Beautiful and heartwarming tributes paid to retiring court caretaker Peter Kane

The high regard for caretaker at Donegal Courthouse Peter Kane was evident in the praise and thanks that were expressed on his retirement. 

Judge Sandra Murphy said the way Mr Kane kept the building was a credit to him. 

But it was for the warmth of his personality and his kind nature that he would be fondly remembered by everyone associated with the court.

Judge Murphy said: “When you arrive in Donegal Courthouse you are greeted with a smile, kind words and a cup of tea. 

“A special secret is, there were always beautiful treats in the judge’s room. All the judges looked forward to coming to Donegal court for this reason.”

The judge expressed thanks on behalf of herself and former sitting judges, Judge McMenamin, Judge O’Donnell, Judge Zaidan and Judge Kilrane.

She said that Judge Kilrane had asked her to convey to Mr Kane what a kind person he was and what a lovely welcome he always gave.

Judge Murphy said: “On behalf of all the former judges, thank you for your sterling service.

“The court's loss is your family’s gain. They will be delighted to have you at home with them.

“You are one of those special people who you rarely meet in life who make the world a better place.”

Mr Kane took up the role of caretaker in 1995, initially as an employee of Donegal County Council and later as a Courts Service employee.

Greatest Courtesy

Solicitor Diarmaid Barry said he had grown up with Mr Kane in the village of Mountcharles and had been coming to court throughout Mr Kane’s tenure. 

Mr Barry said: “In all that time he has extended the greatest courtesy to me and all my colleagues.

“He kept us warm in this courthouse on the coldest days of the winter.

“The cleanliness of the building and attention to detail shown by him over all those years is beyond equal.”

A Pure Gentleman

Inspector David Durkin extended best wishes to Mr Kane on behalf of An Garda Síochana.

“He is a long standing pillar and presence in the court since I started coming here,” said the inspector.

“I have also met him in the Central Hotel when I was at the gym. He would have been in the pool keeping himself active. 

“This building is a credit to him. It is not the newest building in the town, which makes his task a lot more difficult. 

“We came in here on some cold mornings and it was always very warm. 

“Peter was a great help to An Garda Síochana over the years. When we needed access to the courthouse he always let us in.

“The best way to describe Peter is ‘a pure gentleman.’”

Journalist Siobhán McNamara spoke on behalf of members of the press.

She said: “Peter has a lovely way with people of all ages. I first met him when he taught swimming lessons at Ballyshannon pool. From that to him bringing us coffee and biscuits after a long day at court, he did everything with courtesy and respect for everyone. 

“He always speaks of his family with great fondness. I’m sure he is looking forward to spending more time with them, and they with him.”

Moving Tribute From Court Services Colleague

Court Clerk Connell Melley paid tribute to Mr Kane on behalf of his Courts Service colleagues past and present.

He said: “I feel privileged this morning that it has fallen to me to say a few words on behalf of the Courts Service Staff to mark Peter’s retirement. Today is indeed the end of an era for us all in the District Court Office in Donegal.

“I didn't know Peter prior to him taking up the role of caretaker in 1995. All I knew about him was that he was the man who had won a trip to the World Cup in the USA the previous year. 

“I always remember when an official from the county council said to me, 'You are getting a good man for the job.'

"Never have I found something to be so true. Peter literally has kept the flag flying at this building for the last quarter of a century. 

“No task was ever too much trouble for him. You’d mention to Peter something like, ‘that shelf will soon be collapsing.’

“Peter mightn’t say much at the time but a morning or two later you’d arrive to discover the shelf repaired, good as new, thanks to one of his overnight visits. 

“Everything he did was in his own quiet, unassuming way. 

“When Peter was working around the town we used to love him coming into the office for the chat and he’d always kept us up to date with what was going on around the place. 

“When he retired from the council it was over to the Blueberry at elevenses to do the catch up.

“Peter has just so many interesting stories to tell, and as a solicitor said to me recently, he is an absolute treasure trove of knowledge.

“We all have our own memories of Peter’s generosity. For the community, it may be all the time he gave over many years to the Civil Defence. 

“For a lady who had lost her wedding ring on the beach, it was all the time he spent searching for it with his metal detector until it was located.

“For us here, it may have been the store of chocolate biscuits in the Judge’s press, a cup of tea after court for the media, a scratch card dropped on a desk, or in my case an endless supply of back issues of Ireland’s Own.

“So, on behalf of all the Courts Service staff who have worked with Peter over the years, here in Donegal or those based in Letterkenny, and especially Joe O’Grady, retired Chief Clerk, former Office Managers Geoffrey McGonagle and Anita Toland, our current Office Manager Eunan Keaveney, and Marion and myself in the office, we want to wish Peter and Maureen a long and happy retirement together

“Thanks Peter for everything.”

Not Goodbye

As tributes were paid to court caretaker Peter Kane on his retirement, Judge Sandra Murphy said she had rarely heard a nicer set of speeches about anybody anywhere.

She told Mr Kane: “It is so clear to me the high esteem that everybody held you in. 

“This is not goodbye. Come in any day.

“You are more than welcome and I will make the tea for you.”