New district court judge appointed to Mayo

JUDGE Fiona Lydon is to take over from Judge Mary Devins at Mayo District Court.

The Co. Galway native is expected to be officially welcomed by local representatives of the legal profession in Castlebar where she will preside at local sittings this week.

She was appointed to the District Court in July 2016.

Ms. Lydon was educated at the National University of Ireland Galway and the Law Society of Ireland, enrolling as a solicitor in 1993 with Keane Solicitors, Galway, where she remained until October 2015, specialising in commercial law, conveyancing and litigation.

She worked as Group Legal Counsel for Shannon Group plc from October 2015 until her appointment as a judge two years ago.

For a number of months, Judge Lydon, along with Judge Deirdre Gearty, has been filling the gap created in Mayo by Judge Devins's retirement.

Judge Devins, a native of Derry, was appointed to the District Court in October 1998 and was transferred from the Dublin Metropolitan District to Mayo the following year.

On Friday night, November 30, Castlebar and Ballina based staff, who are members of the Mayo Courts Service, will travel to Sligo for a farewell function for the departing judge.