarthy said that Judge Patwell s approach to drink driving paid dividends and saved lives. You have made North Cork a safer place to live, he said. The sentiments were echoed by Inspectors Tony O Sullivan and Senan Ryan. Solicitor Neil Corbett recalled an interesting man with an interesting career. Other tributes were paid by judges Terence Finn and Gerard Haughton, retired judge Uinsinn MacGruairc and other solicitors. Mallow District Court clerk, Paul Cosgrave wished the judge well on behalf of the staff of the Courts Service, recalling that he was particularly helpful to new clerks and young members of An Garda Síochána. A father of eight, Judge Patwell who had a very varied career, said he had been very lucky throughout his 66 years and being appointed a judge ranked as one of the greatest honours of his life. He complimented the legal profession and an Garda Síochána and said he could not praise the court staff enough every one of them. People do not realise the amount of work that goes into putting the court list together, he said. As he took his leave he said that he had a great run at it. I enjoyed every minute. We wish Judge Patwell and his wife, Mairead, a happy and healthy retirement. n Judge Michael Patwell

30 30 retirements Seán Aylward retires Family, friends and colleagues past and present gathered to pay tribute to Seán Aylward who was retiring having completed his seven year term as Secretary General of the Department of Justice & Equality. Seán s association with the Courts Service goes back to its establishment when he served as Assistant Secretary in the Courts Division. From Drumcondra in Dublin, Seán s career began in 1973 as an Executive Officer in the Department of Defence before moving to the Department of the Taoiseach. Still only in his mid 20s, he served as Private Secretary to two Taoisigh, Jack Lynch and his fellow northsider Charles Haughey. Seán s collection of stories from this time would (if only they were printable!) fill several volumes. He moved to the Department of Industry and Commerce in 1982 where he met his wife Agnes. On promotion to Principal Officer in 1985 he was assigned to the Department of Justice where he worked in the Law Division, going on to serve as PO in the Garda and Prisons Divisions before his promotion in 1997 to Assistant Secretary. He was appointed the first Director General of the Irish Prison Service in 1999 and Secretary General of the Department in All litanies of past service were banned on the night when the focus was on friendships made and the future of the public service. Chief Justice Denham, Mr. Justice Carney and CEO Brendan Ryan were in attendance as were former Ministers Nora Owen and Michael McDowell. Both Minister Alan Shatter and incoming Secretary General Brian Purcell remarked on Seán s visionary leadership and larger than life personality, the Minister noting that Seán had worked with five Ministers during his seven years as Secretary General. The man himself paid tribute to the spirit of public service throughout all branches of the Justice system where contrary to popular/ tabloid narrative, people work incredibly hard, have a huge sense of fairness and a powerful patriotic sense of duty which is rarely recognised or publicly acknowledged We need to build up now the sense of national will and solidarity required to support real public service reform. Reform that begins at the point of delivery to the citizen and works all the way back to the top floor and corner office in public administration. n Sean Aylward Tom Kennington became the latest registrar to leave the High Court in September. Tom, who took early retirement to study history in Trinity College, had hoped to slip away quietly but this proved easier said than done. High Court registrars gathered with the President of the High Court, Mr. Justice Kearns, in the Four Courts to wish Tom well in his retirement. The President and Principal Registrar, Kevin O Neill paid tribute to Tom s efficiency and work ethic and the wonderful way he dealt with everyone he encountered. Tom recalled how life, and his working life, had travelled full circle. School in Kerry was followed by commencing his career walking through the Four Courts to the nearby Land Registry, only to return to the Four Courts again for the final four years of his working life before returning to school in Trinity. A stunning photograph of the Four Courts presented to Tom provided a fitting memory of this long association. When he sat in court for his final time in mid-september, Mr Justice Feeney again spared him no blushes complimenting Tom s abilities and the value that he and his colleagues bring to the High Court. We wish Tom well for the future. n Tom Kennington (right) with Kevin O Neill Tom Kennington retires

