Robert Eagar Explained

Robert Eagar
Office:Judge of the High Court
Term Start:30 October 2014
Term End:17 January 2023
Nominator:Government of Ireland
Appointer:Michael D. Higgins
Nationality:Irish

Robert Eagar is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the High Court from 2014 to 2023.

Early life

Eagar was educated at University College Dublin from where he graduated with a BCL degree in 1977.[1] He attended the Law Society of Ireland and was added to the Roll of Solicitors in 1978.[2]

Legal career

He began his career as a solicitor at the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, a constituent part of the Office of the Attorney General, working there until 1984. In 1982, he was involved in proceedings in the Circuit Court involving a licensing request by the owner of the Stardust nightclub.[3] He was the prosecuting solicitor in a case against Vinnie Doyle and the Irish Independent for a breach of the Official Secrets Act.[4]

He joined the law firm of Garrett Sheehan in 1984, becoming a partner in 1995.[5] His expertise as a solicitor was in criminal law, extradition, asylum law, human rights law and child law. He has represented an anti-war activist convicted of damage to US military property,[6] fugitive solicitor Michael Lynn,[7] the former company secretary of Anglo Irish Bank on trial for tax offences,[8] and a Christian Brother accused of 110 charges of indecent assault.[9] He has also acted as a solicitor for clients accused of murder and fraud.[10] [11] He has acted in cases involving judicial review in the Supreme Court of Ireland and cases in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

In 2008, he called for the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan Jnr to fund an independent forensic laboratory.[12]

He was a member of the Law Society's Criminal Law Committee and a lecturer in criminal law.[13] He is a former chair of the Dublin Simon Community, a founder of the Irish Refugee Council and board member of the Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School.

Judicial career

Eagar was appointed a Judge of the High Court in October 2014.[14] He has been the presiding judge in cases involving criminal law,[15] defamation law,[16] equality law,[17] medical negligence,[18] judicial review,[19] and refugee law.[20]

He has presided over cases in the Special Criminal Court.[21] He was the judge in bail hearings involving Lisa Smith and those accused of the murder of Ana Kriégel and the kidnapping of Kevin Lunney.[22] [23] [24]

He was a designated judge to report to the Taoiseach on the operation of the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009.[25]

He retired as judge in January 2023.[26]

