From Murphyville to Mega-City One: Meet Judge Fergie Kilkenny

Welcome Dredd-heads! Time for another Sector 102 update! This time we're crossing the Black Atlantic to visit the Emerald Isle and its capital, Murphyville, before introducing the latest Judge taking part in the Exchange Program.

Meet Judge Fergie Kilkenny, visiting Mega-City One from Murphyville.

Murphyville

Murphyville is the main urban settlement of the Emerald Isle (formerly Ireland), stretching across the island's south-east coast. Although independent from Brit-Cit, it remains heavily influenced by its larger neighbour. Murphyville's primary export is entertainment, and by 2113 the Emerald Isle was home to around 20 million inhabitants.

History

Ireland's potato crops died out in 2052. Rather than admit the loss, and risk damaging the tourist trade, the authorities secretly mashed rice to resemble potatoes.

Although the Emerald Isle remained neutral during the Atomic War of 2070, it still suffered extensive radiation damage. Recovery wasn't possible until 2095, thanks largely to financial aid from Brit-Cit. Naturally, that assistance came with conditions, allowing Brit corporations to gain enormous influence over the island's government.

The result was an entire country transformed into a giant tourist attraction, built around exaggerated stereotypes of traditional Irish life. Visitors flocked to attractions such as the Charles Haughey Memorial Village, where every meal featured "potatoes," while the infamously irritating cartoon leprechaun Seamus O'Tuber fronted advertising campaigns across the island.

Murphyville itself expanded into a modern mega-city, although not every ambitious project reached completion. The famous Black Atlantic Tunnel simply ends at the Atlantic Bridge after funding ran dry.

At some point, the Emerald Isle Militia evolved into a semi-formal Judge force. Lacking proper funding, they famously developed the Spud Gun, originally attempting to fire the island's fake potatoes because conventional ammunition was simply too expensive.

Growing resentment towards the constant stream of patronising tourists eventually fuelled the rise of the nationalist group known as the Sons of Erin. While initially more outspoken than dangerous, everything changed in 2113 when their leader, Frank Neeson, recruited mob blitzer Donny Staples, mistaking him for a seasoned war veteran.

Staples escalated the group's campaign into the devastating Bloody Monday Morn attacks, targeting Murphyville International Airport, Riverside Travel Centre, Justice Central Station, Telemurph, the docks, and several hab villages and spudatoriums.

With assistance from the visiting Judge Dredd and Judge-Sergeant Charlie Joyce, the Judge Militia eventually defeated the Sons of Erin, although Murphyville's tourist industry never fully recovered.

Notable Events

Murphyville has endured its fair share of unusual incidents over the years. In 2114, Judge-Sergeant Joyce discovered human body parts hidden inside pies produced by the Fingal Pie Factory. The culprits turned out to be a group of Trinity College medical students who thought smuggling human remains into food products was amusing. Joyce strongly disagreed. That same year, Murphyville finally signed the Judicial Charter with Mega-City One after years of negotiation.

Unfortunately, 2114 also saw the events of Judgement Day. Unlike many other cities that relied on Resyk facilities, Murphyville still maintained traditional graveyards. When Sabbat's necromantic plague swept across Earth, the city's cemeteries became the source of a full-scale zombie outbreak. Airstrikes were considered but quickly dismissed, the Church would never have approved.

In 2117, Murphyville joined the hunt for the severed head of Judge Eckhart, although Judge Patrick Wilde, secretly working as a Vatican City double agent, failed in his mission.

By 2126, Chief Judge Krilly represented Murphyville at the Global Justice Summit in Mega-City One, famously coming to the defence of an Oz Judge after Euro-City's Chief Judge Boltstern dismissed Murphyville as little more than "the potato city."

Following the catastrophic events of Chaos Day, an unknown number of Murphyville Judges were seconded to Mega-City One to help replenish its devastated Justice Department.

The Murphyville Judges

The Murphyville Judge Militia differs significantly from the Judges of Mega-City One. Originally underfunded and poorly equipped, the force relied on improvised equipment like the Spud Gun, while their patrol bikes lagged behind the famous Lawmaster in both speed and firepower. Their policing style also reflects traditional Garda values. Murphyville Judges are far more integrated into their communities, are permitted to have families, and can even enjoy a drink while off-duty—and occasionally while on duty. The events of Bloody Monday Morn profoundly changed the force, hardening many Judges without completely abandoning their community-first philosophy. Their uniforms are among the most distinctive in the Judge system. Rather than heavy biker leathers, Murphyville Judges wear long trench coats coloured green and white with orange accents inspired by the Irish flag. Their sidearms are simpler than the Lawgiver but remain formidable weapons.

Justice is administered from Justice Central Station, while convicted criminals serve their sentences in the infamous Kilmainham Iso-Cubes. Under the Judicial Charter, Murphyville Judges have full authority to pursue fugitives into Mega-City One and can request assistance from the Justice Department when required.

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+++ One Murphyville Judge currently assigned to Sector 102... +++

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Visiting Judge Fergie Kilkenny

Judge Fergie Kilkenny hails from the southern districts of Murphyville near the Black Atlantic Bridge. She was selected for the Mega-City One Exchange Program following a brutal killing spree carried out by the Summer Hall Gang, a criminal organisation with strong ties to Murphyville. Justice Central believed it only fitting that the Emerald Isle assist in cleaning up the mess created by some of its own.

Unlike many visiting Judges, Fergie has embraced life in the Big Meg. Light-hearted, approachable, and always ready with a sharp wit, she has quickly become a familiar face around Sector 102.

Off duty, she's known to enjoy a good drink and has become a regular at Angles, where she's earned quite the reputation as one of the district's best Shuggy players.

Despite her easy-going personality, criminals quickly learn not to mistake her friendly smile for weakness. Behind the green trench coat stands a determined Murphyville Judge with a strong sense of justice, and more than enough skill to uphold the Law in Mega-City One.