New County State Solicitor appointed as tributes paid to Aidan Judge

ONLY the fifth County Limerick State Solicitor since the foundation of the State has been appointed.

Brendan Gill, originally from Dromkeen, will take over from Aidan Judge at midnight on Thursday, March 7.

State solicitors are solicitors in private practice who are employed on a contract basis to act on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to present the prosecution case in the circuit court in their respective area or county.

Mr Judge has served as County Limerick State Solicitor for 25 years. Mr Judge, of Culhane Judge & Co, Newcastle West, will remain in private practice.

Mr Gill will continue as a partner in the firm of Maurice Power Solicitors LLP in Kilmallock, with the firm ceasing to carry out criminal defence work.

The firm has a long tradition of providing legal services to the State. The firm’s founder John J Power was appointed Limerick’s first State solicitor in 1922.

His son, Maurice Power, was the longest serving State solicitor in the country. He acted as State solicitor for Limerick City and County from 1940 to 1969 and for Limerick County from 1969 to 1993 - a remarkable 53 years.

His son, John Power, a current partner in the firm, served as State solicitor for Limerick County from 1993 to 1998.

Mr Gill now becomes the fourth member of the practice to be appointed to the role. He was educated in Cloverfield NS, Crescent College Comprehensive SJ, Trinity College Dublin and the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

The Kilmallock-based solicitor carried out criminal defence work for the past 20 years in County Limerick and North Cork.

Padraig Mawe, Limerick City State Solicitor, paid tribute to Mr Judge for his professionalism and attention to detail.

“The then Attorney General, Mr David Byrne appointed Aidan Judge as State solicitor for Limerick County on June 1, 1998. Mr Judge worked diligently and professionally on behalf of the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the people of County Limerick for almost 26 years.

“He was an excellent colleague, very obliging and went about his business with little fuss. He took his role seriously and his paperwork was always immaculate and well organised. I will miss him as a fellow State solicitor and I wish him the best,” said Mr Mawe.

He also congratulated Mr Gill on his recent appointment, “which was well-merited”.

“I look forward to working with him and I have no doubt he will serve the people of County Limerick with the equivalent level of integrity and professionalism as Mr Judge,” said Mr Mawe.

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Helena Kiely, chief prosecution solicitor, Director of Public Prosecutions, said during his tenure as State solicitor, Mr Judge acted on behalf of all four Directors of Public Prosecution, the late Eamonn Barnes, James Hamilton, Claire Loftus and most recently Catherine Pierse.

“Mr Judge demonstrated great personal dedication and commitment to the role, providing a professional service to the Office of the DPP and to the people of County Limerick. Over those years, he dealt with many challenging and difficult cases.

“The role of the State solicitor is a very demanding role, being a very public role, where you serve your community but must remain somewhat apart to retain the confidentiality and trust of the people you serve.

“Mr Judge always demonstrated the independence and fairness essential to the role of State solicitor, earning the respect and trust of those with whom he worked,” said Ms Kiely, who added that Mr Judge was a great colleague and always quick to offer assistance or advice to colleagues.

“This generosity brought Mr Judge to many district and circuit courts in the Munster region, where he dealt with prosecutions on behalf of other colleagues. Mr Judge will be greatly missed by those who worked with him over the last 26 years,” said Ms Kiely.

The Director wished Mr Gill all the best in his new role, saying “he brings a wealth and knowledge of experience to the role from his 20 years in private practice and criminal defence”.