Court offers warm welcome to new tipstaff

For many years, the legendary Mr Ian Barclay was the tipstaff for the then Chancery list judge, including Ms Justice Reynolds, Mr Justice O’Moore, Mr Justice Allen and finally Mr Justice Sanfey. Mr Barclay was not only a man of considerable charm but had a deep knowledge of the Chancery list. A quiet word with him always elicited crucial advice.

On his retirement, there were great tributes paid to him. In former years when a member of the court staff retired, there was always a party in the basement bar; this facility beside the offices of the judicial assistants is, alas, with the restaurant, long gone. Those of a certain age shall well recall it. The bar was presided over by Ms Jean Fowler, a woman of great kindness, who served lawyers and litigants with equal grace.

In the absence of this facility, Mr Barclay was the first recipient of an invitation to be hosted at the Sheds Bar in the Law Library Distillery Building. There was, as one would expect, a great turnout, and further fulsome tributes were paid to him.

One of the more important duties of a barrister is to pay tribute to a new solicitor being introduced to a court as well as on the retirement or death of a judge, lawyer or member of the court staff. Thus, yesterday, Mr Des Sheridan was welcomed to the court on his recent appointment as a tipstaff by Mr Johnnie McCoy BL on behalf of the Bar.

Mr McCoy said that he had heard that this important office in the administration of justice was being allowed to wither away. Mr McCoy paid tribute to the fact that wiser counsel had prevailed, and that Mr Sheridan had been appointed as a result. Mr McCoy wished him well in his important role with the court. Mr Justice Cregan graciously acknowledged this tribute, as did Mr Sheridan.

The name of the office of tipstaff referred to the wooden staff that each carried. This was tipped off the floors as they walked — which served as useful warning that a judge was approaching, especially if one then had their back to where the judge was coming from.

The staff also provided a means of defence in the event that someone sought to attack a judge. I am not aware of any such episodes.

The vast majority of the tipstaffs were former members of the gardaí and/or the military. Until the late Mr Justice Carney broke the mould (not for the first time) by appointing a woman, all tipstaffs were men.

A group of staffs, for the then members of the Supreme Court who were sitting, were left against the wall at the door to the entrance to the chambers of the Chief Justice after the respective judge and tipstaff had gone in.

In giving speeches on their retirement, judges were always full of praise for their tipstaffs and the valued assistance that they provided. They act as a vital means of communication between a judge in their chambers and the lawyers outside, as well as ensuring the dignity of the court and keeping order.

There are so many former tipstaffs worthy of mention but Mr Pat Dempsey, tipstaff to the President Johnson and Mr Philip Gillick, tipstaff to the late Mr Justice Flood, readily spring to mind as well as the presently serving colleagues of Mr. Sheridan.

Interestingly, the gown presently worn by a judicial assistant is that worn by a tipstaff.

The resumption of appointing people to this noble office is to be welcomed.