The Gazette 1982

GAZETTE

SEPTEMBER 1982

Century Bridged as High Court

Solicitors' Golfing Society

Comes to Trim

Reprinted from The Meath Chronicle, with kind permission of The Editor.

Captains (David Bell) Prize Milltown Golf Club Ist July 1982 Captains Prize and Golfing Society challenge cup. Winner: B. Whittaker (4) 38 Pts on 2nd nine. Runner up: R. Lynam (15) 38 Pts.

Trim has received a major commercial boost with the holding of sittings ofthe High Court in the local Courthouse after a lapse of almost a century. On Monday morning, thefirst day of the two-week long sittings, the town was extremely busy, with cars stretching around the streets adjoining the Courthouse. The car park at KingJohn's Castle was unexpectedly full on Monday morning, as jurors, barristers, senior counsel and solicitors made their way to the Court sittings. The chairman of the local Urban Council, Mr Noel Dempsey, whofirst mooted the idea of holding High Court sittings in the town, called on the powers that be to use Trim as a permanent venue for the Court. Regular "I hope there will be more sittings and that it will become a regular feature," Mr Dempsey said, promising that the Urban Council would give every co-operation. Both Trim and Naas were selected for special sittings of the High Court because of their proximity to Dublin. The decision was taken in a bid to reduce the backlog ofcases in Dublin. Mr Dempsey, resplendent in his chain ofoffice, andMrs Mary McGuinness, President, Trim Chamber of Com- merce, welcomed Mr Justice McMahon and Mr Justice O'Hanlon of the High Court on Monday. Century Almost a century previously, on 16th November, 1892, in the precincts of the same Courthouse, Mr Justice O'Brien, otherwise Lord O'Brien of Killinora, later to be known irreverently as "Peter the Packer", and Mr Justice Andrews, were similarly welcomed on the commencement of the trial of the south Meath Parnellite election petition. In 1892 the Justices travelled by train from the Broad- stone station in Dublin to Trim where they were met by an honorary escort of mounted constabulary. An indication of the mood of the time was that on the same train, in the custody of the governor of Kilmainham jail, was Rev. Fr Fay, P.P., Summerhill, an important witness in the case. Subsequently, a Judge ofthe High Court offirst instance did not preside in Trim until last Monday. Many of the leading members ofthe Irish Bar are engag- ed in the various proceedings, at present, including Mr Michael O'Kennedy, T.D., S.C., former European Com- missioner and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Finance; distinguished Kerry lawyer, Mr Hugh J. O'Flaherty; Mr Peter Sutherland, former Attorney-General to Dr Garret FitzGerald, T.D.; Mrs Valdi McMahon, daughter of short story writer, Mary Lavin, Bective, andMr John O. Sweet- man, a descendent of the strongly nationalist Co. Meath family. In addition to the historical significance of these hear- ings, commercial benefit to the town of Trim has been very considerable, according to Mrs McGuinness. A reception organised by Trim Urban Council and Trim Chamber ofCommerce to mark the historic occasion ofthe sitting of the High Court in the town will be held in the local Wellington Court Hotel, tomorrow (Friday) at 4.30 p.m. The guests ofhonourwill be Mr Justice McMahon, S.C. and Mr Justice O'Hanlon, S.C., and members of the Irish Bar.

Ryan Cup. Winner: J. McKnight (18) 38 Pts on last 6. Runner up: A. Grogan (15) 37 Pts.

Under 12. Winner: T. Shaw (5) 37 Pts.

Runner up: D. Lynch (9) 36 Pts. 1st Nine P. Keams (10) 22 Pts. 2nd Nine J. McGowan (13) 20 Pts. More than 30 miles J. Bolger (15) 36 Pts. Lot C. Coyle (8) 32 Pts. O. O'Brien (6) 32 Pts.

Left to Right: Mr Noel Dempsey, Chairman Trim Urban District Council, Mr. Justice O'Hanlon, Mrs Mary McGuinness, President, Trim Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Justice McMahon.