'Remarkable Judge and a remarkable man': Tributes after death of Judge John O'Hagan

Moving and heartfelt tributes have been paid to Judge John O'Hagan, who served in the Donegal District for ten years.

Judge O'Hagan passed away on Saturday following a short illness.

Tributes were paid this week at sittings of Letterkenny District Court and Buncrana District Court.

“He was a remarkable Judge and a remarkable man,” said District Court Judge Ciaran Liddy.

“We were fortunate to have a Judge the calibre of Judge John O'Hagan. His intellect and brilliant legal mind were equalled only by empathy and he created an environment which put people at ease in very difficult times.

“He had a great affiliation with Donegal. He will be dearly missed.”

Barrister Damian Crawford recalled Judge O'Hagan as a 'truly remarkable man'.

“He lived a wonderfully full life,” Mr Crawford said. “Judge O'Hagan always had an impressive line of books in front of him on the bench and woe betide any solicitor or barrister who thought that they knew the law.”

Mr Crawford said Judge O'Hagan was 'the consummate Judge' who 'never lost the ability to connect with people'.

“His decency and integrity shone through at every juncture,” Mr Crawford said.

Buncrana-based solicitor Ciaran Mac Lochlainn recalled how Judge O'Hagan insisted on sitting in Buncrana and how he 'got a real feel for rows about boundaries and adverse possession cases' by going out to visit scenes of dispute.

Mr Mac Lochlainn said Judge O'Hagan loved the countryside and on his visits to Donegal getting the ferry to Buncrana was 'a real treat'.

Letterkenny solicitor Kieran O'Gorman said he was shocked to learn of Judge O'Hagan's passing. Mr O'Gorman said he had not realised that Judge O'Hagan was unwell and that his thoughts went out to his wife of 50 years Sarah and their extended family.
Barrister Ciaran Elders said he always found Judge O'Hagan to be a gentleman when he was sitting in Donegal and was always fair to people and practitioners.
"He had the ability to be both generous and fair and I'm sure his family is going through a very difficult time," Mr Elders said.
On behalf of An Garda Siochana, Sergeant Maurice Doyle said he would also like to be associated with the sympathies to Judge O'Hagan saying he was always well-liked by everyone.

Inspector Pail Gallagher said Judge O'Hagan made a 'great contribution' and would be remembered as 'a very fair Judge'.
Manager of the Letterkenny Courts Service, Geoffrey McGonagle said the late Judge O'Hagan was always very popular with courts service staff, even after his retirement.
He recalled it was not long ago that Judge O'Hagan even called back into the court building for a cup of coffee and a chat with staff.
Judge O'Hagan began in the Northern Circuit courts in 2006 before officially retiring in 2017. He was also appointed as a Judge on the Special Criminal Court from 1999.
A keen biker, sailor, golfer and fisherman, Judge O’Hagan was remembered fondly by many in the legal system in Donegal upon his retirement in 2017.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sarah, his daughter Clodagh and her partner Finbarr, his son Mark and fiancée Sinéad, his daughter Terry, her husband Philip and their beautiful children Ciara and PJ.
He is also survived by his sisters Adelaide and Catherine, brother Conor, relatives and his many close friends, bikers, choir members and neighbours.

Late of Donacarney, County Meath, Judge O'Hagan's Funeral Mass took place on Wednesday morning at Star of the Sea Church, Mornington, Co Meath.