31 retirements 31 Patricia Walsh retires function was held in the Brazen Head for Patricia Walsh who retired recently A from the Jury Office in the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ). A large group of Patricia s colleagues, past and present, attended to wish her all the best in this new phase of her life. Patricia gave many years of dedicated service to the Dublin Jury Office, one of the busiest offices in the Courts Service. She was responsible for calling jurors for the Circuit Criminal Court and the Central Criminal Court and dealt with thousands and thousands of summonses, queries and lists during her time. Her knowledge of the area was legendary. Warm tributes were paid to her by Susan Ryan, Dublin County Registrar and Kevin Fidgeon of the CCJ, who outlined the deep affection in which Patricia is held by all those who worked with her. n Patricia, left, with her colleagues Jennifer Doyle and Ciara Connell Rita White retires Rita White retired recently after eight years in Limerick District Court Office. She is pictured here at her retirement party Front row left to right: Margaret Deady (formerly LDC), Anita Nagle, Mary Fleming, Bridget Clancy (formerly LDC), Peter Dunworth, Eileen Treacy. Back row left to right: Hilary Mc- Sweeney, Maria Riordan, Eamon Ryan, Mary Roche (formerly LDC), Deirdre Moore, Mairead Kenny, Marie Franks, Rita White, Tara Hayes (formerly LDC) Breda McCarthy retires On the 14th April, 1970, as the three Apollo 13 astronauts uttered those famous words Heuston we have a problem, a young Breda McCarthy walked through the gates of the Department of Foreign Affairs to start her first day in the Civil Service. In 1979, Breda transferred to the Department of Justice, and shortly afterwards was assigned as Private Secretary to the President of the High Court. She went on to be Private Secretary to three Chief Justices. In 2001, Breda was assigned as Staff Officer of the Judicial Support Secretarial Unit (JSSU), formerly known as the Scrivenery Unit. In her role in the Judicial Support Secretarial Unit Breda interacted with members of the judiciary, ushers and various staff attached to the High and Supreme Court. And so it was fitting that friends and colleagues gathered together recently to bid her a fond farewell and extend good wishes as she herself set off on her own long vacation. n Standing: Stacey O Connor, Bernadette Hobbs, Monica Browne, Dolores Moore, Al Hughes, Trish Cuddihy, Gillian McDonnell, Margaret Hickey, Jackie McMahon, Patricia Kearns, Norma Duffy, Damien Downey, Aine O Connor, Brendan Creed Sitting: Mary T. Faherty, Breda McCarthy, Rita Nolan, Chris O Shea

32 32 retirements Derry Buckley retires Michael Goulding retires terrific evening was had by all in Cork recently on the occasion of the retirement of A Michael Goulding. Michael s wife, children and grand children were overwhelmed by the amount of good wishes expressed and by the distances some people had travelled - Joe O Grady from Donegal and Brendan Cleary from Dundalk to name just two, but many counties were represented. The evening was a testament to the esteem in which Michael is held in the offices he worked in during his career in the courts. The well wishes started early in the day. At the start of court sittings speeches in praise of Michael were given by Judge Riordan, Judge O Leary and Judge Malone. Frank Buttimer spoke on behalf of the Southern Law Association, while Inspectors Maguire and McPoilin paid tributes on behalf of An Garda Síochána. Rosemary Fox, Probation Officer, Eamonn Kiely, Regional Manager and Peter Cotter, Chief Clerk also spoke of their admiration for Micheal. Martin Hanton, Chief Clerk, Nenagh District Court paid his tribute earlier that week - Michael represents everything that is good not only in the Courts Service but in the Public Service. He is an officer always willing to give a hand or opinion when requested to do so and has been called on by many over the years. Any request, be it big or small, got his full attention. His departure will be a huge loss to the Courts Service. So many people acknowledged that Michael worked hard and that his door was always open when help was needed. His great knowledge of the District Court and his expertise will be sorely missed. Michael cared about the courts and we in Cork felt we were his second family. We wish him many good years ahead to enjoy his first family. Siobhan Sheil, Cork. n Michael Goulding with his grandchildren Cillian and Abbie At a recent function, friends and colleagues celebrated as Derry Buckley s 46 years of public service drew to a close. It was back in 1965 that Derry enlisted in the Irish Army. They obviously recognised talent because within six years he had been promoted three times and by 1971 held the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant. In that same year Derry started his career in the courts as a District Court Clerk in Cork. He moved to Ballina in 1972 before going to Galway in He was promoted to Higher Executive Officer in 1991 and Assistant Principal Officer in Western Regional Manager, Brendan McDonald expressed thanks for all the help and support Derry afforded him personally and other colleagues and friends working in the courts. You have always assisted your colleagues whether it was providing a relief registrar or those crucial words of advice. Brendan went on to explain how throughout his career Derry showed dedication and commitment to the public service and to the courts in particular. Having passed his LLB he has was more At a recent training day in the Western Region, (standing) Bill Cashell, Chief Clerk, Sligo District Court, Brendan McDonald, Western Regional Manager and Peter Mooney, Chief Clerk, Castlebar District Court. (seated) Josephine Tone, Manager, Ennis Court Service Office, Diarmuid O Buachalla (aka Derry Buckley) Chief Clerk, Galway District Court and Josie Mulherin Chief Clerk, Loughrea District Court. than generous in sharing his knowledge. However it is Derry s great memory particularly in the area of all things humorous that will be missed most. We wish Derry and Ann a long and happy retirement together and hope he enjoys the extra time for hunting and fishing and that he finds the time to put pen to paper on those courtroom tales. n Helen Martin retires Helen Martin started her career in the Civil Service in the 1970 s in the Office of Charitable Donations and Bequests in the Department of Justice. When the Provincial and Metropolitan Courts were abolished in 1979 she joined the General Service. As a Clerical Officer Helen applied for and was appointed as a District Court Clerk in the first competition after joining the General Service. She was assigned to Tuam District Helen with Derry Buckley during their last days in the office Court and served there for 12 years before transferring back to Galway District Court. Helen was always compassionate and efficient in her work. As one of the first female District Court Clerks she made a great impression on the almost all male court going community. She had a very courteous manner with everyone especially in her role as Small Claims Registrar. Everyone has great memories of working with Helen especially the late Judge Garavan who always spoke with great fondness of her. Helen has a love of travelling and especially visiting her sister in the USA. Her friends and colleagues wish herself, Kevin and their three children a long, happy and healthy retirement. n

