Hugh Geoghegan Explained

Office:Judge of the Supreme Court
Term Start:7 March 2000
Term End:14 May 2010
Nominator:Government of Ireland
Appointer:Mary McAleese
Office1:Judge of the High Court
Term Start1:11 December 1992
Term End1:7 March 2000
Nominator1:Government of Ireland
Appointer1:Mary Robinson
Birth Date:24 January 1938
Birth Place:Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
Death Place:Dublin, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Fianna Fáil
Children:3, including James
Father:James Geoghegan
Relatives:Thomas Finlay (father-in-law)
Education:Clongowes Wood College

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.[5] He studied at the King's Inns in order to become a barrister.[6]

Legal career

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

Geoghegan was a Public Service Arbitrator from 1982 to 1992. 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.

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.[16]

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Justice Hugh Geoghegan appointed to Supreme Court . . 8 July 2024 . en . 22 February 2000 . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705143205/https://www.rte.ie/news/2000/0222/5708-supremecourt/ . live .
  2. Geoghegan, Hugh, (born 16 May 1938), a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland, 2000–10 . Who's Who . 1 December 2007 . 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U245197.
  3. Web site: UCD Connections 2010-2011 . 4 March 2011 . 6 April 2021 . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705142611/https://issuu.com/glosspublications/docs/ucd2010_new/13 . live .
  4. News: Rafter . Kevin . Mr Justice Geoghegan for Supreme Court . 6 April 2021 . The Irish Times . 23 February 2000 . en . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705142637/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/mr-justice-geoghegan-for-supreme-court-1.248141 . live .
  5. News: A century of wit and verbal combat . 6 April 2021 . The Irish Times . en . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705142731/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/a-century-of-wit-and-verbal-combat-1.561815 . live .
  6. Web site: Der Ehrenwerte Richter Hugh Geoghegan . supremecourt.ie . 6 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171023212111/http://www.supremecourt.ie/SupremeCourt/sclibrary3.nsf/PageCurrent/EEAE1305B436BC5C802575C1003C53F4?opendocument&l=en . 23 October 2017 . German . dead.
  7. Circuit Court Rules (No. 1) 1983 . 1983. si. 267 . 28 July 1983. 23 July 2007 . 29 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125039/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1983/en/si/0267.html . live .
  8. Web site: Written Answers. – Stardust Inquiry – Dáil Éireann (22nd Dáil) – Vol. 331 No. 8 . 9 December 1981 . Oireachtas Debates . 9 July 2024 . 23 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220623141136/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1981-12-09/26/ . live .
  9. Web site: Private Notice Questions. – An Post Dispute. – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Vol. 418 No. 7 . 28 April 1992 . Oireachtas Debates . 6 April 2021 . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705142611/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1992-04-28/9/ . live .
  10. Web site: Written Answers. – Appointments to Public Boards. – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) . Oireachtas Debates. 6 April 2021 . en-ie . 10 February 1993 . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705142613/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1993-02-10/120/ . live .
  11. News: Justice Hugh Geoghegan appointed to Supreme Court . 6 April 2021 . RTÉ News . 22 February 2000 . en . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705143205/https://www.rte.ie/news/2000/0222/5708-supremecourt/ . live .
  12. Web site: Engagements Week beginning 6th March 2000 . President of Ireland . 6 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927034357/http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=6&engagement=200010&lang=eng . 27 September 2007 . dead.
  13. News: Retiring judge backs civil court of appeal to clear backlog . 6 April 2021 . The Irish Times . 15 May 2010 . en . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705142632/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/retiring-judge-backs-civil-court-of-appeal-to-clear-backlog-1.665260 . live .
  14. News: Coulter . Carol . Mr Justice McKechnie nominated for Supreme Court . 6 April 2021 . The Irish Times . en . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705142650/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/mr-justice-mckechnie-nominated-for-supreme-court-1.681801 . live .
  15. Web site: Departmental Bodies Parliamentary Questions (31st Dáil) . Houses of the Oireachtas . 6 April 2021 . en-ie . 28 February 2013 . 5 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210705142627/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2013-02-28/188/ . live .
  16. News: Retiring judge warns on 'unacceptable delays' in accessing justice . 6 April 2021 . Law Society of Ireland . 23 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190623182236/https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/retiring-judge-warns-government-on-unacceptable-delays-in-accessing-justice/ . live .
  17. News: Carolan . Mary . Retired Supreme Court judge Hugh Geoghegan dies aged 86 . . 8 July 2024.
  18. Statement by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, TD on death of retired judge Hugh Geoghegan . Government of Ireland . Department of Justice . 9 July 2024.
  19. Web site: Death Notice of Hugh Geoghegan (Dublin) . RIP.ie . 8 July 2024.

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