Sadness following death of highly-respected local solicitor

June 8, 2017

Tributes have been paid following the death of local solicitor Gerard Doyle.

Mr Doyle, who was a partner of the Connolly-Doyle Legal Practice based in Buncrana, passed away earlier today following an illness.

Mr Doyle, who was in his 40s, was a well-known and highly-respected member of the legal profession.

He was married to Mary Connolly, a partner in the legal firm, and the couple had two young children, James and Hanna.

Local solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn led tributes to his colleague.

He said that although his illness was visible, he never shared his illness but fought his condition with great fortitude.

He said Mr Doyle was an eloquent speaker who was most respectful to the court and to his colleagues having spent the past 20 years in Buncrana.

Garda Inspector David Murphy said Mr Doyle’s death came as an immense shock.

He said that while he was always polite, he was well capable of a robust defence of his clients.

Judge Paul Kelly said that he did not know Mr Doyle as well as many of those at Buncrana Court but he had gotten to know him during his six and a half years working in Buncrana Court.

He said he was the epitome of what a good lawyer should be in that he was always well prepared, had a good understanding of his client and at no stage did he ever “lose his cool.”

He sympathised with Mr Doyle’s wife Mary and the couple’s two children.

He also thanked Mr Doyle legal colleagues and the Gardai for helping him deal with his workload during his illness over the past two years.

He said Mr Doyle was charming and polite and “always a good person to deal with.”

As well as his professional career, Mr Doyle was heavily involved in the local athletics scene and was registrar with Inishowen Athletics Club, based in Buncrana.

A minute’s silence was held at today’s sitting of Buncrana District Court in honour of the late Mr Doyle.

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