Tributes paid to State Solicitor for north Tipperary on her last day in court

State Solicitor for north Tipperary, Michelle O’Connell has had her final day in court. 

Ms O’Connell has stepped down from her position to take a new role as County Registrar for Tipperary and Waterford. 

Her court colleagues, staff and fellow bar members, and memebers of An Garda Siochana, as well as Judges Catherine Staines and Elizabeth MacGrath assembled at Nenagh Circuit Court last Wednesday to wish Ms O’Connell well in her new role. 

Circuit Court Judge Staines said the Nenagh Circuit Court was “extremely fortunate to have Michelle as the State’s Solicitor.”

“Really she has been impressive. It is clear to me she has had a good relationship with the gardaí, defence and her colleagues in the bar. 

“She truly is a wonderful person and I wish her and her family well in her new role,” said Judge Staines.

District Court Judge MacGrath said she has known Ms O’Connell for a long time and has always admired her ability to do a difficult job.

“I always found Michelle to be very cooperative and a pleasure to have her before me in court.

“The workload Michelle carries is phenomenal and I always wondered how she did it,” said Judge MacGrath.

Judge MacGrath went on to say that she hopes Ms O’Connell’s new role offers her more work-life balance.

“We are all under pressure for various reasons but it comes down to the basics.

“You make room for your friends and family and you do your job as best you can. But don’t let it take over your life,” said Judge MacGrath.

DILIGENT & EMPATHETIC

State Solicitor for south Tipperary Paul Fitzpatrick called his north-Tipp colleague, “conscientious, diligent,  cool and collected.”

He said she “has a strong work ethic” and “sense of duty” that has served her and her office well. 

A representative from the Department of Public Prosecutions said that when Ms O’Connell took up her position in May 2015, “she took to the role like a duck to water,” said the representative. 

She went on to say that Ms O’Connell was responsible for the office social events, a wonderful singer and a lover of musical theatre. 

Her colleagues will miss her but are consoled by the fact that she will continue to do good work elsewhere. 

“The county’s loss is Waterford’s gain,” said the representative. 

David Humphrys BL told those assembled that Ms O’Connell is professional and responsive to her colleagues and that he trusts whatever she tells him. 

She approaches defendants with “fairness and empathy” and fosters good relationships with not only her prosecution colleagues but the defence council too. 

“She will be missed by all her colleagues in Tipperary,” said Mr Humphrys. 

Inspector Andrew Lyons thanked Ms O’Connell on behalf of the local gardaí.

He described her as professional and graceful.

“She has been a great help and professionalism has been admired in her decade in her role,” said Inspector Lyons.  

President of the Tipperary Solicitors Bar Association, Bernadette Greene, said she wished to congratulate Ms O’Connell on behalf of the organisation and looks forward to working with her in Waterford. 

“We have found her to be hard-working and very fair. She has always been wonderful to work with. 

“We know you will have a very successful future ahead of you,” said Ms Greene. 

Circuit Court Registrar Elaine Nash said on behalf of the court staff in both Circuit and District Court she wished, Ms O’Connell well. 

“Michelle has always been a pleasure to work with.

“No matter what you ask her for or what stupid questions you ask.

“We wish you the best in your new role. We will miss you and we hope we get someone nice,” said Ms Nash.

THANK YOU

Ms O’Connell in her address to those assembled thanked everyone for the work they do.

She said the court staff have always been willing to help her with things like copying documents and storing boxes. 

“It always made my life easier, if not yours,” said Ms O’Connell.

She thanked the gardaí of “every rank” and said the work of the court could not happen without them. 

“Think a lot of the work the gardaí do goes unnoticed in many ways,” said Ms O’Connell.

She thanked both judges saying of Judge MacGrath that she is always patient with her arguments.

“It has been my great honour to carry out this role.

“The support and friendship has very much been appreciated,” said Ms O’Connell.

She also paid tribute to her husband Frank who she said “always kept the show on the road” and to her children. 

She said her family have always been her biggest “cheerleaders” and called Mr Fitzpatrick a “phenomenal friend.”

Ms O’Connell said the reason she can do so much work is because of her office which she said are “phenomenal and go above and beyond.”

She thanked all those assembled for their kind words.