Donal Barrington
Donal Patrick Michael Barrington (28 February 1928 – 3 January 2018) was an Irish judge who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court from 1996 to 2000, a Judge of the European Court of Justice from 1989 to 1996 and a Judge of the High Court from 1979 to 1989.[1][2]
Donal Barrington | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Supreme Court | |
| In office 1 June 1996 – 24 June 2000 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary Robinson |
| Judge of the European Court of Justice | |
| In office 21 June 1989 – 27 May 1996 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | European Council |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 14 March 1979 – 20 June 1989 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Patrick Hillery |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Donal Patrick Michael Barrington 28 February 1928 Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 3 January 2018 (aged 89) Merrion Road, Dublin, Ireland |
| Spouse(s) | Eileen Barrington (m. 1959) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
He was known to be an advocate for progressive policies, he was also the first President of the Irish Human Rights Commission.[3]
As a barrister, he was a key advocate for social change. He successfully represented Mary McGee, in the landmark 1973 case over the ban on importing contraceptives in Ireland, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the ban infringed on married couples' right to privacy.[4] He was appointed a High Court judge in 1979 and subsequently a judge of the Court of First Instance of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in 1989.[5]
Early life
Barrington was born in North Dublin, the fifth child of Thomas Barrington, a principal officer in the Department of Agriculture and native of Ennistymon, County Clare, and Eileen, a daughter of J. K. Bracken and sister of Brendan Bracken, 1st Viscount Bracken. His father died when he was 2 years old. He later attended University College Dublin.[6]
Family
Barrington married Eileen O'Donovan, daughter of Irish senator Seán O'Donovan and Kathleen Boland, sister of Gerald Boland and Harry Boland. They had four children, Kathleen, Kevin, Eileen and Brian.
References
- Conniff, James (1994). The Useful Cobbler: Edmund Burke and the Politics of Progress. SUNY Press. p. 301. ISBN 9780791418437. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- Carswell, Simon (3 January 2018). "Ex-judge and 'barrister to underdog' Donal Barrington dies". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- Finn, Christina (6 January 2018). "'Liberal' barrister fought game changer case that overturned the ban on importing contraceptives". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- Keena, Colm (6 January 2018). "Donal Barrington saw Constitution as 'living document,' funeral hears". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- "Mr. Justice Donal Barrington". Belvedere College Union. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- "Outstanding jurist and advocate of social and political change". The Irish Times. 6 January 2018. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.