Tributes paid in Circuit Court to leading figure in Cork legal community

Tributes were paid in Cork Circuit Court to a leading figure in the Cork legal community, Edward Hanlon, who died recently.

As acting state solicitor for many years he was a well-known figure in the courts. 

Judge Helen Boyle led tributes to him and offered her sincere condolences to his family and colleagues for their loss.

“The Cork legal community lost one of its best known members for many, many years in Edward (Eddie) Hanlon. When I started as a barrister he was acting state solicitor.

“Barry Galvin (state solicitor at the time) was off dealing with money-laundering (the establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau). As acting state solicitor for Cork, Eddie Hanlon dealt with the indictable matters and he dealt with the state appeals.

“On behalf of all on the Cork Circuit Court bench I would like to express my sincere condolences to his family. Judge Dermot Sheehan was recalling the many drunk driving cases he defended when Mr Hanlon was prosecuting and he was recalling Mr Hanlon’s book of cases – Judge Sheehan thinks he has it somewhere in his library!

“We will remember him as a distinguished, fair, affable and dedicated state solicitor. The team of Barry Galvin, Eddie Hanlon and Carmel O’Sullivan were quite formidable but worked very hard on behalf of the people of Ireland,” Judge Boyle said.

Barrister Brendan Kelly on behalf of the Cork Bar said: “Mr Hanlon was a constant feature of state appeals and indictable cases. He was very good natured, very helpful and he was very humorous in my experience. He will be sorely missed.” 

State solicitor Frank Nyhan said: “He was a lovely man. He probably forgot more than I have ever learned.” 

Frances O’Connor, court registrar, on behalf of the Court Service and staff, joined in expressing sympathies to Mr Hanlon’s family.