Limerick native promoted to be judge of the circuit court

LIMERICK native and Clare’s District Justice, Judge Alec Gabbett has been appointed by Government to be a judge of the circuit court.

Judge Gabbett is expected to take up his new role in the next number of weeks that will leave County Clare without an assigned district judge for a period unless the Government acts quickly to fill the position on a permanent basis.

A spokesman for the Courts Service confirmed Judge Gabbett’s appointment to the circuit court today.

Judge Gabbett’s promotion comes more than five years after the Limerick man was appointed a district court judge in November 2020.

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Judge Gabbett first served as a moveable judge before being appointed Clare’s judge to cover District 12 when he succeeded Judge Mary Larkin who retired in May 2023.

During his time in Clare, Judge Gabbett heard cases across the criminal, civil and family law areas.

District 12 covers courts in Ennis, Kilrush, Killaloe in Clare and Gort in south Galway.

Judge Gabbett, aged 49, worked as a solicitor for 19 years before his appointment to the judiciary in 2020.

Prior to becoming a judge, Alec Gabbett was a partner at Leahy Reidy Solicitors in Limerick.

It is expected that an unassigned judge or judges will serve the district court in Clare before Government makes a full-time appointment to succeed Judge Gabbett. It is likely that Judge Gabbett will first work as an unassigned judge of the circuit court when he takes up his new role.

The salary for a district court judge commences at €144,856  while the salary for a circuit court judge in Year One is €166,720.