In 1897 he heard the much publicised case of "French v West Clare Railway Co". This was the West Clare Railway Company's unsuccessful appeal against an award of damages in favour of the famous songwriter Percy French, who sued for loss of earnings after his train arrived at Kilkee more than four hours late, causing him to miss a performance. The case did not raise any important point of law, but is still remembered as the basis for French's celebrated song Are Ye Right There Michael, which ridiculed the railway company's poor timekeeping and general inefficiency.