'One of the finest to hold the role' - Tributes to Kilkenny's retiring state solicitor Gerry Meaney

A man who has been "a colleague, a mentor and one of the finest solicitors to serve in the role he holds" has been honoured by friends and colleagues as he prepares to retire.

Well respected solicitor Gerry Meaney was surprised with tributes and presentations on one of his final days acting as state solicitor before the circuit court in Kilkenny, today (Thursday).

Members of the judiciary, the legal profession, court service, gardaí, friends and his family surprised Mr Meaney on the final day of Kilkenny Circuit Court sittings, to wish him well in his retirement and let him know he will be greatly missed.

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Mr Meaney has been in the job for 42 years - the longest serving state solicitor in the country. 

Appointed to the position when he was in his 20s, by Attorney General Peter Sutherland, Mr Meaney has served under four Directors of Public Prosecutions and 23 garda superintendents.

A modest man, thanking everyone for their kind words Mr Meaney said he agreed with the words of Roy Keane when he said 'you don't congratulate the postman for delivering the letters.'  He said he didn't need thanks for 'doing his job' and the last 42 years had gone by quickly. He said he was lucky to have a job he enjoyed for 42 years and he had a special word of thanks for his wife Miriam, their two children, Maeve and Kevin, and four grandchildren.

District Court Judge Geraldine Carthy described Mr Meaney as "a colleague, a mentor and one of the finest solicitors to serve in the role he holds." Tributes also came from His Honour Judge Cormac Quinn, Colman Cody S.C., solicitor Michael Lanigan, Padraig Mawe of the state solicitor's office, Stephanie O'Brien from the office of the DPP, Garda Superintendent Seán O'Meara.

All highlighted the excellence of his legal work, his friendliness and easy company and that he never lost sight of the importance of human decency in his work.