Government nominates 8 new members of the District Court

At its meeting today, 1 April 2026, the Government agreed to nominate:

• Mr. Edward Carroll, Solicitor;
• Ms. Paula Cullinane, Solicitor;
• Mr. Andrew Gubbins, Barrister;
• Mr. Tom MacSharry, Solicitor;
• Ms. Mary McAveety, Solicitor;
• Mr Darach McCarthy, Solicitor;
• Ms. Catriona Murray, Solicitor;
• Ms. Olivia Traynor, Solicitor

as Ordinary Judges of the District Court.

The vacancies in the District Court arise following:

• The resignation of Judge Brian O’Shea on 23 July 2025;
• The appointment of Judge Alec Gabbett to the Circuit Court on 04 March 2026;
• The appointment of Judge Paula Murphy to the Circuit Court on 04 March 2026;
• The appointment of Judge Cephas Power to the Circuit Court on 04 March 2026;
• The retirement of Judge Patricia McNamara on 11 March 2026;
• The scheduled retirement of Judge Mary Dorgan on 05 May 2026;
• The scheduled retirement of Judge Gerard Jones on 20 May 2026;
• The scheduled retirement of Judge Miriam Walsh on 26 July 2026

The Government has taken the necessary steps to formally advise President Connolly of the nomination in accordance with constitutional practice.

ENDS

Notes:

The nominations for appointment to the District Court follows a process conducted by the Judicial Appointments Commission.

Limited biographical details:

Mr. Edward Carroll

• Cork based Solicitor
• Qualified as a solicitor in 1988
• Partner in Noonan Linehan Carroll Coffey Solicitors since 1995
• BCL University College Cork - 1984
• LLB in University College Cork - 1987
• LLM in University of Northumbria / Law Society of Ireland - 2018

Ms. Paula Cullinane

• Solicitor based in Dublin
• Qualified as a solicitor in 2005
• Partner in O’Donnell Murray LLP since 2021
• BCL in University College Cork - 2000
• Diploma in Family Law - The Law Society - 2008
• Diploma in Judicial Skills and Decision Making - The Law Society -2020

Mr. Andrew Gubbins, BL

• Barrister based in Tipperary
• Called to the Bar in 2005
• Batchelor of Arts Degree - University College Dublin - 2002
• Barrister at Law - The Honourable Society of Kings Inn - 2005
• MII accredited mediator - 2012

Mr. Tom MacSharry

• Solicitor based in Sligo
• Qualified as a solicitor in 2007
• Sole practitioner in Sligo since 2007
• Advanced Diploma in Quasi – Judicial Decision Making - The Honourable Society of Kings Inn - 2023

Ms. Mary McAveety

• Solicitor based in Cavan
• Qualified as a solicitor in 1996
• Principal of McAveety McKenna Solicitors since 2006
• BCL University College Dublin - 1993
• Diploma in Judicial Skills and Decision-Making Law Society of Ireland - 2023

Mr. Darach McCarthy

• Solicitor based in Limerick
• Qualified as a solicitor in 2002
• Principal of Darach McCarthy and Co. Solicitors since 2006
• Batchelor of Business and Legal Studies University College Dublin - 1998

Ms. Catriona Murray

• Solicitor based in Wicklow
• Qualified as a solicitor in 1997
• Partner in O’Brien Murray Solicitors LLP since 2006
• BA University College Dublin - 1992
• Diploma in Arbitration University College Dublin - 1998
• Diploma in Judicial Skills and Decision-Making Law Society of Ireland - 2024/2025

Ms. Olivia Traynor

• Solicitor based in Galway
• Qualified as a solicitor in 2002
• Sole practitioner in Galway since 2012
• BCL University College Cork - 1998
• LLB University College Cork - 1999