Sharing the history of the Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland, and other Irish courts, one story at a time.
From the Dublin Morning Register, 5 May 1830:
“COURT OF KING’S BENCH – (A SHE-JUDGE)
At half-past nine o’clock yesterday morning, one of the Court-Keepers’ maids, a plump, arch-looking girl, entered the Court, and ascended the Bench to arrange their Lordships’ inkstands, cushions etc. Having completed all matters of judicial accommodation, she sat down very gravely in the seat usually occupied by Judge Jebb.
A Reporter, who generally labors under the influence
From the Mid-Ulster Mail, 7 June 1913:
“Mr Robert Ree, County Court Judge Linehan’s crier, met with an unfortunate accident in Dungannon on the afternoon of the 4th. It seems that the business of the quarter sessions was adjourned early in the afternoon, and the officials hurried off to the Dungannon Agricultural Show, with the result that Mr Ree, after settling up the judge’s papers, found that he was locked inside the courthouse. There is no interior connection
From the Irish News and Belfast Morning News, 1 July 1902:
“SCENE IN A TRAMCAR
Today in the Southern Police Court, before Mr Wall KC, a respectable-looking elderly man named Matthew Orr, a crier in the Four Courts, was brought up in custody of Constable 46B, charged at the instance of Patrick Reddy, a conductor in the employment of the Dublin United Tramways Company, with having been guilty of disorderly behaviour by catching Reddy by the corner of the coat, shaking him, and striking him on
From the Irish News and Belfast Morning News, 9 June 1905, this sad account of the death of Mr Robert Pierson, tipstaff/crier to the Recorder of Dublin:
“Yesterday at the Dublin City Commission, before the Lord Chief Justice and a jury, James Doolan, publican, Watling Street, was charged with the manslaughter of Robert Pierson, who had for some years being crier in the Recorder’s Court.Mr Seymour Bushe KC prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. Mr TM Healy KC defended.The prisoner pleaded
From the Irish Press, 19 October 1937 (photo above):
“The ceremony of opening the new revolving doors at the Chancery Place entrance to the High Court was performed by Mr CP Curran, Senior Registrar, in the absence of the Master of the High Court yesterday.
The doors are the first of the kind to be manufactured entirely in Ireland. The work was carried out by Messrs TR Scott & Co, Contractors and Cabinet Makers, 33 Upper Abbey Street, Dublin. The cabinet work is of teak wood with
From the Belfast Newsletter, June 16, 1916:
“FOUR COURTS OFFICIAL INJURED
STRANGE AFFAIR AT BLACKROCK
A sensational and mysterious assault is reported from Blackrock, County Dublin, the victim being Mr Francis Kennedy, Associate of the King’s Bench, and nephew of the Lord Chief Justice.
It appears that in the early hours of the morning, Mr Kennedy, who resides at Marino Park, Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, was heard by his wife to groan. She rose to go to his assistance and on looking up saw
From the Belfast Commercial Chronicle Dublin 2 May, 1816:
“On Tuesday evening, two young men of the names of John Goold and Michael White, had a regular pitched battle in the field near the Military Road, which terminated, after two-and-twenty rounds, by blow given by the latter to the stomach of the former, which put an end to the battle, and the life of Goold together.
These young men were the sons of two housekeepers of the Four Courts, Goold’s mother having the care of the Court of Common
From the Freeman’s Journal, 2 June 1885:
“The prolonged absence from duty of a prominent official connected with an important department in the Four Courts has given rise to rumors more or less compromising… the official in question more than three weeks ago obtained leave of absence on account of ill-health, that he repaired to an English watering-place, whence he wrote to his family one letter. No second communication was received, nor for the last fortnight has any tidings
From the Irish Times, 19 December 1900
“Yesterday in the Queen’s Bench Division… the case of Cooper v the Queen came on for argument… the question raised was whether the supplicant, who was crier or tipstaff of the Court of Bankruptcy, appointed by the late Judge Millar, had a permanent office, and was entitled to be kept on, notwithstanding the changes brought about by the amalgamation and consolidation of the Court of Bankruptcy with the High Court of Justice…
The supplicant
From the Dublin Morning Register, 20 December 1836:
“Garret Moran and James Doolin, two nice-looking young lads, were next brought up, charged with drunkenness and disturbing the peace.
The watchman stated that he found them fighting in the yard of the Four Courts.
Moran declared that he had a situation there, and could go in and out when he liked; that when he was going in on Saturday night he met Doolin in the yard talking to some women and that without saying more he knocked him down.
The
