Judge Mary Dorgan honoured at retirement after years of service in Cork courts

Tributes were paid to Judge Mary Dorgan, who retired today at Cork District Court, as the president of the District Court said “many a young lad has Mary to thank for putting them on the straight and narrow to get on with their lives".

Judge Dorgan spent many years working as a solicitor from 1978, specialising in family law. Following her appointment as a District Court judge in 2017, she continued to work in family law courts, the juvenile court, and most recently in the main criminal court at Cork District Court.

District Court President, Judge Paul Kelly, said: “Judge Dorgan showed patience, courtesy and respect for people who appeared before her and always displayed humanity, compassion and empathy.” 

As tributes were paid to Judge Dorgan, she recalled a memorable remark from a young person who had appeared before her in the juvenile court: “One young offender called a filly foal after me – Judge Mary,” she said.

While there was laughter in the packed courtroom, there were also poignant moments as Judge Dorgan remembered judicial colleagues who had died, along with others including barrister Jane Anne Rothwell and court registrar Shay Bowen, who died recently.

Judge Dorgan said, “I have been hugely honoured to serve the people of Cork and being trusted to make decisions. To be placed in this position of trust is an enormous privilege.” 

Judges from the District, Circuit and Central Criminal Court, as well as many retired judges, attended the sitting. 

Members of Judge Dorgan’s family, including her husband Kevin, their three sons — Patrick, Ian and Conor — and grandson Paddy, were also present, along with colleagues and friends.

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford said, “Her kindness to colleagues, to members of the bar and to her clients, exuded kindness in everything she did – kindness should be the lodestar of the judiciary.” 

President of the Law Society of Ireland, Eamon Harrington, said the retiring judge had shown “dedication, fairness and a distinct brand of Cork common sense”.

Emma Meagher Neville of the Southern Law Association said one was always assured of a fair hearing when appearing before Judge Dorgan. Carmel Best, on behalf of family lawyers, thanked Judge Dorgan for her kindness, hard work and dedication.

Judge Eamon Carroll, who worked alongside Judge Dorgan in family law courts for many years, said she was a tremendous support and was innovative in her approach to proceedings, not least during the challenges of Covid.

Frank Buttimer, on behalf of solicitors, said she had been an exemplary judge in one of the busiest courts in the country and remarked that the name of her replacement is “like the Third Secret of Fatima”.

Superintendent Annette Brown, on behalf of An Garda Síochána, Pat Daly of the Irish Prison Service, Eleanor Busteed of the Probation Service, and Ruth Penney of the Courts Service joined in thanking the judge for her compassion and hard work over the years and wished her well in retirement.

The retiring judge thanked her family, judicial colleagues past and present, and registrars who had worked with her, including Frances O’Connor, Peter Devine and Leonard McCarthy.