My heart will remain in Mayo says Judge Lydon as she prepares to leave county

A DISTRICT Court judge says her heart will remain in Co Mayo as she prepares to leave the county to take up a similar role across the border in Co Galway.

Tributes have been paid to Judge Fiona Lydon who is spending her last week as the district court judge for Mayo before she takes up the post as district court judge in Galway.

The Galway native was appointed as district court judge for Mayo in 2018 when she replaced the retiring Judge Mary Devin.

Speaking on her last visit to Belmullet District Court this morning, Judge Lydon said she enjoyed her monthly trips to Erris saying that she appreciated the sense of community which took pride in the language and the way of life of the people.

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Addressing the court in both Irish and English, Judge Lydon thanked the local solicitors, Gardaí and the court service saying they have always been friendly and co-operative and she will miss them.

“I will leave part of my heart here in Co Mayo. Thank you and goodbye for now,” she said in Irish.

Solicitor Peter Loftus said it was always a pleasure to appear before Judge Lydon's court and wished her well in her new role in Galway.

Inspector Dermot Butler thanked Judge Lydon on behalf of An Garda Siochána for her fairness in dealing with cases and wished her all the best in Galway.

Court Manager, Alish McGuinness also expressed her best wishes to Judge Lydon on her new role and commented that although she was predominantly based in Castlebar and Ballina courthouses, she enjoyed her trips to Achill and Belmullet courthouses.

Ms McGuinness added that on coming to Belmullet Judge Lydon had familiarised herself with the Erris community in order for her to be a better judge and treated people with equity and fairness. As the longest serving member of the court service in Mayo, Ms McGuinness said it is a privilege to be present at her first sitting in November 2018 and at her final sitting in Belmullet.

Tributes were also paid to Judge Lydon at Ballina District Court on Tuesday and more tributes are expected in Castlebar courthouse tomorrow afternoon.