33 social 33 Enjoying the reception in Phoenix House, John Denning, Mary Celine Burke and John Hennessy from the Property Registration Authority Mr. Justice Matthew Deery, President of the Circuit Court with Miriam Murphy wife of the late District Court Judge Con Murphy, Marguerite Higgins, Brian Carroll, Muiriosa Carroll and Fiona O Shea November Mass There was a large turnout in November for the annual mass for deceased staff of the Courts Service and the Property Registration Authority, deceased members of the judiciary and deceased relatives. The Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception (Adam and Eve), Merchants Quay was followed by a reception in Phoenix House. Special thanks to Deirdre Maye, Employee Assistance Officer and her team of helpers for organising an event that was both poignant and uplifting. n Susan Cahill (centre) of the Midland Regional Office with her family, Kevin, John Joe, Linda and John Retired Staff Lunch Bonds of friendship built up while working in the courts can last for many a year. Buswell s Hotel was the venue for a lunch for some retired courts staff and their colleagues. Des Franklin, pictured with Maeve Kane, turned 90 over the summer. Des was for many years stenographer in the Chancery courts. n Pictured Above: John Dalton, John Delahunty, Brendan Reedy and Kevin Waldron Maeve Kane and Des Franklin

34 Obituaries Mr. Justice Sean Gannon Mr. Justice Sean Gannon died in November. He served for many years as a judge of the High Court and will be remembered for his time as the judge in charge of the Probate List. He retired from the Bench in Judge Gannon is survived by his wife Blossom, and children Berchmans, Margaret, Elizabeth, Edward and Sandra. He is pictured here (on the right) at the launch of Probate Practice in a Nutshell on 5th June 1980 with former Probate Officer the late Eamonn G. Mongey (Author), former Chief Justice and then President of the High Court, Mr. Justice Thomas A. Finlay and then President of the Law Society, Walter Beatty. Judge Anthony G. Murphy The death occurred recently of retired Circuit Court judge, Anthony G. (Tony) Murphy. Judge Murphy was appointed to the Circuit Court Bench in 1985 following a very successful career as a barrister on the Cork Circuit. During his time on the Bench he had a renowned reputation for common sense and fairness in his determination of individual cases. It was said that when litigants left his court at the conclusion of their cases, and whether they were on the winning or the losing side, or whether they had been subject to the criminal sanctions of the law or not, they knew they had received a fair, courteous, and impartial hearing, and that they had been given sound, cogent and sensible reasons for the decision arrived at. He was held in the highest esteem and respect by members of the legal profession and by the registrars and court officials with whom he worked. When he retired from the Bench they queued up to pay warm and eloquent tributes to his distinguished career giving a spontaneous standing ovation at the conclusion of his remarks. Renowned for his good company, he was a fine singer, amateur actor and lover of music. He was for many years chairman of Cork Operative Society and maintained a great interest in golf, horses and sailing. Judge Murphy is survived by his wife Dorethea (Dot) and sons Simon, Jerry and Adam. He is predeceased by his youngest son Anthony. Mr. Justice Vivian Lavan The death took place recently of retired High Court judge, Mr. Justice Vivian Lavan. Judge Lavan had only retired earlier this year. We were pleased to report on the wonderful compliments and well wishes he received from his colleagues on his retirement in the previous issue of Courts Service News (Volume 13, Issue 2, July 2011). Mr. Justice Vivian Lavan

