An Athboy solicitor and brother of Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey, has been nominated as a district judge by the Government, following his selection by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.
The formal appointment of 53-year-old Dermot Dempsey is expected to be made shortly by President Mary McAleese. He established his practice in Athboy, close to the Westmeath border 24 years ago, after graduating from UCD with a Batchelor in Civil Law degree in 1977 and becoming a solicitor in 1979.
Mr Dempsey has extensive experience in all courts, particularly in the areas of conveyancing, litigation, criminal cases, and family law. An enthusiastic golfer and long-serving member of Dunderry GAA Club, he has been involved in training underage teams and fund-raising for the club.
The new judge has not been assigned a district yet, and is expected to serve a period either in the Dublin Metropolitan Area or a moveable district initially. He is the first judge from Meath to be appointed to the district court since the late Judge Donal Kearney, who had strong links with Oldcastle.
Mr Dempsey's name went forward to the Government from the JAAB, as one of the seven names it recommended for a vacant position. The procedure follows last year's enactment of the Court and Court Officers Act, which increased the number of ordinary judges in the district court from 54 to 60.
