District Court Judge Marie Quirke “gave justice a kind face” and treated everyone with dignity and respect, her funeral service has been told.
It was “her mission in life, and her way of life” to “face down and overcome” the unfairness of life for so many, Fr Michael Cahill said in his homily at the Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, Co Meath, for Judge Quirke (60), who died suddenly last week.
“The consensus is she treated everyone without fear or favour, the same equally and fairly, and that her manner and judgments were the epitome of fairness,” he said.
The Mass on Monday was followed by cremation at Dardistown crematorium where District Court Judge Mary Dorgan described her friend and colleague as “simply the best”.
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Judge Quirke’s death had come as a great shock, especially to her husband Alan, daughter Dearbhla and son Tiernan, “whom she loved more than anyone”.
Her friends and colleagues respected and loved her, she was “hugely popular”, fun-loving with an “infectious laugh” and, “so very kind and thoughtful, and generous with her time, especially to colleagues”.
During her career as a solicitor, Judge Quirke joined the Legal Aid Board and, while working in Waterford, set up the refugee legal service which was “transformative and ground breaking” work.
She enjoyed being a judge, especially in childcare cases and her work was “always done with kindness and consideration”.
Judge Dorgan read a poem by the American poet Emily Dickinson which Judge Quirke sent to her six weeks ago with the message that everyone should read it.
The poem includes the line: “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain”.
“Marie certainly did not live in vain, she touched so many, she will always be in our hearts, and in our memories, and in our lives, she was simply the best,” Judge Dorgan said.
Celebrant Kate Motherway said, during a chance encounter between Judge Quirke and U2 lead singer Bono outside Dublin’s Clarence Hotel soon after her appointment to the bench in 2012, Judge Quirke told Bono: “We work for the people that you sing about, where the streets have no name.”
She brought “humour and compassion” to her role as a judge and her family told of how deeply affected she was by many cases that came before her, Ms Motherway said.
She had allowed one defendant appear naked, the nakedness being in protest that he was not allowed access to his emotional support cat, and assured him every effort would be made to locate the animal. When bail was set, she remarked: “I don’t see his wallet on him today.”
Earlier, judges formed a guard of honour outside the church in Ratoath as the funeral cortege arrived. The large attendance included the Chief Justice, Donal O’Donnell; president of the Circuit Court, Judge Patricia Ryan; president of the District Court, Judge Paul Kelly, and many other judges and lawyers.
Born into a farming family in Oola, Co Tipperary, Judge Quirke studied law at UCC and qualified as a solicitor from the Law Society, practising mainly in family law.
She was managing solicitor of the Finglas Law Centre prior to being appointed a judge of the District Court in 2012. She dealt initially with family, childcare and criminal cases before being appointed the licensing judge for the Dublin metropolitan area. She also dealt with small claims cases.
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