LAW IN PRACTICE
The most important office in the Four Courts was probably that of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir John Ross. His office was forced open, but the rebels inflicted no damage, leaving alone his papers, his wigs and his gowns.
OBITUARY
Amy O’Donoghue BL (1985-2016) Amy O’Donoghue studied law at University College Cork, graduating in 2008. She moved to Dublin, studied in the Honourable Society of the King’s Inns, and was called to the Bar in Trinity 2009. Amy devilled with Noel Cosgrove BL in her first year and with Paul McGinn BL and Cathal McGreal BL in her second year at the Bar. She had built up a varied civil practice, which she had developed through her unwavering
Brief respite
ability, her merit in court and her scintillating personality. It was no mean
As the battle raged in North King Street and Church Street, the Four Courts
feat for a Corkonian to have charmed the Dubs as well as Amy did.
became a place where battle-weary volunteers might get some respite, a
Following the news of the tragedy of Amy’s passing, members of the Law
hot meal prepared by members of Cumann Na mBan, soup or tea, a bed, or
Library were in shock. Practitioners could be heard in the corridors of the
some much-needed sleep. There was a kitchen established in the basement;
Library, expressing their disbelief at such an unforeseen event. Amy was a
exactly where is not certain, but it was towards the back of the building
practitioner who was secretly feared in Court, on account of her meticulous
opposite the Bridewell police station, perhaps in the solicitors’ building
preparation before every case. She would regularly take her morning coffee
where their café still has that old black range on the back wall.
in the tearooms, a tradition initiated with the sole purpose of seeking advice
They were feeding up to 70 volunteers and a whole range of captured
from more senior colleagues before she attended court. This culminated in
prisoners. There was a first-aid post, also manned by Cumann Na mBan,
more recent years with senior colleagues joining Amy’s table to discuss their
which treated the wounded. Seriously injured men were carried by stretcher
cases with her. Although confidence is, to a degree, a characteristic
to the Richmond.
associated with the legal profession, you would have to enquire with Amy
One volunteer records sleeping in the Law Library, using a law book for a
after she finished a case, what the outcome was. Victory was mostly hers.
pillow. One might hope that he found it more appropriate to lay his head upon
The Law Library has lost an astute member and, sadly, one who was only on
a volume of the Irish Reports rather than the All England reports. Dr Bridget
the cusp of her career.
Lyons Thornton of Cumann na mBan, working as a nurse in the Four Courts,
Amy loved her life in Dublin. She thrived among her social circle of colleagues
recalled falling asleep wrapped in the scarlet and ermine of a judge’s robes.
and her wider group of friends. She solidly maintained relationships with her
The most important office in the Four Courts was probably that of the Lord
school friends from both primary and secondary school. Trips were regularly
Chancellor of Ireland, Sir John Ross. His office was forced open, but the
organised for school friends to visit Dublin, and it was on such trips that new
rebels inflicted no damage, leaving alone his papers, his wigs and his gowns.
friends would be inducted into the group. Friendship and loyalty were traits
He recalled sitting in his garden at Oatlands (now Oatlands College) in the
that were very important to Amy, and this is deeply felt by all of the friends
spring sunshine reading Plutarch and listening, now and then, to the distant
she left behind. For some, milestone events henceforth will be painful
sound of machine guns and cannon.
reminders of the fact that Amy will not be with us.
Commandant Daly spent most of Easter Week up at the Father Mathew Hall,
Amy was endlessly generous; she was generous of spirit, with her wisdom
but he was constantly going round the outposts and coming back to the
and with her time. Regardless of whether she was asked for assistance in a
Four Courts. In effective command in the building was Frank Fahy. He was
case, or indeed on a personal level, assistance would be forthcoming without
joined later in the week by his wife, a member of Cumann na mBan, after
any hesitation. We have all lost a friend, a colleague and a confidant. That
she had firstly placed the family cat and canary with a sympathetic
is a loss that will not be forgotten, despite the passage of time.
neighbour.
Amy’s funeral was a celebration of her life to date, albeit cruelly cut short. The Parish Church in Clonakilty where her funeral took place was,
Shot without counsel
unsurprisingly, full to standing room only. Those closest to Amy had their
After the surrender, some 19 men of the garrison were tried by court martial
nails painted before the ceremony, a nod to her immaculate appearance. It
and sentenced to death. All of the sentences were commuted to penal
was remarked in the aftermath that Amy would have been pleased with the
servitude except Daly’s. His court martial, on May 3, lasted just a few
friends, colleagues and acquaintances who all made the journey on foot
minutes. He had no counsel and no solicitor. He was shot by firing squad
between the church and her burial place, carrying her to her place of rest.
the next morning on May 4, 1916.
Despite their high heels, Amy’s female friends also carried her, a fitting tribute to a resolute individual.
For further reading on the role of the Four Courts in the Rising, read Paul O’Brien’s book: Crossfire – The battle of the Four Courts 1916, published
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.
by New Ireland Press.
N.O’D
THE BAR REVIEW : Volume 21; Number 2 – April 2016
69