Personal life

Eagar is married to Monica and has two daughters.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Recent judicial appointments for our alumni . Facebook . UCD School of Law . 3 July 2020 . 30 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141130061523/https://www.facebook.com/UCDSchoolofLaw/photos/a.152600021430997.31865.152283968129269/901238559900469/ . live .
  2. News: Finn . Christina . New appointments chosen to fill vacancies in High Court . 3 July 2020 . TheJournal.ie . en . 28 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200628181350/https://www.thejournal.ie/high-court-vacancies-1738508-Oct2014/ . live .
  3. News: Stardust owner's plea adjourned . The Irish Times . 19 January 1982 . 11.
  4. News: 'Independent' editor fined for breach of Official Secrets Act . The Irish Times . 8 February 1984 . 12.
  5. Web site: Bar of Ireland & The Law Society of Ireland Joint Conference: "Sexual and Domestic Violence – Questions for 21st Century Justice" . COSC . 3 July 2020 . 26 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126005514/http://cosc.ie/en/COSC/Sexual%20and%20Domestic%20Violence%20%E2%80%93%20Questions%20for%2021st%20Century%20Justice%20-%20Bar%20Council%20and%20Law%20Society%20Conference%20Programme%20and%20Spe.pdf/Files/Sexual%20and%20Domestic%20Violence%20%E2%80%93%20Questions%20for%2021st%20Century%20Justice%20-%20Bar%20Council%20and%20Law%20Society%20Conference%20Programme%20and%20Spe.pdf . live .
  6. News: Sentencing of anti-war activist adjourned again until December . 3 July 2020 . The Irish Times . en.
  7. News: Mooney . John . Fugitive lawyer offers to meet fraud squad . 3 July 2020 . The Sunday Times . en . 4 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200704002616/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fugitive-lawyer-offers-to-meet-fraud-squad-3jtfrrhdrqf . live .
  8. News: Tuite . Tom . Ex-Anglo company secretary to stand trial on tax charges . 3 July 2020 . The Irish Times . en . 21 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131121210730/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/ex-anglo-company-secretary-to-stand-trial-on-tax-charges-1.1600082 . live .
  9. News: Former Christian brother sent for trial on 110 indecent assault charges in late 70s . 3 July 2020 . Limerick Post Newspaper . 15 September 2010 . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703220555/https://www.limerickpost.ie/2010/09/15/former-christian-brother-sent-for-trial-on-110-indecent-assault-charges-in-late-70s/ . live .
  10. News: Man charged with Galway murder . 3 July 2020 . The Irish Times . en.
  11. News: Carolan . Mary . Former stockbroker asks court to prevent his trial . 3 July 2020 . The Irish Times . en.
  12. News: Top law firm critical of forensic services . 3 July 2020 . www.irishexaminer.com . 6 June 2008 . en . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703220553/https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/icrime/top-law-firm-critical-of-forensic-services-64413.html . live .
  13. Web site: Two solicitors appointed to the High Court . www.lawsociety.ie . 3 July 2020 . 4 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200704052748/https://www.lawsociety.ie/News/News/Stories/Two-solicitors-appointed-to-the-High-Court/ . live .
  14. Web site: Annual Report 2014 . JAAB . 3 July 2020 . 31 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201031231656/http://www.jaab.ie/en/JAAB/Annual%20Report%202014%20Final%20Version.pdf/Files/Annual%20Report%202014%20Final%20Version.pdf . live .
  15. News: Woman convicted of cruelty to her son . 3 July 2020 . RTÉ News . 23 May 2016 . en . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703220554/https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0523/790317-waterford/ . live .
  16. News: Dana denies defamation claims . 3 July 2020 . RTÉ News . 11 October 2016 . en . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703220614/https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1011/823319-dana-high-court/ . live .
  17. News: Judge awards female army captain €800k in equality case . 3 July 2020 . RTÉ News . 14 July 2017 . en . 4 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200704004550/https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2017/0714/890364-army-captain-damages/ . live .
  18. News: O'Donnell . Orla . Medical clinic apologises in court over woman's death . 3 July 2020 . RTÉ News . 12 November 2018 . en . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703220818/https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2018/1112/1010361-apology-clinic-death/ . live .
  19. News: An Taisce and environmentalist cannot appeal board's decision, court rules . 3 July 2020 . www.irishexaminer.com . 14 January 2019 . en . 4 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200704025052/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/an-taisce-and-environmentalist-cannot-appeal-boards-decision-court-rules-897487.html . live .
  20. News: Judge slams 'insulting' comments on refugee's beliefs . 3 July 2020 . Irish Independent . en . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703230138/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/judge-slams-insulting-comments-on-refugees-beliefs-31004512.html . live .
  21. News: Man guilty of being a member of the IRA . 3 July 2020 . Herald . en . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703220555/https://www.herald.ie/news/courts/man-guilty-of-being-a-member-of-the-ira-35209166.html . live .
  22. News: Lisa Smith granted bail with strict conditions . 3 July 2020 . RTÉ News . 19 December 2019 . en . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703220833/https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2019/1219/1102191-lisa-smith/ . live .
  23. News: Tuite . Tom . 13-year-old boy accused of murdering Ana Kriegel denied bail . 3 July 2020 . TheJournal.ie . en . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703220553/https://www.thejournal.ie/ana-kriegel-courts-4099487-Jun2018/ . live .
  24. News: Two men charged over Lunney attack bailed at High Court . 3 July 2020 . RTÉ News . 28 April 2020 . en . 5 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200705125820/https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2020/0428/1135321-lunney-case-bail/ . live .
  25. Web site: Report to An Taoiseach . Oireachtas.ie . 3 July 2020 . 3 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200703235604/https://ptfs-oireachtas.s3.amazonaws.com/DriveH/AWData/Library3/TAOdoclaid08032016_144439.pdf . live .
  26. News: Mr Justice Bobby Eagar retires from High Court bench . 17 January 2023 . www.lawsociety.ie . 17 January 2023.

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