Cootehill solicitor nominated as district court judge

A Cootehill solicitor has been appointed a District Court judge. In securing the government nomination, Brendan O'Reilly of O'Reilly Solicitors in Cootehill follows in the footsteps of his father, Aodhagan O'Reilly.

Brendan O'Reilly was nominated alongside Máire Connelly, after the retirements of Judge Patrick Durcan and Terence J.W. Finn.

Mr O'Reilly is a graduate of University College Galway (now NUIG) and University College Dublin (UCD). He qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and as a solicitor in Northern Ireland in 1994.

A delighted Mr O'Reilly told the Celt this week that the elevation to the position of a District Court Judge was most welcome. "It is an honour to be afforded an opportunity to serve your community as a judge," he said.

Being called to the bench is nothing at all new to the O'Reilly family. Apart from his father being a judge, Brendan's uncle T.P. O'Reilly was also a District Court Judge.

"It is something I would have grown up with," he said.

Mr O'Reilly confirmed that he will be on the moveable Judge list to begin, meaning he has not yet been assigned a district.

He is looking forward to the role. "You will get a bit of variety. There will be something different in every court," enthused the law man.

Mr O'Reilly served his solicitor's apprenticeship with Patrick Carolan Solicitors in Kingscourt. Patrick Carolan was a famed former Cavan footballer. "It got off to a great start there and it was a wonderful office to do the apprenticeship and Paddy Carolan was a great master to have. Then I went to Mohill and worked for Kevin Kilraine Solicitors – of course Kevin is now a judge. I gained great experience," recalled Mr O'Reilly who practised as a solicitor in the courts in Cavan, Monaghan, Sligo and Roscommon.

The Government has formally advised President Micheal D. Higgins of the nomination in accordance with constitutional practice.