Michael Quinn, who was buried on Thursday afternoon in Waterford, was the doyen of court reporters in the South East of Ireland for several decades.
He was also among the most admired and respected journalists in the place he called home and the region he dutifully covered for Independent Newspapers over the course of a distinguished career in journalism.
Michael commanded the respect of his colleagues. He never sought it.
His thorough and accurate journalism in the pages of both The Waterford News & Star and The Munster Express long after his retirement from INM made life easy for the respective editors of both titles.
Michael loved his work. And his enthusiasm for reportage never waned, even when his health began to make the job a little more difficult. His spirit was ever willing.
From the other end of a phone most Monday and Tuesday mornings, a soft, warm voice would firstly inquire upon the well-being of the news desk colleague at the opposite end of the line.
This was generally followed by a query to confirm that his court copy had been received and then prior to an always friendly goodbye, there’d be time for just a little more ‘how is everything’ on Michael’s behalf.
It was never a query made to elicit gossip. It was always addressed with the utmost sincerity. It was borne out of kindness, a quality that has, in recent days, been repeatedly cited by reporters and legal professionals who knew Michael a great deal better than I did.
A few years back, he called me one night for a conversation which had nothing to do with either his work or mine. I really appreciated it. Its content will forever be between only Michael and myself but it was a mark of the man that something I had only touched upon in an earlier conversation twigged something in him which suggested a lengthier chat was needed.
The late and equally missed John A Murphy did the very same thing - both chats ran for about half an hour. Both left me, as a grateful recipient, feeling all the better for knowing that both John and Michael thought enough of me to feel it worth their while to pick up the phone and talk. Such kindnesses have not been forgotten.
John A was an extrovert while Michael was an altogether more reserved figure. I count myself fortunate to have met them both and benefited from their wisdom.
Former Munster Express News Editor John O’Connor described Michael as an ‘old school’ reporter. Speaking to the Waterford News & Star, Johnny added: “I mean that as the highest compliment. Michael dealt in facts, figures and statements that were real, utterly correct and completely accurate. He had opinions, but you rarely saw them in print, and he treated everybody fairly and with respect.”
Montaigne wrote: “Our most great and glorious achievement is to live our life fittingly.” Michael Quinn, a man who wore his knowledge lightly while never shying to dispense his wisdom to a cub reporter or a visiting colleague unfamiliar with the cast of characters housed within Waterford’s Courthouse, lived his life by Montaigne’s maxim.
He leaves behind a deep and lasting imprint on the manner in which many of us in Waterford compile our court reporting: devoting a primacy to the importance of accuracy as opposed to being first, of never shying from asking a court official a question when one needs to be asked – and remaining patient in a line of work which can, on many a day, be trying and upsetting.
Michael Quinn was an exemplary reporter. But more importantly, he was a warm, deeply compassionate and kind man.
Michael is survived by wife Brigid, children Michael Jnr, Sheila, Sarah, Annie, David, grandchildren Katie, Molly, Bella, Michael, Melanie, Robert, Charlie and Sam and siblings Gerard, Pat and Anne. He was predeceased by his sister Laura. He will be deeply missed.
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