Nenagh remembers Judge MacGrath

A large crowd of friends and colleagues gathered at Nenagh Courthouse last Friday to mark the first anniversary of the death of Judge Elizabeth MacGrath.

A bench was formally unveiled in the courthouse grounds in memory of Judge MacGrath, who sadly passed on July 3 last year at the age of 65, less than four weeks after presiding at Nenagh District Court for her last time.

Nenagh District Court Officer Michelle Corish said the bench represented Judge MacGrath's love of nature and the kind way she treated all who entered the courthouse. The bench was blessed by Fr Lorcán Kenny.

Ms Corish thanked the late judge's husband Charles Stanley Smyth and the MacGrath family for agreeing to hold the first anniversary memorial in honour of a Nenagh woman so greatly missed in the community.

'MORE THAN A JUDGE'

Her successor as permanent judge of Nenagh District Court, Judge Marie Keane said the occasion was the brainchild of the local court staff. For them, Judge MacGrath was "more than a judge"; she was a friend and they had many fond memories of working with her.

Judge Keane said her predecessor had expressed a wish for a bench to be installed in the courthouse grounds. The bench symbolised the chats that Judge MacGrath and the staff used to have outside. She would have been very proud of the staff for the initiative they had taken.

Judge Keane spoke of the huge difference the late judge had made to the lives of the people she encountered. "Judge MacGrath cared about people, not just about the outcomes," Judge Keane told those gathered.

"In her role as the assigned judge of District No 8, she provided leadership to the staff of District No 8 and that leadership rested very easily on Judge MacGrath. She was able to balance leadership with kindness and accountability with empathy."

Adding that her late colleague "left us better than she found us", Judge Keane said this legacy would live on at Nenagh Courthouse.

Court Clerk Tommy Mockler said the idea of marking of the first anniversary of Judge MacGrath's death was conceived around six months ago. He thanked Judge Keane, the legal profession, gardaí and, most importantly, Charles and the MacGrath family for supporting the idea.

'NORMAL PERSON'

Mr Mockler remembered the deceased as "Liz MacGrath - a normal person outside the courtroom". She always had a joke to share, and always had time for people, no matter who they were or where they came from. He and his colleagues would always remember the time they spent chatting with her outside, "sorting out the world's problems".

Concluding, Mr Mockler read a line from a condolence card Judge MacGrath had sent to him following the death of his grandfather in 2018: "'File all the memories you have of him in your mind and call on them as you go through life'. I think that's something we can do with Liz."

Charles Stanley Smyth thanked the court staff for what he described as a fitting tribute to his late wife. He spoke of Judge MacGrath's local lineage; Her parents, Justice Michael MacGrath and Thèrèse Deignan came from well-known and respected Nenagh families. She worked as a solicitor for 20 years before her appointment to the bench. She had always wanted to be a district court judge and, as soon as the position in Nenagh became available, she applied for it and was appointed in 2012.

'GOLD MEDAL WINNER'

Mr Stanley Smyth remarked that it was appropriate for the new bench to be located beside the statues of Nenagh's three Olympic heroes. Judge MacGrath was a "gold medal winner in the pursuit of justice".

Reading through some of the hundreds of messages of condolence that followed his wife's passing a year ago, Mr Stanley Smyth said Judge MacGrath "was Nenagh District Court". He thanked all involved for honouing her memory.

So too did Judge MacGrath's brother Michael, who welcomed the sight of so many of his late sister's friends and colleagues. Mr MacGrath - who followed his father and sister's footsteps to become a judge of the Court of Appeal - commented that the occasion was also one of sadness; they were gathered at the courthouse that Judge MacGrath left on June 7 last year, never to return.

Recalling the sorrow last year when his sister died following a short illness, Mr MacGrath mentioned the funeral, at which the local gardaí performed a guard of honour in full uniform, something the family would never forget. On behalf of his brothers and sisters, and Mr Stanley Smyth, he thanked all involved in celebrating the life of Judge MacGrath with the memorial bench.

"This wonderful tribute to Liz will help remind not only those of us who knew her, but also those who did not, of the high esteem that she was held in by her friends and court staff, and the members of the profession who appeared before her and who had and continued to have great respect for her work. Not only was Liz respected but she was regarded as a true friend," the deceased's brother said, adding that she managed to achieve the "difficult balance" of maintaining that friendship and respect in equal measure.

The ceremony then concluded with a reflection read by Judge MacGrath's sister Miriam.