By Paddy Walsh
AFTER thirty-four years of unstinting service to the courts services, retirement has arrived for one its most popular personalities, Liam Devenney.
But the stories will go on for some time yet – bound perhaps in book form as the Newtowncunningham native prepares to put his memoirs onto the page under the not so official secrets act!
On Friday in Letterkenny courthouse the jury seats in courtroom number one were packed along with every other conceivable area in the facility as they, Judges, legal practitioners, the County Registrar, high ranking Gardaí, and Liam’s fellow staff members and members of his family, assembled to deliver their verdict on his self-less contribution to his care taking role in both the present courthouse and in its predecessor.
“He is the face of Letterkenny Court services, the legend that is Liam Devenney,” court manager, Geoffrey McGonagle introduced the man of the moment and the proceedings.
President of the District Court, Judge Paul Kelly, recalled April 4, 2011 when he first arrived at the old courthouse and was met by “this very kind man” who led him through a labyrinth of passages to his chamber. “It’s the service you would come to expect of Liam,” he indicated.
“He was a great source of fun and support and it will not be the same without him.”
Judge Kelly spoke of Liam’s passion for cycling and the time he took up running in the company of his colleague, John Quinn (cue laughter in court!) which lasted for three weeks when John broke his ankle.
The current District Court Judge, Emile Daly, said it was clear how beloved Liam was – his presence in the courthouse always reassuring and the little things like leaving a heated scone on her desk prior to the court sitting.
Judge Daly read out a specially written reflection, entitled ‘Our Soldier’ which highlighted Liam’s advancement from his time in the Irish army to marching into the court services. A framed image of the poem was presented to the man of the moment along with a number of other gifts to mark the occasion.
Judge Daly’s immediate predecessor, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham, now based in District Court Area Number Two, said for three and a half years, Liam had been a constant.
“His smile and little interactions made my day.”
Describing him as “one in a million”, Judge Cunningham declared they would only know how much he had contributed to the court services when he had gone. ‘What you do here is immeasurable – we will all miss you.”
And addressing Liam’s family, his wife, Frances, son, Ashley and sisters Ann and Eileen, the Judge quipped: “You’re all stuck with him now!”
County Registrar, James Canny said Liam’s work hadn’t just been confined to the courts but to the occasions of elections when he would be first at the count centre at 5.30am and not leaving until around 1am the following morning.
“When I first arrived here in 2000, I had assumed that Liam ran the court services. Now after 26 years, I’m absolutely certain of it.”
Representing the barristers, Damian Crawford, B.L. recalled being in the consultation room in the previous courthouse and the door suddenly bursting open and Liam standing there staring around the room before leaving again and closing the door. It was only later that it transpired that there had been an incident when a fire had started in the Judge’s chamber after a cigarette butt had been thrown from a window and returned to the building via a skylight.
Referring to how dedicated Liam had been to facilitate everybody in the court, Mr Crawford spoke of his interest in motor sport and said they were going to present him with a voucher to take up tuition in a rally car which would involve high speed turns. “It may well necessitate many more days coming back to court!”
Solicitor Kieran O’Gorman said the gathering in Courtroom Number One showed the esteem in which Liam Devenney was held. He had met him first in the old courthouse in 1992 and noted to the late Paudge Dorrian of this very friendly individual with a polite manner. “And from that day, that’s the way Liam has been.”
State Solicitor, Kieran Dillon also acknowledged Liam’s contribution to the courts. “I never thought the day would come when he would be leaving us.”
Garda Chief Superintendent, Goretti Sheridan, thanked Liam for his kindness and support over the years and said he had been of great support to the Gardaí in that time.
The local media also paid tribute acknowledging him as a “true character” and a great help to them.
Before handing the proceedings over, Geoffrey McGonagle said they had dreaded this day coming. “I tried everything to get him to stay on. He has been the heart and soul of our office for many years.
“We will miss his good humour and positivity and his ability to brighten up a dull day.”
Liam would often greet people with the opening bars of a song, his favourite being ‘White Christmas’. “And you could hear that in June, July or August.”
The court manager recalled the day when Liam was awaiting the arrival of the Circuit Court Judge, John O’Hagan, and overhearing the latter’s right hand man, Joe D’Arcy declaring from the next room: ‘He’s going to kill me.”
He had spilt coffee over the Judge’s trousers which he was due to wear but far from panicking, Liam jumped into action. And with ten minutes to go before the scheduled start of the court, he brought the stained trousers to the dry cleaners on the High Road.
“When do you need them for?,” the assistant enquired of Liam, not anticipating the answer. But so it was that he arrived back in the courthouse with a clean bill of health for the trousers.
Thanking everyone for their presence, Liam maintained: “I didn’t know I had that many friends!”
It had, he said, been a pleasure working for the court services and walking the corridors of the courthouses.
“I do have a lot of stories to tell and I think I’ll put them in a book. Some of you will get a complimentary and some will be known as Mr X, especially you, Mr Nolan!”
One of the many stories that will find its way into the book is the one when the late Judge Liam McMenamin asked him if he had a clean driving licence.
When Liam replied that he had, the Judge asked him if he could drive him in his, the Judge’s car, to the removal of the remains of a neighbour of his from the hospital.
“I was driving a Ford Fiesta and he had a Volvo X40 and it was like the cockpit of a 747 with buttons everywhere.”
During the journey, with the Judge sitting in the back seat, Liam noticed a flashing red light on the dashboard.
“What’s that, Judge,” he asked.
“That’s a 50 pound fine for not wearing your seat belt,” Judge McMenamin answered.
One of many fine stories that, no doubt, will surface when that promised publication comes into circulation.
The best of luck in the future, our Liam!