Donal O'Donnell
Donal O'Donnell | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office 20 January 2010 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Donal John O'Donnell 10 April 1958 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Spouse | Mary Rose Binchy (m. 1992) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | St. Mary's School |
| Alma mater | |
Donal John O'Donnell (born 10 April 1958) is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since 2010.
Early life
He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1958. He was educated at St. Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast, University College Dublin, King's Inns and the University of Virginia.[1] While at UCD, he won the 1978 Irish Times Debate with Conor Gearty for the UCD Law Society.[2] He graduated from Virginia in 1983, where he wrote a research paper comparing equality under the US and Irish constitutions, supervised by A.E. Dick Howard.[3] Janet Napolitano was also among the class of 1983.[4]
His brother Turlough O'Donnell SC is former Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland.[5] He comes from a legal family, his father, The Rt. Hon Sir Turlough O'Donnell PC, was a member of the High Court of Northern Ireland and of the Court of Appeal of Northern Ireland between 1971 and 1990.[6]
Legal career
He was called to the Irish Bar in 1982, was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1989.[7] He has practised in all courts in Ireland, Northern Ireland, European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).[1] His was known for his speciality in constitutional law.[8] He successfully represented the applicants from the Garda Síochána after the death of John Carthy in a constitutional challenge which limited the powers of investigation of the Oireachtas,[9] which led to the unsuccessful Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution.[10] He acted for the State in Zappone v. Revenue Commissioners and Miss D. He was counsel for Michael Lowry at the Moriarty Tribunal.[7]
O'Donnell was a member of the Law Reform Commission from 2005 to 2012. He became a Bencher of the King's Inns in 2009.[1]
Supreme Court
O'Donnell was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2010. He appointed directly from practice to Ireland's highest court, a rare direct appointment.[11] His appointment followed Nicholas Kearns becoming President of the High Court.[12]
There have been several distinctive and innovative features of his Supreme Court judgments, including writing joint opinions and opting to delay a declaration of unconstitutionality, in lieu of no declaration at all, to enable the government to take action before a judgment takes effect.[8] Ruadhán Mac Cormaic of The Irish Times says O'Donnell has a reputation for elegant writing and having a "socially liberal" approach.[8]
He was reported to have been one of three judges shortlisted to be the 12th Chief Justice of Ireland in July 2017, however Frank Clarke was chosen.[13]
Personal life
He is married to Mary Rose Binchy, an artist,[8] with whom he has four children.[7]
References
- ^ a b c "2018 Supreme Court Annual Report" (PDF). Supreme Court. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- ^ "Where are they now?". The Irish Times. 31 January 1992. p. 9. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ^ "O'Donnell LL.M. '83 Nominated to Supreme Court of Ireland". University of Virginia School of Law. 17 January 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "1980s Class Notes". University of Virginia School of Law. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "O'Donnell takes Supreme Court seat". Irish Times. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ "NI barrister joins Supreme Court". The Belfast Telegraph. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ a b c "UCD Connections 2010" (PDF). UCD. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d Cormaic, Ruadhán Mac. "Donal O'Donnell: Intellectual heavyweight and innovator". The Irish Times. No. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ Maguire v Ardagh, 1 I.R. 385 (Supreme Court of Ireland 2002).
- ^ "Government publishes inquiries Bill". The Irish Times. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "Constitutional barrister appointed to Supreme Court". Breakingnews.ie. 20 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ Carolan, Mary. "Mr Justice Donal O'Donnell formally appointed to Supreme Court". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ Cormaic, Ruadhán Mac; Minihan, Mary. "Cabinet to pick chief justice from three-judge shortlist". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 December 2019.