Tributes as Circuit Court’s Judge Alison Lindsay retires

Tributes were paid to Judge Alison Lindsay on her retirement as a Circuit Court judge.

Members of the judge's family, as well as her former tip-staff, were in the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Friday to hear tributes paid to her by barristers, gardaí and court staff.

To mark her retirement, Judge Lindsay presided at the three-judge court .

Patrick Gageby SC led the tributes, noting the "esteem" in which Judge Lindsay was held in by all members of the Bar, both senior and junior.

This was “consistent with a long and lauded legal lineage,” he said.

High Court judge Mr Justice Paul Butler said Judge Lindsay was a "wonderful colleague to work with", before adding that her her retirement was "very early".

“She is considerably younger than I am,” he said.

On behalf of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, solicitor Michael O'Donovan said that the judge was an "absolute pleasure" to deal with.

Also present was former member of the Special Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire, who thanked Judge Lindsay for her service in the Special Criminal Court, praising her "impartial, fair and incisive questions".

Court registrar John Quirke wished the judge a long, happy retirement on behalf of the court service.

At the conclusion of the tributes, Judge Lindsay said that she had been hoping to “escape under the radar”.

“It was a pleasure to be a judge for the last 20 years,” she said, adding that it had been a “fruitful” time.

She thanked her colleagues and her family.