Dundalk legal giant James MacGuill remembered as ‘fearless’

Tributes to the late Dundalk solicitor and senior counsel James MacGuill were paid by Sinn Féin’s Ruairí Ó Murchú and Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan on Wednesday, the first day of the new Dáil term.

Both TDs were speaking during a debate on the Garda Siochana (Powers) Bill and the Dundalk deputy used part of his speaking slot to pay tribute to Mr MacGuill after he attended the local district court earlier that day to hear colleagues’ accolades to the solicitor who died earlier this month.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: “I had the privilege of being in Dundalk District Court this morning to hear incredibly warm and deserved tributes to the late solicitor and senior counsel, James MacGuill, who died unexpectedly on 6 September.

“James, as many will know, was a titan of the legal profession, not just in Louth or the State but across Europe. In many ways, he was passionate about the rule of law but he also rewrote the rules himself at times with cases he brought to the highest courts in the State and Europe, which meant that legislation had to be changed.

“He is a terrible loss first and foremost to his family but also to his many friends in the legal profession and further afield. I extend my deepest sympathies to them on this terrible loss”.

At the start of his contribution to the debate, Minister O’Callaghan said Mr MacGuill was ‘fearless’ and ‘one of the finest solicitors in the country’.

Minister O’Callaghan said: “I join Deputy Ó Murchú in expressing my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the solicitor, James MacGuill, who died recently.

“James was one of the finest solicitors in the country. He was a formidable opponent, and he was fearless in representing his clients.

“Anyone who had the privilege to do a case with James MacGuill, as I did, or indeed against him, would know of his full commitment to his client. He really was a fine example of a hard-working, diligent, conscientious solicitor.

“He was also very entertaining and engaging company. I will miss the mischief I always experienced when we engaged with each other”.