Press Releases07 Oct 08

Michaelmas Law Term opens with service at St Michan's, Dublin

The Annual Church of Ireland Law Service to mark the opening of the Michaelmas Law Term was held on Monday 6th October 2008 at St Michan’s Church, Dublin. Hosted by the Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland and Metropolitan, the Most Revd Dr John Neill and the Archdeacon of Dublin, the Venerable David Pierpoint, the Morning Service in the historic parish church of the Law Courts was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin; the South African Ambassador to Ireland; the Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the Chief of Staff of the Army; senior Garda personnel; senior judges from Ireland; judges from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; a delegation of Norwegian judges and a large congregation of legal professionals. The service was followed by refreshments at the King’s Inns.

The service was led by the Venerable David Pierpoint and the guest address was given by Fr Godfrey O’Donnell, head of the Romanian orthodox Church in Ireland. Fr O’Donnell urged people in the current financial crisis to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, to ‘work for good and for justice in the year ahead’ and to ‘pray with great passion, otherwise we will not regenerate’. He said, ‘If the capitalist system survives it will need to show a strong appreciation for the notion of equity, responsibility, ethics, more open accessibility and accountability to redress its previous greed, lack of trust and the disappearance of ethical standards.’ He also urged for more humane treatment of immigrants and respect for human rights.

Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness speaking with the Lord Mayor of Dublin