Buncrana loses ‘two great servants’

admin 5 years ago 2 min read

Buncrana's Leo Porter, who caught a fish sixty years ago and went on to become the face of two advertising campaigns! — The late Leo Porter.

‘Their death will leave a great void in the community’

By Katie Barr

TWO great ‘servants’ of Buncrana Courthouse were remembered before the start of court last Tuesday.

Last week Buncrana men Leo Porter, a former commissioner of the peace, and Michael Galbraith, a well known and respected architect who ran Michael Galbraith Associates on Buncrana’s Mill Brae for 25 years, sadly passed away.

Buncrana solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn said the men’s death have left a ‘great void’ in the local community.

Speaking in Buncrana Court last Tuesday, the morning of Mr. Galbraith’s funeral, Mr. MacLochlainn said the men were two great servants to the court. He said Mr. Porter, a peace commissioner, was always available to Gardai to sign summons and warrants. He said Mr. Porter also became a commissioner of oaths and served all the practices in Buncrana.

“He was a much respected by everyone in the town and his untimely death has left a great void in Buncrana,” added Mr. MacLochlainn.

Michael and Aelish Galbraith with a special anniversary cake at a party to celebrate 25 years of the Buncrana architect firm. — The late Michael Galbraith with his wife Aelish.

Similarly the solicitor said Michael Galbraith, who was an architect, was always in court giving expert evidence. He said Mr. Galbraith, who was just 59 years old when he passed away last week, was last in the Circuit Court in Buncrana on July 12.

Mr. MacLochlainn said the quality of Mr. Galbraith’s work was ‘superb’.

“He always showed the utmost respect to the court.”

“The men will both be greatly missed,” added an emotional Mr. MacLochlainn.

Judge Paul Kelly echoed Mr. MacLochlainn’s sentiments, and paid his condolences to both the Porter and Galbraith families. He said he remembers Mr. Galbraith giving evidence in court many times. He said he was ‘very efficient and professional’ in his approach.

‘They served the community well’

Although he said he didn’t know Mr. Porter, he said he remembers the days when he had his own [solicitor] practice how important it was to have an available commissioner of oaths in the locality.

“Both these men were parts of the community and they served their community well,” said Judge Kelly.