Politicians respond to judge's departure

Politicians from across the spectrum have praised Mr Justice Hugh O'Flaherty's contribution to the judiciary while saying at the same time that the facts of the Sheedy affair made his resignation unavoidable.

The Taoiseach said he "greatly regretted the circumstances" which brought about the resignation of "such a senior and distinguished holder of judicial office". He added: "His varied talents have been valuable in many spheres of Irish life and, no doubt, he will continue to contribute in the years to come."

The Minister for Justice said he had known the judge for a very long time, and noted that he had taken a large drop in income when appointed to the bench because he wanted to serve the country.

Speaking on Radio 1's This Week programme, Mr O'Donoghue added: "However, we are all publicly accountable, whether we are in the Oireachtas or in the judiciary, and accountability demands at times that we do things in the interests of our democracy."

The Tanaiste and Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Mary Harney, said that in resigning the judge had done "the decent and honourable thing". She paid tribute to "a distinguished judicial and legal career spanning 40 years" and wished him well in the future.

Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins, said Mr Justice O'Flaherty's resignation was regrettable but necessary.

He added: "The important constitutional role of the judiciary, its independence and integrity, must supersede any personal interest. Judges have a central role in protecting the principle of equality of all citizens before the law. Even the appearance of improper influence cannot be tolerated in a democracy."

A former Fine Gael minister for justice, Mr Jim Mitchell, said the resignation was "very sad but also very proper" and added that the Sheedy affair had exposed major gaps in the accountability of the courts and in the legislation governing them.

If Mr Justice Cyril Kelly chose not to resign, he predicted, the Oireachtas would face "almost insuperable obstacles" in proceeding against him. The process could take months, he said.

Labour praised the "swift and decisive manner" in which Mr Justice O'Flaherty had "confronted the findings of Chief Justice Hamilton's report".

The party's justice spokesman, Mr Brendan Howlin, accepted that the judge's actions had been motivated by humanitarian considerations. "The reputation of the judiciary would have suffered if Judge O'Flaherty had chosen any other course. His honourable and proper response will go a very long way towards maintaining the well-deserved public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of our judges."

Mr Howlin added it was now a matter for Mr Justice Kelly "to consider how he, too, can assist in restoring confidence to our justice system."