The Honourable Mr. Justice Walker

By Frank Meehan
Extracted from "Laois Yearbook" 1989

W.A. Walker was born in Durrow, Co Laois in 1890. His father was Head Constable in Abbeyleix at the time. Educated at Kells National School, The Model School, Kilkenny from which he won a scholarship to Kilkenny College. In 1908 at the age of 18 he joined the Royal Irish Constabulary. He spent six months at the training depot in the Phoenix Park passed all four of his exams with honours in five months. Sent with eight other young men to Tipperary where he helped to keep law and order. During his years in the R.I.C. he furthered his education by doing a correspondence course with the Hughes Academy of Belfast. Later he was transferred to Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny. There, he was responsible for collecting agricultural statistics. One day while making out his returns, the County Inspector, Langhorn called at the barracks and commented on his excellent penmanship. A few weeks later he was transferred on promotion to Clonmel where the District Inspector was John Le Poer O'Shea, a cousin of Count De La Poer, Baron of Curraghmore, Co Waterford.

In 1912 he was transferred again, this time to Belfast where he reported on the gun running by the Unionist Party. Returning south again he came to Cork and it was in Cork he said he heard the finest speakers in the world - John and Willie Redmond and Tim and Maurice Healy. He reached the rank of Head Constable before the R.I.C. was disbanded by the Irish Free State Government in 1922. He decided to emigrate to Canada where he joined the British Columbian Police Force. When that police force was disbanded he had reached the rank of Inspector. He was then appointed a provincial judge and held that position until he reached the legal retirement age.

Mr. Walker married and had three children. Two sons, one became a doctor and the other an engineer and his daughter became an artist.

Back to List

Site Hosted by Dotser

A-Z of Laois - About Laois - Community History - Famous People - Photographs - Maps - 19th Century Laois