Warm tributes were paid yesterday to the former Chief Legal Officer of the Criminal Assets Bureau, Barry Galvin who next month retires from public service practice when he steps down following a 30 year career as State Solicitor for Cork city.
Mr Justice Paul Carney, Mr Justice George Bermingham, Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley Judge Sean O Donnabhain and Judge David Riordan gathered in Court No 2 at the Washington Street Courthouse with members of the Cork Bar, Southern Law Association, Gardaí and Court Services Staff to pay tribute to Mr Galvin.
Father of the Cork Bar, Don McCarthy BL led the tributes, saying Mr Galvin did his job so well as Cork City State Solicitor that when difficult times arose in the 1990s, he was appointed CAB Chief Legal Officer where he pursued his duties with similar professionalism.
Solicitor, Frank Buttimer said the Southern Law Association was proud of Mr Galvin's achievements on behalf of both the citizens of Cork and Ireland and defence solicitors always found him to be a man of his word in all their dealings with him when prosecuting cases.
Chief Supt Mick Finn of An Garda Síochána said that Mr Galvin had been a huge assistance to gardaí of all ranks, advising them on legal matters and his knowledge of the law was immense which wasn't surprising given he had drafted some of the legislation.
Judge Sean O Donnabhain said Mr Galvin had given “outstanding service to the state which has been continuous and dedicated” while he also noted Mr Galvin’s willingness to stand his ground with the judiciary and robustly make his point in a professional manner.
Tributes were also paid by Chief Prosecution Solicitor Peter Mullan of the DPP's office and Mary Crowley on behalf of the Courts Service of Ireland who praised Mr Galvin and his staff for their professionalism and she wished him well in his retirement.
Mr Galvin thanked everyone for their comments and he paid tribute to his staff, in particular Edward O'Hanlon, Carmel O'Sullivan and Eleanor McSweeney while he also thanked his county colleagues, John Brosnan, Malachy Boohig and Frank Nyhan for their help.
He also praised the gardaí, saying his appointment as State Solicitor for Cork coincided with an upsurge in serious drug dealing in Ireland and a concomitant rise in criminality and gardaí in Cork had to adapt but they did so in a way for which the people of the city can be grateful.