35 obituaries 35 Judge Kieran O Connor Many tributes were paid to retired Judge Kieran O Connor who died recently. Born in Dublin, his father John S. O Connor was a solicitor and acted as election agent in the presidential elections of Sean T O Kelly and Eamon De Valera. Following his school days in Belvedere College, Judge O Connor went onto to study in UCD and the Kings Inns. In a legal career that spanned some 47 years, he was called to the Bar in 1954, took silk in 1973 and was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court in January 1989 and assigned to the Dublin Circuit Court. He retired in Colleagues recall a man for whom colour and drama, generosity and free spirit were characteristics of his work. As a judge he believed that all people were capable of redemption and always offered the hope of opportunity and rehabilitation to those who appeared before him. He is particular remembered for his kind manner particularly with children who came before the court when offers of settlement were made. Judge Kieran O Connor Judge Con Murphy The attendance at the funeral of Judge Con Murphy of many members of the judiciary, the Bar and former solicitor colleagues from far and near, exemplified the respect that he commanded in the legal profession. Born in Bandon in 1960, Con attended Hamilton High School, Bandon and later UCC where he gained a BCL degree in He qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and set up a partnership with James Long in 1987, which continued until he was appointed a Circuit Court judge in November During his career as a solicitor he served as president of the West Cork Bar Association and a member of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Judge Con Murphy Following a period as a travelling judge, he was appointed as a permanent judge in the Cork Circuit in February 2007, where he sat until his death. While there, he presided over many high-profile, lengthy and complex cases. He quickly gained the unstinting respect of his fellow judges, members of the Bar, former colleagues, An Garda Síochána, and members of the public at large who, in whatever capacity, appeared before him. He always brought common sense (with which he was endowed in abundance) to bear. Courteous in the extreme, ever patient, he would often bring his trademark sense of humour to bear. His passion for sport, especially the art of hurling, was legendary. Having gained many honours as an underage player, he then involved himself in the administration and management of his beloved Bandon GAA Club. A master of the pithy observation, with a passion for life, Con was a Gaelgóir, historian, philosopher, wit and raconteur, a family man, loyal friend and above all a wonderful husband to his wife Miriam. Ní bheith a leithéid ann arís. Judge Hubert Wine The death occurred recently of retired District Court Judge Hubert Wine. He was appointed a temporary judge of the District Court in June 1976 and was made a permanent judge in the Dublin Metropolitan District Court area in May He retired in April Our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Judge Hubert Wine

36 36 film review Arthur Christmas Looking for a good Christmas movie. Gerry Curran gives five stars to one recent offering Have you ever had to field the question so how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night? Well don t worry because the hi tech 2011 answer is contained in Arthur Christmas an animated, cartoon charactered, computer generated images masterpiece, that is at once wizardry of illustration and traditional warm feeling Christmas fare. It brings us - young and old - into Santa s exhilarating, ultra-hightech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. It is a classy take on Christmas classics with a family in a state of comic crisis and an unlikely hero in Arthur - Santa s younger son. The crisis is created when the team misses out on one child as they drop presents off across the globe - and the awkward, hapless Arthur heads out into the night with retired Grandfather Claus to try and save the day, in a defunct sleigh - with a weird little elf. You don t believe they stand a chance compared to Santa s modern spaceship and gizmo s used earlier. It s all brought to us via either 2D or 3D depending on your cinema or choice. It s a great yarn, great visual spectacle with recognisible voice actors. To attract the tweenies there is a song, Santa Claus Is Comin To Town, by Justin Bieber from his new album Under The Mistletoe. (There s a gift idea as well). Adults are kept involved by the Ardmann studio team who have previously given us Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The story is based on what we already know - that Santa is part of a hereditary dynasty. Hence we have Santa, Grand Santa, and Arthur. Comically we have the current heir to Santa s work Steve an alpha male, in his muscle bulging designer red suit - ruling the roost, doing a superb job, but lacking the humility to recognise a A magical and modern take on the story which for a thousand years has kept many a child wondering if they were good or bad mistake, nor trust the old ways - the magic - to get around the problems. Played/voiced by James McEvoy, Arthur is allergic to snow and suffers from a fear of heights, reindeer, and high-speed travel - he isn t exactly a natural Claus. The family loves him but has never quite known what to do with him. Meanwhile Mrs. Santa, a character as near to the Queen as you could imagine, keeps everything right for the boys in between opening elf hospitals, negotiating treaties with Greenland, completing online degrees, and stirring the Christmas Day gravy... But will this mismatch of a family, technology, mistakes and mayhem get that gift to the one child left out?... Find out by following a magical and modern take on the story which for a thousand years has kept many a child wondering if they were good or bad and is it O.K. to take a peek?!

37 social 37 Getting into the Christmas Spirit Christmas is here again and with it comes a host of festivals and events. Mairéad Fitzsimons takes a look around the country in the run up to the silly season and gives plenty of food for thought. Christmas markets The Christmas market is a time-honoured tradition for great cities like Vienna, Munich and Prague. The idea has really caught on in Ireland with many towns and cities hosting markets. In Galway a Continental Christmas Market will transform Eyre Square into a magical winter wonderland from 25th November to 18th December. Seventy wooden chalets will sell food, beverages and goods from all over the world. The Dublin Docklands Christmas Market starting 8th December is sure to kick-start your Christmas. Over eighty traders will offer a wide variety of gift ideas for family and friends. Choose from craft jewellery, stained glass giftware, beautifully carved wooden toys, leather goods and home accessories. Cork City s Christmas market will be on Grand Parade from Friday 25th November. With locally produced artisan crafts and foods, you won t be stuck for choice. The Belfast Christmas Continental Market opened in the grounds of the City Hall on Saturday 19th November selling a range of food, drinks and crafts. Kids can enjoy a merrygo-round and visit Santa. Waterford has a traditional food and craft market in John Roberts Square and Broad Street from 3rd December until Christmas Eve with local homemade food and handcrafted products. Limerick is also packed full of Christmas treats this year, with a Christmas market at Cornmarket Row including up to sixty stalls and shops with artisan food and crafts and one-of-a-kind gifts. Even better, you can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in comfort, as all of the stalls are weatherproofed. Sproi na Nollaig will transform Westport s Mall into a shopper s paradise, where visitors can purchase handmade, authentic and unique Christmas gifts for all the family from Friday 9th December to Sunday 11th December. Carol Singing and Concerts Kilkenny Gospel Choir in support of Meningitis Ireland will sing Christmas carols and Gospel songs in McDonagh Shopping centre on Saturday 10th December 2.00 pm. Carols by Candlelight is in the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Sunday 18th December performed by the Mozart Festival Orchestra and the Mozart Festival Chorus in full period costume. The Monaghan Gospel Choir will present A Christmas Evening in the Garage Theatre in Monaghan town on Thursday 22nd 8pm. Earagail Arts Festival and An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny present Moya Brennan of Clannad fame An Irish Christmas on Thursday 22nd 8pm.

38 38 social Ice Skating If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Torville or Dean or you just want to shed some Christmas pounds there are ice skating rinks popping up in some counties. 7up Christmas on Ice is in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin from 9th December to 8th January Cork on Ice at Mahon Point Shopping Centre opened on 11th November and stays open until 22nd January Limerick on Ice is in Arthur s Quay Park from 15th December to 9th January Kilkenny on Ice located at Cillin Hill runs from 3rd December to 22nd January 2012; new for 2011 is an Ice Slide 30 metres long. Pantomimes A Christmas Panto has to be on the must list of favourite things to do at Christmas. It s also a great way to brighten up those dark January days before the kids go back to school. There are local pantomimes in most towns; there are also bigger productions with the odd celebrity twins thrown into the mix. Jedward and the Beanstalk is on in the Olympia Theatre from 21st December to 8th January 2012, tickets are available on Other celebs treading the pantomime boards are Georgia Salpa and Alan Hughes of TV3 s Ireland AM in Sleeping Beauty in the Tivoli Theatre, Dublin from 14th December and Samantha Mumba in Robinson Crusoe in the Gaeity Theatre from 4th December. Cinderella is on in the Cork Opera House from 15th December to 14th January and the Wexford Pantomime Society present Peter Pan in the Dun Mhuire Theatre, Wexford from 10th to 15th January Santa Claus is coming to town Not only have we brought the European markets to Ireland we ve also adopted our very own Lapland in Glendeer Farm, Athlone. You will be greeted by twinkling lights, see a crib with a live cow and donkey and meet the man himself. Santa will arrive by horse drawn sleigh at 5pm on Saturday 3rd December. For more details visit Santa s elves have set up a workshop in the barn at Moher Hill Farm, Liscannor, Co. Clare. Santa will be dropping in to make sure everything is under control and of course will meet the visiting children. Adults can relax with a glass of mulled wine and a seasonal mince pie. Gardai behind the Scenes Award-winning photographer s book for Temple Street Multi-award winning Irish Independent photographer, Mark Condren, has just launched a coffee table book - perfect for those Christmas present ideas - with all proceeds going to Temple Street Children s University Hospital. The book, co-launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan last month, is a snapshot of life behind the scenes of our national police force. From the Garda helicopter, to under the sewers of Dublin, right through to drug busts and a poitín raid in the West of Ireland. Mark was inspired to publish the book when his son Ben was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at just 15 months. He felt compelled to give something back to the doctors and nurses at Temple Street who helped his family through their difficult journey following Ben s diagnosis. The Condren family has a close association with An Garda Síochána Mark s wife, Michelle is a member and his father retired from the force in The Guards Behind The Scenes with the Men & Women of An Garda Síochána is priced at 25 and available from all good bookshops. You can also purchase a copy by contacting theguardsbook@gmail.com Mark Condren was named the AIB Photojournalist of the Year 2011 last February, for the second year in a row. Sergeant Fergus Gaughan visiting brother and sister Nora and Tomas O Maille at their home in Carraroe, Co Galway. In rural areas, Gardai regularly visit elderly people in their homes, providing valuable reassurance and social contact.

