merrion street

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Mr. Charles Flanagan T.D., has paid tribute to the late Mr. Donal Barrington, former Supreme Court Judge who died yesterday.

Expressing his condolences the Minister said:

“I have learned with great regret of the death of Mr. Donal Barrington and wish to express my deepest sympathy to his wife, family and friends on their very sad loss. I express also my appreciation for his distinguished contribution to public life and dedicated service to the State.

He was a renowned barrister and expert in constitutional law who was respected and popular among his legal colleagues and peers. Called to the Bar in 1951, he became Senior Counsel in 1967 and built a hugely successful career as a ground-breaking advocate.

He was appointed to the High Court in 1979 and to the Supreme Court in 1996 in which office he served until 2000 and was among the first Judges to be appointed to the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg on its establishment in 1989. He was also the first President of the Irish Human Rights Commission and one of the founding members of the Irish Council of Civil Liberties. I know he will be greatly missed.

Ar dheis Dé do raibh a anam.”