Mayo legal profession unites in grief for young barrister

There was a sombre opening to Castlebar District Court last Tuesday as members of the legal profession were united in mourning the death of one their most promising talents.

Darragh McDonagh BL, Cois Abhann, Kiltimagh, passed away on January 1st at the age of just 30 after a courageous battle with illness. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the King's Inn, Darragh was welcomed to the Mayo legal profession at a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court in October 2023.

Solicitor Gary Mulchrone, on behalf of the Mayo Solicitors' Bar Association, along with Judge Sandra Murphy, barrister Diarmuid Connolly as well as Gardaí and staff from the Courts Service, paid glowing tributes to Mr McDonagh, who was described as an extremely bright and intelligent young man who had excellent prospects in life.

There was a particularly poignant and emotional tribute from Mr Connolly BL, who was tutor to the late Mr McDonagh, describing him as "intelligent, bright and good humoured".

“To have stood at the graveyard in Kiltimagh as the sun was setting and bathed the graveyard in golden light was an absolutely heartbreaking experience to see my former pupil being laid to rest at a mere 30 years of age.

“One of the greatest injustices in life is cutting short potential and Darragh had potential in absolute spades.

“He was an intelligent and bright man full of good humour.” 

Mr Connolly said among the last words from Darragh before he died was not about himself but words of concern for his parents as he worried about how they would cope following his death, an indication of his selfless attitude.

He said his loss to the legal profession as he was only at the start of what would surely have been a very successful legal career.

Judge Sandra Murphy said she knew Mr McDonagh as a youngster and he had spent time in her family's solicitor’s office in Kiltimagh when he was a Transition Year student.

“He was an extremely bright and intelligent young man who had an ambition to have a career in law from a very young age and it is heartbreaking to think his life has been struck down. He bore his illness for ten years with courage and dignity.

“He had an extremely bright future ahead of him and it is extremely heartbreaking for everybody that he wasn't able to have the opportunity he should have had,” she said.

Condolences were also expressed to the Molloy family from Ballina on their great loss following the death Dr Conor Molloy, who passed away unexpectedly in his home in Dublin on December 19. He was son of Ballina solicitor Denis Molloy and his wife, Phil.

Judge Murphy expressed her sympathies to Mr Molloy, Phil and their children James and Olga.

“It is a loss which is immeasurable for his family,” she said.

Gary Mulchrone also joined in expressing sympathy to Mr Molloy and his family, extending the support of his colleagues at this very difficult time.

• Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.