Tributes to Babs: ‘Always saw the best in people’

Circuit Court bids farewell to Sergeant

Tributes were paid at Nenagh Circuit Court last week to Sergeant Michael Keating, who is to retire from An Garda Síochána in December after almost 40 years of service.

On the occasion of his final sessions of the Circuit Court, Solicitor Elizabeth McKeever led tributes to Sgt Keating, “or ‘Babs’, as we all affectionately know him”. Ms Keever fittingly summed up the sergeant’s enthusiasm, empathy, fairness and knowledge in dealing with matters of both Circuit and District courts for more than 20 years. So synonymous was Babs with the courts that he had become “part and parcel of the furniture of this courthouse”, Ms McKeever remarked.

Joining on behalf of the bar, Colman Cody, SC, spoke of the “exemplary” organisation and preparation that Sgt Keating put into court business. But aside from this, there was the compassionate manner with which he conducted that business.

“He always saw the good in everyone, in spite of the difficulties,” Mr Colman said of Sgt Keating. “He had a great a generosity of spirit.”

Court Clerk Derek Daly said the retiring sergeant would be “sadly missed”. Babs had been a great asset to the court staff and he had ensured the smooth running of the court. On behalf of the Courts Service, Mr Daly wished Babs good health in his retirement.

Judge Cormac Quinn described the retiring sergeant as a “gentleman”. Previously stationed in Roscrea and Portroe, Sgt Keating’s work behind the scenes had brought diligence to the running of the courts in Nenagh since he took on that role in 2000.

Judge Quinn particularly recalled the difficulties wrought by the pandemic, during which criminal trials were delayed and extra burden fell on the gardaí involved. “Sergeant Keating rose to that challenge,” the judge said. Also wishing Babs well for the future, Judge Quinn noted that retirement would be the end of one part of his life and the beginning of a new phase.

Thanking all concerned, Sgt Keating said a lot of work had gone into the operation of the courts since he began working as prosecution sergeant in September 2000. He had not missed any Circuit Court sessions or trials in that time. He mentioned the good rapport built up between the gardaí, solicitors, barristers and courts staff in Nenagh, and this has ensured the smooth working of the system. He said he is a great believer in the restorative justice project pioneered in Nenagh, and he hoped that it would continue to prove successful.

“I always saw the best in the people and tried to give fairness as best I could,” he said of the great many cases he dealt with over the years. All present then accorded a round of applause to Sgt Keating before the court business of the day got underway.