“We are all shocked and saddened,” said District Court President Paul Kelly, who described her as “a wonderful colleague, who embodied all the best qualities of a judge – extensive legal knowledge, experience and expertise; patience, fairness, compassion and a deep understanding of the human condition.”

Appointed to the bench in 2012, Judge Quirke initially worked in family, childcare, and criminal law before taking on licensing cases across Dublin and Small Claims Court matters. Before her judicial appointment, she was managing solicitor at the Finglas Law Centre, specialising in family law, and tutored at the Law Society for nearly 20 years.

Constance Cassidy SC described her as a “visionary” who respected everyone equally, from practitioners to lay litigants. “No one came before her who did not get a chance to say their piece,” Ms Cassidy said, adding that she “made very good decisions, most of which were unappealable.”

Judge Quirke was also dedicated to judicial training, frequently delivering sessions to newly appointed judges as part of the Judicial Studies Committee. She is survived by her husband Alan, daughter Dearbhla, and son Tiernan.