John L. Murray
| The Hon. Mr. Justice John L. Murray | |
|---|---|
| 10th Chief Justice of Ireland | |
|
In office 23 July 2004[1] – 25 July 2011 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Preceded by | Ronan Keane |
| Succeeded by | Susan Denham |
| Justice of the Supreme Court | |
|
In office 2 May 1999 – 25 July 2015 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Judge of the European Court of Justice | |
|
In office 15 September 1992 – 2 May 1999 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | European Council |
| 21st Attorney General of Ireland | |
|
In office 11 March 1987 – 25 September 1991 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | John Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Harry Whelehan |
|
In office 17 August 1982 – 14 December 1982 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Patrick Connolly |
| Succeeded by | Peter Sutherland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Loyola Murray 10 May 1943 Limerick City, Limerick, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse(s) | Gabrielle Murray |
| Children |
|
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
John Loyola Murray (born 1943) is a former judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland 1999-2015 and served as Chief Justice from 2004 to 2011.
Early career
John Murray was born in Limerick in 1943 and educated at Crescent College, Limerick, Rockwell College, County Tipperary, University College Dublin, and the Honorable Society of King's Inns. He was twice elected President of the Union of Students in Ireland in 1966/67. He qualified as a barrister in 1967 and had a successful law practice dealing with commercial, civil, and constitutional law.
Attorney General
He was Attorney General under the Fianna Fáil government from 17 August to 14 December 1982. The Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, appointed him as Attorney General after his predecessor, Patrick Connolly, resigned abruptly over the GUBU scandal, when a murderer Malcolm McArthur was arrested in Connolly's Dalkey flat.
His next term in office as Attorney General extended from 11 March 1987 to 25 September 1991. In 1988 he refused to allow the extradition of Fr. Patrick Ryan to Britain on explosives charges dealing with the Provisional IRA on the basis that the trial he would be given would not be fair to due excessive media coverage and remarks made in Parliament by the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher which were considered prejudicial.
Judicial career
In 1991 he was appointed as a judge of the European Court of Justice serving until 1999 when he was appointed to the Irish Supreme Court.
He served on the Supreme Court from 1999. He was appointed as Chief Justice of Ireland in 2004 and retired as Chief Justice in 2011, though he remained a member of the Supreme Court until 2015. As a former Chief Justice, he is a member of the Council of State (Ireland).
In 2011 Chief Justice Murray became involved in controversy with the Government over a proposal to amend the Constitution to allow the remuneration of judges to be reduced in parallel to the remuneration of public servants in State employment.[2][3]
The criticisms of the Government's plans were contained in a 12-page critique by Chief Justice Murray, and the President of the High Court, Nicholas Kearns and published in the Court Services website, but subsequently redacted at the request of the Government.[4]
He retired from the Supreme Court in June 2015.[5]
Chancellor of the University of Limerick
Mr. Justice Murray was appointed Chancellor of the University of Limerick and Chairman of UL’s Governing Authority in 2013.[6]
Telephone Tapping Inquiry
In January 2016, it was announced that the Minister for Justice and Equality had appointed Mr Justice Murray to conduct a review of the legislation allowing access to the phone records of journalists. Mr Justice Murray has been asked to propose any legislative changes required. He has been asked to examine the legislation in other countries and examine best international practice in this area.[7]
Personal
Mr. Justice Murray is married to Gabrielle Walsh, daughter of Mr. Justice Brian Walsh, a former Supreme Court judge, described as "as one of Ireland's greatest judges" and the "outstanding legal reforming mind of his generation" by Prof. John J. Lee,.[8]
His brother, Michael D Murray is State Solicitor for Limerick City. [9]
See also
References
- ↑ Official Notice of appointment is listed (in Irish only) in Iris Óifiguil of 30 July 2004 http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/pdfs/IR300704.pdf
- ↑ Government rejects judiciary's call for independent pay review
- ↑ Shatter dodges quizzing on judges row
- ↑ Memo on judges' pay removed from website
- ↑ "Mr Justice John Murray retires as Supreme Court judge". The Irish Times. 26 June 2015.
- ↑ "UL Governing Authority Appoint the Hon. Mr Justice John Murray as Chancellor". University of Limerick. 29 January 2013.
- ↑ "Fitzgerald denies authorising tapping of journalists' phones". The Irish Times. 20 January 2016.
- ↑ Alan Murdoch, "Obituary: Judge Brian Walsh" The Independent, London 1998-03-11 (accessed 20 January 2016)
- ↑ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/new-breed-of-limerick-criminals-believe-settled-community-are-prey-says-solicitor-1.1191181
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Patrick Connolly |
Attorney General of Ireland 1982 |
Succeeded by Peter Sutherland |
| Preceded by John Rogers |
Attorney General of Ireland 1987–1991 |
Succeeded by Harry Whelehan |
| Preceded by Ronan Keane |
Chief Justice of Ireland 2004–2011 |
Succeeded by Susan Denham |