Tributes have been paid in a Donegal court to the late Judge Diarmuid Sheridan, a former President of the Circuit Court, who has died.
The late Judge Sheridan, who died on Wednesday, was appointed as the President of the Circuit Court in 1998.
At today’s sitting of Donegal Circuit Court at Letterkenny courthouse, local barrister Mr Peter Nolan led the tributes.
On behalf of the Northern Bar, Mr Nolan recalled Judge Sheridan as a gentleman, a pleasant judge and “a very nice man to appear in front of”.
“He listened very carefully,” Mr Nolan said. In a different world, Mr Nolan recalled travelling to Clonmel for a case and being invited by Judge Sheridan for a coffee.
Mr Nolan extended condolences to the late Judge Sheridan’s family.
“He will be a great loss and he was a fine colleague,” he said.
One of Judge Sheridan’s sons, Hugh, served as the State Prosecutor in Sligo and has since retired.
Mr Colm Smyth SC also recalled Judge Sheridan as being “much loved” and said he would be a “great loss” to the profession.
State Solicitor for Donegal, Mr Kieran Dillon, said he also wished to be associated with the tributes.
Judge John Aylmer said he had the pleasure, as a young barrister, of appearing before Judge Sheridan in the south eastern circuit.
“An utter gentleman,” recalled Judge Aylmer. “The atmosphere in the courtroom referred to, I had the pleasure of enjoying that.
“He was a great friend to the Bar and a great supporter of the Bar. It was with great sadness that I read about his passing and I would also like to join in expressing condolences to the family of former Circuit Court President Sheridan.”
Late of Dalkey, Judge Sheridan will be laid to rest following the funeral Mass on Monday at the Church of the Assumption, Dalkey.