John L. Murray

John Loyola Murray (born 10 May 1943) is a retired Irish judge who served as Chief Justice of Ireland from 2004 to 2011, a Judge of the Supreme Court from 1999 to 2015, a Judge of the European Court of Justice from 1992 to 1999 and as Attorney General of Ireland from August 1982 to December 1982 and 1987 to 1991.

John L. Murray
10th Chief Justice of Ireland
In office 23 July 2004[1] – 25 July 2011
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Mary McAleese
Preceded by	Ronan Keane
Succeeded by	Susan Denham
Judge of the Supreme Court
In office 2 May 1999 – 25 July 2015
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Mary McAleese
Judge of the European Court of Justice
In office 15 September 1992 – 2 May 1999
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	European Council
21st Attorney General of Ireland
In office 11 March 1987 – 25 September 1991
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey
Preceded by	John Rogers
Succeeded by	Harry Whelehan
In office 17 August 1982 – 14 December 1982
Taoiseach	Charles Haughey
Preceded by	Patrick Connolly
Succeeded by	Peter Sutherland
Personal details
Born	John Loyola Murray 10 May 1943 Limerick, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s)	Gabrielle Murray (m. 1975)
Children	2
Education	Crescent College
Alma mater	University College Dublin King's Inns

Early career

Murray was born in Limerick in 1943 and educated at Crescent College, Limerick, Rockwell College, County Tipperary, University College Dublin, and the Honorable Society of King's Inns. He was twice elected President of the Union of Students in Ireland in 1966/67. He qualified as a barrister in 1967 and had a successful law practice dealing with commercial, civil, and constitutional law.

Attorney General

He was Attorney General of Ireland under the Fianna Fáil government from 17 August to 14 December 1982. The Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, appointed him as Attorney General after his predecessor, Patrick Connolly, resigned abruptly over the GUBU scandal, when a murderer Malcolm McArthur was arrested in Connolly's Dalkey flat.

His next term in office as Attorney General extended from 11 March 1987 to 25 September 1991. In 1988, he refused to allow the extradition of Fr. Patrick Ryan to Britain on explosives charges dealing with the Provisional IRA, on the basis that the trial he would be given would not be fair to due excessive media coverage and remarks made in Parliament by the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher which were considered prejudicial.

Judicial career

In 1991, he was appointed as a Judge of the European Court of Justice serving until 1999, when he was appointed to the Irish Supreme Court.

He served on the Supreme Court from 1999. He was appointed as Chief Justice of Ireland in 2004 and retired as Chief Justice in 2011, though he remained a member of the Supreme Court until 2015. As a former Chief Justice, he is a member of the Irish Council of State.

In 2011, Chief Justice Murray became involved in controversy with the Government over a proposal to amend the Constitution to allow the remuneration of judges to be reduced in parallel to the remuneration of public servants in State employment.[2][3]

The criticisms of the Government's plans were contained in a 12-page critique by Chief Justice Murray, and the President of the High Court, Nicholas Kearns, and published in the Court Services website, but subsequently redacted at the request of the Government.[4]

He retired from the Supreme Court in June 2015.[5]

Chancellor of the University of Limerick

Murray was appointed Chancellor of the University of Limerick (and so also Chairman of UL’s Governing Authority) in 2013.[6]

Telephone Tapping Inquiry

In January 2016, it was announced that the Minister for Justice and Equality had appointed Murray to conduct a review of the legislation allowing access to the phone records of journalists. Murray was asked to propose any legislative changes required, and to examine the legislation in other countries and examine best international practice in this area.[7]

Personal

Murray is married to Gabrielle Walsh, daughter of Brian Walsh, a former Supreme Court judge, described as "one of Ireland's greatest judges" and the "outstanding legal reforming mind of his generation" by Prof. John J. Lee,.[8]

His brother, Michael D Murray, is State Solicitor for Limerick City.[9]

See also

• List of members of the European Court of Justice

References

1. Official Notice of appointment is listed (in Irish only) in Iris Óifiguil of 30 July 2004 http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/pdfs/IR300704.pdf%5B%5D
2. Government rejects judiciary's call for independent pay review
3. Shatter dodges quizzing on judges row
4. Memo on judges' pay removed from website
5. "Mr Justice John Murray retires as Supreme Court judge". The Irish Times. 26 June 2015.
6. "UL Governing Authority Appoint the Hon. Mr Justice John Murray as Chancellor". University of Limerick. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
7. "Fitzgerald denies authorising tapping of journalists' phones". The Irish Times. 20 January 2016.
8. Alan Murdoch, "Obituary: Judge Brian Walsh" The Independent, London 1998-03-11 (accessed 20 January 2016)
9. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/new-breed-of-limerick-criminals-believe-settled-community-are-prey-says-solicitor-1.1191181