ONE OF the most popular judges in the Circuit Court hung up his wig and gown for the last time as the law term closed on Wednesday after a distinguished career spanning 47 years.
Judge John Gerard Buchanan shared this moment with three members of the Garda Siochana who were murdered while carrying out their duty.
"A few short weeks ago Det Garda Jerry McCabe gave evidence in front of me in Limerick and I knew Det Garda John Morley and his colleague Det Garda Henry Byrne [murdered in 1980] during my time in Roscommon. I salute their memory", he said.
Acting Circuit Court President, Judge Buchanan was joined by eight colleagues in court 18 to hear tributes from his friends at the Bar, solicitors and court officials.
The judge, 70 on August 27th, was educated in St Columba's, Rathfarnham, and Trinity College, Dublin. He was appointed to the Bench in 1978 and, with Judge Diarmuid Sheridan, was the longest serving judge in the Circuit Court.
Mr James Nugent, chairman of the Bar Council, said Judge Buchanan had a perfect sense of what was practical and good. Law had never been an end in itself and he had used it to fashion justice.
Judge Buchanan said the courts did not consist of judges only. A vast army ensured their smooth running and he had always had co-operation from court staff, gardai, journalists and prison and probation officers.
His long association with the Special Criminal Court brought to mind the seriousness of court work. Anyone who suggested that judges dealing daily with criminal, civil and family law matters lived in ivory towers were themselves living in cloud cuckoo land.