At its meeting today, the Government nominated Ms. Caroline Costello S.C. and Ms. Aileen Donnelly S.C. for appointment by the President to the High Court.
The vacancies on the High Court arise from the retirement of the Hon. Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill and the elevation to the Supreme Court of the Hon. Mr. Justice Peter Charleton.
The Government has taken the necessary steps to formally advise President Higgins of the nominations in accordance with constitutional procedure.
A further vacancy is due to arise on the High Court in September with the retirement of the Hon. Mr. Justice Barry White. At its meeting today the Government agreed in principle to nominate Mr. Seamus Noonan S.C. for appointment by the President to fill this vacancy once it arises.
23 July 2014
Note for Editors
The nominations to the High Court follow the receipt of lists of suitable candidates from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.
Biographical Details for Ms. Caroline Costello S.C.
§ Educated: University College Dublin, University of Oxford, the King’s Inns
§ Called to the Bar: 1988
§ Called to the Inner Bar: 2010
§ Experience in many areas of law including commercial, banking, insolvency, property and probate
§ Publications: The Four Courts: 200 Years (editor), Four Courts Press, 1996
§ CEDR Accredited Mediator
§ Member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Bar Conference since 1988 and Treasure from 2006 to date.
Biographical Details for Ms. Aileen Donnelly S.C.
§ Educated: University College Dublin, the King’s Inns
§ Called to the Bar: 1988
§ Called to the Inner Bar: 2004
§ Practises mainly in criminal, extradition, judicial review, constitutional and tort law
§ Publications: Revenue Investigations and Enforcement: Donnelly & Walsh, Butterworths, 2002 and has contributed chapters to ECHR and criminal proceedings: The Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights on Criminal Proceedings in the European Union, Ed. Jaap van der Hulst, Erasmus University, 2001 and Gender and the Law: Ed. Alpha Connelly, Oak Tree Press 1993
§ Board Member and Co-Chair of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties: 1996 to 2002
§ Board Member of the International Legal Foundation (ILF): 2010 to date
Biographical Details for Mr. Seamus Noonan S.C.
§ Educated: Trinity College Dublin
§ Called to the Bar: 1977
§ Called to the Inner Bar: 2007
§ Practises mainly in medical negligence and personal injury law but also has experience in property, insurance, commercial and company law
§ CEDR Accredited Mediator
§ Member of the Living Donor Ethics Committee which advises the National Kidney Transplant Unit in Beaumont Hospital
§ Has acted as an arbitrator, particularly in the context of disputes concerning motor vehicles under the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI)