TRIBUTES PAID TO RETIRING COUNTY REGISTRAR
31 Jul 1996
There was a capacity attendance at Castlebar Courthouse on Thursday afternoon last when judges, barristers, solicitors, Gardai, circuit court and district court staff, probation service staff, County Council officials and media assembled to pay tribute to retiring County Registrar, Mr. Patrick Urban Murphy.
And among those who attended to recognise the dedicated service given by Mr. Murphy was his predecessor in the post, Mr. Bernard Daly.
The tributes were led by Circuit Court Judge Mr. Harvey Kenny who said they had come together to pay tribute not just to a court official but to a friend.
In the short time he had spent in Mayo Judge Kenny had learned to appreciate the many fine qualities which Mr. Murphy brought to his job.
"Before coming to the county I was advised that I would have no problems in Mayo. That has been the case. Patsy Murphy has been superb. Everything has fallen into place," said Judge Kenny.
"As a person he is made up of many outstanding characteristics. He is kind, gentle, very sincere. He is efficient, he has humour and he has a lovely openness about him.
"When all these qualities are put together you have a very efficient, very effective officer who has a fun loving and very disarming side."
Judge Kenny added that Mr. Murphy had presided over a very efficient Mayo Circuit which was a product of the happiness and good working relations within the County Registrar's office.
He wished Mr. Murphy, his wife and family every happiness in his retirement. District Court Judge Daniel Shields said he had known Mr. Murphy for more years than he cared to remember.
They had started out as students together and he remembered Patsy for "a radiant quality which lit up their meetings as students".
"It was a radience that made friends of enemies and evoked goodwill and I have a certain sense of regret that he is retiring for he will be missed", said Judge Shields.
Mr. Gerard M. Keyes, Father of the Western Circuit, said there tended to be an underestimation of the role of the County Registrar but he was a vital cog in the justice wheel.
It was a post that demanded a high degree of efficiency, curtesy and patience.
"Over the years Mr. Murphy has easily and gracefully fulfilled all of those requirements. He has been a great help to young barristers and on behalf of all my colleagues I wish to thank him for the help afforded to us all," he said.
Mr. Keyes added that he had been asked by the family of the late Judge Cassidy, who held Mr. Murphy in very high esteem, to pass on their good wishes in his retirment.
Mr. John Dillon Leetch, President of the Mayo Bar Association, said that since Mr. Murphy had been appointed to fill the shoes of Mr. Bernard Daly in 1986 they had enjoyed ten years of curtesy and efficieny from which all solicitors had benefitted.
Inspector Willie Gallagher, on behalf of the Gardai, said while he had not known Mr. Daly for very long he had found him to be most amicable and helpful to the members of the Gardai.
Ms. Marie Quinn, County Registrar's office, joined in the tributes to Mr. Murphy on behalf of all the staff in the office of the County Registrar.
Mr. Liam MacHale, State Solicitor said his cousin, Mr. Murphy had graced the position of registrar in a way which few could hope to emulate. In his own easy going way Mr. Murphy had run his office efficiently and well.
Mr. Colin Dunne, on behalf of the Mayo Probation Service, said that in a court system that dealt with all the horrors of life Mr. Murphy had played a key role by radiating an air of calm and ease. He always had time to be helpful and friendly and he thanked him for his help and interest in the work of the probation service.
Mr. Christy Loftus on behalf of the media said two of Mr. Murphy's outstanding attributes as far as the media were concerned was his unfailing good humuor and his patience. That patience was tested on many occasions by rookie reporters such as himself who did not know their torts from their elbows but who were kept out of trouble by Mr. Muprhy's help and advice.
Mr. Gilbert Groark, acting County Secretary and Mr. Gerard Gannon, solicitor, joined in the tributes and wished Mr. Murphy well.
Mr. Murphy thanked everyone for attending in court on his final day as Registrar. He very much appreciated the many kind words said about him. In the next month he would be fifty years involved in the law. He had enjoyed his years in practice and had been concerned when coming to the post of Registrar. However all the members of the Bar and the solicitors had been more than helpful to him and there had been few difficulties.
He had worked under Judge Grattan Esmonde, Judge Cassidy and now Judge Kenny and he had received nothing but curtesy and co-operation from them.
"It is nice to get to the stage of retirement. I look forward to it and
hope to enjoy it and I thank everyone for their nice words and for being
here," he said.
Connaught Telegraph - News - July 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - July 1996
