The Sheriff of Dublin City is 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.
Today, the Sheriff is a full-time public official whose role includes enforcing court orders of the Circuit Court, such as eviction or debt collection, acting as returning officer in public elections, and executing tax certificates on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners.
Background The first Shrievalties were established before the Norman Conquest in 1066 and date back to Saxon times. Besides his judicial importance, the sheriff had ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs. In 1908, an Order in Council made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the Sheriff's precedence. Despite this, the office retained responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in a county.
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.
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.
24 aldermen sat on the City Assembly as part of the Upper House alongside the Lord Mayor of Dublin and exercised supreme authority.
The City Assembly gave its name to the still extant City Assembly House.
The High Sheriff was ex officio a member of the "Port of Dublin Corporation" from 1786 until 1867, when the body was split into the Commissioners of Irish Lights and the Dublin Port and Docks Board, neither of which had him as member.
List of Sheriffs of Dublin City 13th century 1280: Robert le Decer
14th century 1308: William le DeveneysBall, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926 p.60 1332: John Callan, William le WalshPatent Roll 6 Edward III 1377: William FitzwilliamClose Roll 51 Edward III 1379: Walter Passavant; William BankClose Roll 3 Richard II'
15th century 1405: Geoffrey Parker 1406: Thomas Shorthalls, later a Baron of the Court of Exchequer, first termBall, F.Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926 p. 176 1414: Thomas Shorthalls, second term 1424: Thomas Shorthalls, third term 1442/3: William de la FieldPatent Roll 22 Henry VI 1489: Patrick Mole; Thomas BerminghamPatent Roll 4 Henry VII
16th century
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
See also Lord Mayor of Dublin List of mayors of Dublin
References