The Funeral Arrangements for Judge Elizabeth MacGrath – Stanley Smith have been confirmed. Judge MacGrath died on Wednesday night after a short illness. She lived in Dromineer, Nenagh with her husband Charles.
Judge MacGrath served as a Judge for 16 years and was serving in the Tipperary District at the time of her death. Her father Michael also served as a judge in the Irish Court service.
Judge MacGrath is survived by her husband Charles, siblings Miriam, Pat, Anne, Michael, Joe & Sharon and their partners, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grand nephews, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Judge MacGrath will repose at her home in Dromineer this Sunday from 4 o’c to 7 o’c. Requiem Mass will take place at St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh on Monday 8th July at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Dromineer Graveyard. Donations, if desired, can be made to the Irish Cancer Society or North Tipp Hospice according to the notice on RIP.ie
Meanwhile tributes continue to be paid to Tipperary Judge Elizabeth MacGrath who died yesterday after a short illness.
She was 65 and married to Charles Stanley Smith, current Chair of the Tipperary Local Economic and Community Plan Advisory Group, former Chair of An Taisce and widely known for his work in community development with the Tipperary Public Participation Network.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee, says it is with “great sadness I learned of the untimely death of Judge Elizabeth MacGrath, who has given dedicated service to the State since first appointed to the bench in 2007.
From 2012 she has served as District Judge in Tipperary and I know she will be hugely missed by everyone who had the privilege to know her.
I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to her husband, family and friends on their loss.”
Ms MacGrath was widely respected by the legal and court services for her knowledge of the law, her treatment of parties appearing before her court and for defending her profession.
Donal T. Ryan, Solicitor, describes “Judge McGrath as a very fair & compassionate judge.
News of her death came as a shock as he offered sincere condolences to her husband & siblings.”
Cllr Anne Marie Ryan, says she is “very sad to hear of the death of Judge MacGrath whom she got to know when the Court sat in the Tipperary Excel Centre. Cllr Ryan describes Judge MacGrath was a very good Judge, kind, fair and approachable. She will be missed.”
Solicitor Gareth Noble posted on social media that “Judge MacGrath was a kind and fiercely knowledgeable Judge with a very clear sense of the right approach.”
Judge MacGrath, from Nenagh had been a Judge of the District Court since 2007. She had been assigned to District Number 8, which includes her home county of Tipperary, since 2012, where she heard mostly criminal matters but also presided over family law cases.
Judge MacGrath worked in Tipperary town for almost a decade when the court was accommodated in the Excel Centre.
She worked as a solicitor for 24 years before her appointment to the bench.
Judge MacGrath’s brother Joe MacGrath recently retired as CEO of Tipperary County Council, her sister Sharon Kennedy is currently the Director of Services with the Council while her brother Michael MacGrath is a Judge in the Court of Appeal, her other sister is a teacher based in County Wexford.
Judge Cephas Power paid tribute to his colleague at Cashel District Court yesterday and the court held a moment’s silence in her honour.
Judge Power adds that Judge MacGrath had served with distinction for 16 years, and all those who met her were lucky to do as she was a “wonderful” person adding that her loss will be “deeply felt by all of us.”
She had been a President of the Association of Judges, and was a member of numerous administrative committees.
Solicitor Gary Kingston led tributes on behalf of the legal profession saying that Judge MacGrath had an excellent knowledge of the law and was held in high esteem.
She dispensed justice in a fair and kind manner, and was an absolute lady.”
Court Clerk Denise Fitzgerald led tributes on behalf of the Courts Service and joined with the description of Judge MacGrath as a lady and added that she will be deeply missed by all the Court staff,”
