merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, has expressed her sympathies to the family of Judge Michael Reilly, the Inspector of Prisons, who passed away earlier today.

Judge Reilly was serving as the Inspector of Prisons when he died, a position he had held since January 2008. Paying tribute to him upon hearing the news, the Tánaiste said: "Michael Reilly served the State with great commitment as Inspector of Prisons, a role he agreed to take on after a distinguished career on the bench as a judge in both the District and Special Criminal Court. He was robust and fair-minded in the way he carried out his work as Inspector of Prisons; he was not afraid to criticise where this was merited, but he retained the respect of everyone involved in penal policy throughout his tenure as Inspector. Judge Reilly was determined that his work would make a difference, and it did.

"I worked very closely with Judge Reilly and I found him to be a very warm genuine, caring person with a deep interest and commitment to the work he was carrying out so diligently and so carefully.

"On my own behalf and that of the Government, I want to offer my deepest condolences to his family at this very difficult time for them."