EDITORIAL: Judge Elizabeth MacGrath, may her memory be for a blessing

There is a saying in the Jewish faith for when a person dies that goes: “May her memory be for a blessing.”

It means that, although somebody has passed away their impact on the world lives on through the people they touched while they were here.

It is for those people to continue the good the person lost, and did while they were here.

And when we remember them, we feel blessed to have met them.

Over the last couple of weeks we read, heard and reported so many tributes to Judge Elizabeth MacGrath.

The beloved district court judge passed away on July 3, has been remembered in courts across the county and was laid to rest the following Monday.

Her friends, family and colleagues called her empathetic, kind, generous and always willing to help people.

She believed in second chances and reporters in both the Tipperary Star and The Nationalist have seen her give them to many from her bench.

Neighbours who lost the run of themselves during a dispute and were egged on by the prospect of a court case.

The drunk driver who although would have to be disqualified, as per the law, may not have to pay a fine they could not possibly afford.

The defendant with 75 previous convictions, given a 76th chance simply on the basis that this could be the one that turns their life around.

It is a compassion many would find hard to understand but all the same envy for themselves.

Nobody working in this newsroom currently, knew Judge MacGrath personally.

But there is a reporter in this newsroom who can recall only last year, Judge MacGrath taking a minute to welcome her on her first day in court.

The judge said she did not recognise the reporter and joked that she thought she might be there to give her a probation report.

It was a small act of kindness that the reporter very much appreciated on a very overwhelming day.

And one she will endeavour to pass on many times to come.