Sinead McNamara becomes first female County Sheriff in Ireland

12 March 2013

Cork solicitor, Sinead McNamara has become the first female County Sheriff in Ireland.

Ms. McNamara, originally from Cork City, but now living in Clonakilty, will be one of only four sheriffs in Ireland (two in Dublin and two in Cork), who combine the powers of Revenue Commissioners' officials and county registrar.

As Cork County Sheriff, McNamara will operate in liaison with the Departments of Justice and Finance/ Revenue Commissioners. She will be responsible for enforcing court orders in civil debt, collection of outstanding tax debts on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners, as well as acting as Returning Officer in general elections and referenda.

Apart from the Cork and Dublin sheriffs, there are a dozen more ‘revenue' sheriffs throughout the country, whose powers are restricted to Revenue Commissioner matters, and whose primary responsibility is to collect taxes on behalf of the collector general.

Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, T.D. officially informed McNamara on Tuesday 26th February that Cabinet had approved her appointment as Cork County Sheriff, following her application for the position in late 2012.

Commenting her appointment as Cork County Sheriff, Ms. McNamara said "It is a huge honour to be named as the first female County Sheriff and I was delighted when Minister Shatter shared the good news with me. I'm very much looking forward to the challenges associated with my new role."

As well as her new role, Ms McNamara is Managing Partner in Fitzgerald Solicitors, Lapps Quay.   She manages a large, highly qualified team that boasts extensive experience with complex issues arising for receivers, property developers, landlords, tenants, employers and private clients.

Ms. McNamara represents some of the country's main lending institutions in the areas of debt recovery and insolvency, including receiverships. She has extensive experience in advising banking and other creditors and insolvency practitioners on a wide range of insolvency and corporate recovery matters.

She also deals employment law and with the administration of estates and is a recipient of the John L. Jermyn Probate Prize.