Sheriff of Dublin City explained

Sheriff of Dublin City was a judicial and administrative role in Ireland. Initially, the Sovereign's judicial representative in Dublin, the role was later held by two individuals and concerned with a mix of judicial, political and administrative functions. In origins, an office for a lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the Sheriff became an annual appointment following the Provisions of Oxford in 1258.[1]

Background

The first Shrievalties were established before the Norman Conquest in 1066 and date back to Saxon times.[2] Besides his judicial importance, the sheriff had ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs.[3] In 1908, an Order in Council made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the Sheriff's precedence.[4] Despite this, the office retained responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in a county.[3]

Position

Sheriffs (two for each year) were first appointed in Dublin in 1308 under the name of bailiffs; the title was changed to sheriff in 1548.[5]

The sheriffs presided at meetings of the Common Council (the "commons" or lower house of the City Assembly of Dublin), and after their year in office took their place among up to 48 Sheriffs Peers, who sat alongside 96 Guild representatives as the Common Council. The trade guilds also elected the Sheriffs and Commons members.[6]

24 aldermen sat on the City Assembly as part of the Upper House alongside the Lord Mayor of Dublin and exercised supreme authority.[7]

The City Assembly gave its name to the still extant City Assembly House.

List of Sheriffs of Dublin City

13th century

14th century

15th century

20th century

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: John David Griffith Davies . Frederick Robert Worts . England in the Middle Ages: Its Problems and Legacies . A. A. Knopf . 1928 . 119 .
  2. Book: Morris, William Alfred . The Medieval English Sheriff to 1300 . registration . Manchester University Press . Manchester . 1968 . 0719003423 . 73 .
  3. Book: Alexander, George Glover . The Administration of Justice in Criminal Matters (in England and Wales) . 1915 . The University Press . 89 .
  4. Book: Millward, Paul . Civic Ceremonial: A Handbook, History and Guide for Mayors, Councillors and Officers . 2007 . Shaw . 978-0721901640 . 163 .
  5. Web site: Archived copy . 6 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203010/http://www.iol.ie/~ebairead/Files/Lists%20of%20Provosts.pdf . 4 March 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Dublin's City Hall . www.dublincity.ie . 11 April 2024.
  7. Web site: Dublin City Assembly Dublin City Council . www.dublincity.ie . 11 April 2024 . en . 27 June 2018 .
  8. Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926 p.60
  9. Close Roll 51 Edward III
  10. Patent Roll 6 Edward III
    • 1377: William Fitzwilliam[9]
  11. Close Roll 3 Richard II
  12. Ball, F.Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926 p.176
  13. Patent Roll 22 Henry VI
  14. Patent Roll 4 Henry VII