Limerick's reputation as a criminally violent city is ill deserved, a newly appointed High Court Judge has said.
Speaking on his last day at Limerick Circuit Court, Judge Carroll Moran said by contrast the "news from Dublin is one of continuos murder and mayhem."
"I want to take the opportunity to emphasis the reputation of Limerick as a criminally violent city is particularly ill-deserved, " said Judge Moran who has presided over the Limerick Circuit Court for the past 12 years ago.
“Limerick is not a criminally violent place. Limerick is now is a peaceful place. For example, as far as I can ascertain there has only been one homicide in Limerick since January 2013 and that’s almost two years,” he continued.
“By contrast the news from Dublin is one of continuous murder and mayhem. In Limerick you can walk O’Connell Street and the side streets in comparative safety. The same cannot be said about the similarly named street in Dublin.”
Judge Moran said the reason for the decline of serious crime in Limerick was due to the success and effective policing of the streets of the city.
Chief Superintendent Dave Sheahan said that Judge Moran "took total command of the court during a fractious period in Limerick's history".
“While all around were losing their heads, you were calm and collected which led to balanced and fair judgements,” Chief Supt Sheahan said.
Judge Moran, he added “captured the mood of the city” and what was happening in its environment at the time.
Limerick’s most senior Garda said that although merited, the gain for the High Court was a loss for Limerick.
Judge Moran praised the legal profession for the trust that existed in the court and said the standard was as good as to be found anywhere in the country.
“Nothing is let sleep, no point is left unchallenged, cases are well prepared and all of this work is done in a communicative manner in the spirit of co-operation.”
State solicitor Michael Murray said Judge Moran's elevation to the High Court was truly deserved given the level of esteem and respect that the people of Limerick have."
Judge Moran, he said, would not send “people to jail lightly” adding that sentencing in all cases was “very measured ... a harsh court is a bad court and you never ran a bad court”.
Before he finished Judge Moran thanked at the court staff and mentioned in particular the popular Ollie McCarthy who has managed the circuit court building for the past 15 years.
“I appreciate all he has done. Not least and most importantly he has put me into good humour every day as a result of his cheerful and sometimes quite insolent greetings,” he said.