Donegal District Court Judge, Raymond Finnegan, is to vacate the post – just two months after hearing his first case in the county.

Judge Finnegan has been appointed to a vacancy in the Cavan/Monaghan courts district.

Having previously served as a solicitor in County Meath, he had pledged to adhere to a strict policy of only permitting two adjournments in a case, pointing to an extensive backlog of cases in Donegal.

Referring to the court list, he indicated that it was his intention to reduce it substantially. “My middle name is speed. I move fast and I expect everyone else to move fast,” he remarked during his initial court sitting.

In his short term in the county, Judge Finnegan did indeed adopt the policy of hurrying matters along.

But few could have foreseen how speedily he would be vacating the post in Donegal Number 1 Court district.

He was formally appointed in May last to succeed Judge Paul Kelly who took on the role of President of the District Court after serving eleven years in Donegal.

The move to Cavan/Monaghan will bring Judge Finnegan closer to his home county but will now initiate moves for a replacement.

He presided at Tuesday’s sitting of Falcarragh District Court but made no mention of  his pending departure.

He is expected to take up his new role early in the New Year.