Courts Staff - Ruth Cannon, Barrister, Four Courts History

The Divorce of a Deputy Crier, 1885-91

Angry woman yelling at man Ruth Cannon BL barrister — *Image via IStock*

From the Freeman’s Journal, 10 November 1885:

“PROBATE AND MATRIMONIAL DIVISION

Before the Right Hon Judge Warren, and a Common Jury

CARNEGIE V CARNEGIE – This was a suit by the wife for a divorce a mensa et thoro, on the grounds of cruelty. The petitioner is Phoebe Louisa Carnegie, who carries on business as a milliner and draper at 41 Henry-street, and the respondent, Richard Mackett Carnegie, is deputy crier of the Court of Chancery, verger of St Patrick’s Cathedral, and carries on read more

A She-Judge, 1830

From the Dublin Morning Register, 5 May 1830:

“COURT OF KING’S BENCH – (A SHE-JUDGE)

At half-past nine o’clock yesterday morning, one of the Court-Keepers’ maids, a plump, arch-looking girl, entered the Court, and ascended the Bench to arrange their Lordships’ inkstands, cushions etc. Having completed all matters of judicial accommodation, she sat down very gravely in the seat usually occupied by Judge Jebb.

A Reporter, who generally labors under the influence read more

The Misfortunes of Judge Linehan’s Criers, 1913-29

*The Old Courthouse, Dungannon, where Mr Ree was locked in in 1913, via Wikimedia Commons.*

From the Mid-Ulster Mail, 7 June 1913:

“Mr Robert Ree, County Court Judge Linehan’s crier, met with an unfortunate accident in Dungannon on the afternoon of the 4^th. It seems that the business of the quarter sessions was adjourned early in the afternoon, and the officials hurried off to the Dungannon Agricultural Show, with the result that Mr Ree, after settling up the judge’s papers, found that he was locked inside the courthouse. There is no interior connection read more

Lord Chancellor’s Mace-Bearer Fined for Assaulting Dublin United Tramways Conductor, 1902

From the Irish News and Belfast Morning News, 1 July 1902:

“SCENE IN A TRAMCAR

Today in the Southern Police Court, before Mr Wall KC, a respectable-looking elderly man named Matthew Orr, a crier in the Four Courts, was brought up in custody of Constable 46B, charged at the instance of Patrick Reddy, a conductor in the employment of the Dublin United Tramways Company, with having been guilty of disorderly behaviour by catching Reddy by the corner of the coat, shaking him, and striking him on read more

Tragic Tipstaff Death in Phoenix Park, 1905

From the Irish News and Belfast Morning News, 9 June 1905, this sad account of the death of Mr Robert Pierson, tipstaff/crier to the Recorder of Dublin:

“Yesterday at the Dublin City Commission, before the Lord Chief Justice and a jury, James Doolan, publican, Watling Street, was charged with the manslaughter of Robert Pierson, who had for some years being crier in the Recorder’s Court.Mr Seymour Bushe KC prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. Mr TM Healy KC defended.The prisoner pleaded read more