Hugh Geoghegan

For the former Irish football player, see Hugh Geoghegan (footballer).

Hugh Geoghegan
Judge of the Supreme Court
In office
7 March 2000 – 14 May 2010
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMary McAleese
Judge of the High Court
In office
11 December 1992 – 7 March 2000
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMary Robinson
Personal details
Born(1938-01-24)24 January 1938
Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
Died7 July 2024(2024-07-07) (aged 86)
Dublin, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1981)​
Children3, including James
Parent
RelativesThomas Finlay (father-in-law)
EducationClongowes Wood College
Alma mater

Hugh Geoghegan (16 May 1938 – 7 July 2024) was an Irish judge who served on the Supreme Court from 2000 to 2010 and on the High Court from 1992 to 2000.[1]

Early life

Geoghegan was born on 16 May 1938.[2][3] His father James Geoghegan was a judge of the Supreme Court.[4] He attended secondary school at Clongowes Wood College and received BCL and LLB degrees from University College Dublin. At UCD, he was the auditor of the University College Dublin Law Society between 1960 and 1961.[3][5] He studied at the King's Inns in order to become a barrister.[6]

Geoghegan was called to the Bar in 1962, becoming a senior counsel in 1977, practising in Dublin and the Midland Circuit.[4][6] He was also called to the bar in Northern Ireland and in England and Wales.[4]

Geoghegan was a Public Service Arbitrator from 1982 to 1992.[4] In the 1980s he served on the Circuit Court Rules Committee.[7] He also appeared before the tribunal of inquiry into the Stardust fire.[8] He chaired a commission which recommended the formation of the Labour Relations Commission.[9]

He was a bencher of Middle Temple.[3]

Judicial career

Geoghegan was appointed to the High Court in December 1992.[10] He was elevated to the Supreme Court of Ireland in 2000, replacing Donal Barrington.[11] He was appointed on 7 March 2000.[12] He retired in May 2010 and was replaced by Liam McKechnie.[13][14]

In his retirement he presided over citizenship ceremonies.[15]

Personal life

Hugh Geoghegan was married to Mary Finlay Geoghegan who also served as a judge of the Supreme Court, with whom he had two daughters and a son, James Geoghegan, who became Lord Mayor of Dublin shortly before his father's death.[4][16]

Geoghegan died on 7 July 2024, at the age of 86.[17][18][19]

References

  1. ^ "Justice Hugh Geoghegan appointed to Supreme Court". RTÉ.ie. 22 February 2000. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Geoghegan, Hugh, (born 16 May 1938), a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland, 2000–10". Who's Who. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U245197.
  3. ^ a b c "UCD Connections 2010-2011". 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Rafter, Kevin (23 February 2000). "Mr Justice Geoghegan for Supreme Court". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  5. ^ "A century of wit and verbal combat". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Der Ehrenwerte Richter Hugh Geoghegan". supremecourt.ie (in German). Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  7. ^ Circuit Court Rules (No. 1) 1983 (S.I. No. 267 of 1983). Signed on 28 July 1983. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 July 2007.
  8. ^ "Written Answers. – Stardust Inquiry – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil) – Vol. 331 No. 8". Oireachtas Debates. 9 December 1981. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Private Notice Questions. – An Post Dispute. – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Vol. 418 No. 7". Oireachtas Debates. 28 April 1992. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Written Answers. – Appointments to Public Boards. – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil)". Oireachtas Debates. 10 February 1993. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Justice Hugh Geoghegan appointed to Supreme Court". RTÉ News. 22 February 2000. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Engagements Week beginning 6th March 2000". President of Ireland. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Retiring judge backs civil court of appeal to clear backlog". The Irish Times. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  14. ^ Coulter, Carol. "Mr Justice McKechnie nominated for Supreme Court". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Departmental Bodies Parliamentary Questions (31st Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 28 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Retiring judge warns on 'unacceptable delays' in accessing justice". Law Society of Ireland. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  17. ^ Carolan, Mary (8 July 2024). "Retired Supreme Court judge Hugh Geoghegan dies aged 86". The Irish Times.
  18. ^ "Statement by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, TD on death of retired judge Hugh Geoghegan". Government of Ireland (Press release). Department of Justice. 9 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Death Notice of Hugh Geoghegan (Dublin)". RIP.ie. 8 July 2024.