39 competition 39 Quiz Time?? Test your brain power with our seasonal offering Questions on some random topics to get the little grey cells working. When you have answered all questions, the first letter of the answers will form a seasonal two-word phrase.?? Answers to the July Quiz (1) Mary Mc Aleese (2) 1751 (3) President Obasanjo (4) Patrick J. Hillery (5) Douglas Hyde (6) Harry S Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower (7) Cearbhall O Dhálaigh (8) Charles de Gaulle 1959 (9) Erskine Childers (10) Mary Robinson 1. the surname of Alexander, who published his first directory of street names in the Irish county which gave us the authors John Banville and Eoin Colfer. 3. the scientific study of insects. 4. the name of the stellar constellation also known as Carpenter s Square. 5. how many people are there on an Olympic Beach Volley Ball team? 6. From what language do the following words originate? bagel, meshuga, schmaltz 7. In what city did the first leg of Irelands European Championship qualifying match take place? 8. traditionally, on St. Stephens Day, who would you expect to see parading through the streets, disguised and playing musical instruments? 9. which music festival took place from 2nd to 4th September this year? 10. the only player to participate in all 12 Solheim Cup teams to date ( ) 11. the Tour de France : La.. a Espana? 12. what was the name of the hurricane which brought high winds and torrential rain to the area around Haiti and the Dominican Republic during 2011? Closing date for quiz entries is Friday 13th January Answers should be sent by to courtsservicenews@courts.ie or by hard copy to Fíona Farrell, Information Office, 6th Floor, Phoenix House, Smithfield, Dublin 7. Footballers net cash for charity The Courts Service Charity Football competition brought eight teams together this year to battle for the coveted trophy. The final between Legal Cost Accountants and Kiddies Gaol went to penalties with the Kiddies Gaol team coming out on top. The real winners as always are the charities - Special Olympics and Crosscare - who received cheques for 1,600 each. The committee thank all who helped make the event such a success - sponsors and volunteers as well as the athletes (!) - and look forward to repeating the event next year. Congratulations to... July Quiz winner Jerry Shea, Dublin District Court Office being presented with his prize by Helen Priestley, Information Office

40 40 through the lens Through the lens US Attorney General, Eric Holder & American Ambassador Dan Rooney meet Chief Justice Mrs. Susan Denham Students from Washington University meet Supreme Court Judge Fidelma Macken Members of the public get to role play with Marie Mackey (retired, Cork Circuit Court) during National Heritage Week.. H.E. Mr. Beat Loeliger, Ambassador of Switzerland, Mary Feerick, High Court Registrar, The Hon. Mr. Justice Paul Carney, H.E. Mr. Hossein Panahiazar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Ireland and Brendan Ryan, C.E.O. Courts Service Staff from the Office of Wards of Court who helped organise a cake sale to raise funds for the Capuchin Centre for the Homeless, Bow Street, Dublin. L to R standing: Maire Kirwan, Suzie Yorke and Colette Swan. Seated Brother Kevin of the Capuchins and Grainne O Regan.