Tributes paid to retiring Judge Kilrane on his last day in Ballyshannon court

Warm and heartfelt tributes were paid to Judge Kevin P Kilrane on his last day in Ballyshannon District Court on Friday. 

Judge Kilrane, a native of County Leitrim, has been in the area for almost 12 years and he had previously presided in the Letterkenny area.

Leading the contributions, Ballyshannon-based solicitor John Murray said he was delighted to pay tribute to the judge. 

“When you came here 12 years ago, we knew of your stellar reputation as a solicitor, and we knew that our submissions would have to be well thought out as you expected a rigor and would give anyone a fair hearing”. 

Mr Murray said the arguments would have to be well grounded. 

“Gerry McLaughlin had an article about you some months ago where he said you were a towering intellect but also a judge of great compassion."

Mr Murray said the judge treated people with great respect and gave many people chance after chance to improve their lives and showed great compassion to anybody who came before this court.

“Lastly, I would say Judge, that for you, this is not an end, but a turn in the road and I am sure you will now have more time for the GAA in Mohill." 

“It was a great honour to practice before you and a privilege and I wish you the very best in your retirement”. 

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Ballyshannon Superintendent Karen Duffy said she knew the judge when he practiced in Sligo and she found him to be very fair. She said he was a judge who was so obliging to the State and often sat on a Saturday and Sunday for special sittings. That was much appreciated. 

She added that Judge Kilrane was very fair to all who came before him. 

Judge Kilrane would be “very sadly missed” and she wished him all the best for the future. 

On behalf of the Probation Service Michelle McShane said it had been a pleasure to work with Judge Kilrane who was very thorough and very caring. 

Fire Officer Conor McShane said he wanted to wish the Judge all the best in his retirement. 

Mr McShane said he also knew Judge Kilrane in Sligo and over his time in Donegal it was a valuable learning experience for he and his colleagues.

On behalf of the press Gerry McLaughlin also paid tribute to Judge Kilrane saying he was a man of towering intellect, but who always had tremendous compassion for the wounded, the bruised and the broken.  

Court Clerk Connell Melly paid a very warm tribute to the judge on behalf of all the court staff. 

“On behalf of them all I want to wish you a long and happy and healthy retirement," Mr Melly said.

“Thank you very much for your assistance over the years. 

“And especially for your help at weekends at special sittings which the Superintendent mentioned earlier”. 

Mr Melly remarked that Judge Kilrane “seemed to have a photographic memory”.  

“A previous Judge McMenamin used to get us to have a notebook for recording details but at the end of his ten years there was very little of detail in the book. 

“Over the last 37 years I have sat with many judges so I am never going to say that I have a favourite judge.

“There never was a perfect judge, there never will be a perfect judge, but you were the nearest to perfect I have ever seen”.