Catherine McGuinness
Member of the Council of State
In office
6 January 2012 – 4 April 2019
Appointed byMichael D. Higgins
In office
2 May 1988 – 11 November 1990
Appointed byPatrick Hillery
Judge of the Supreme Court
In office
January 2000 – 23 September 2006
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMary McAleese
Judge of the High Court
In office
10 August 1996 – 1 July 2000
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMary Robinson
Judge of the Circuit Court
In office
22 July 1994 – 10 August 1996
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMary Robinson
Senator
In office
15 November 1983 – 20 July 1987
In office
20 June 1979 – 11 July 1982
ConstituencyDublin University
Personal details
Born
Catherine Isobel Bridget Ellis

(1934-11-14) 14 November 1934
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityIrish
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1954; died 2003)​
Children3
Residence(s)Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland
EducationAlexandra College
Alma mater

Catherine McGuinness (née Ellis; born 14 November 1934) is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court from 2000 to 2006, a Judge of the High Court from 1996 to 2000, a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1994 to 1996 and a Senator for the Dublin University from 1979 to 1981 and between 1983 and 1987. She was appointed by President Patrick Hillery to the Council of State from 1988 to 1990 and by President Michael D. Higgins from 2012 to 2019.[1][2]

She was President of the Law Reform Commission from 2007 to 2009. In May 2013, she was appointed Chair of the National University of Ireland Galway Governing Authority.[3]

Biography

Catherine Isabel Brigid Ellis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1934 to Canon Robert Ellis and his wife, Sylvia Craig. She attended primary school in Belfast, and was later educated in Alexandra College, Trinity College Dublin and the King's Inns.[4][5]

In the 1960s, she worked for the Labour Party.[6] She was called to the Irish Bar in 1977 at age 42. In 1989, she was called to the Inner Bar.[7]

In 1979, she was elected as an Independent candidate to Seanad Éireann at a by-election on 11 December 1979 as a senator for the Dublin University constituency, following the resignation of Conor Cruise O'Brien, taking her seat in the 14th Seanad.[1] She was re-elected at the 1981 elections to the 15th Seanad, and in 1983 to the 17th Seanad, where she served until 1987. She lost her seat to David Norris.[6] She was appointed to the Council of State on 2 May 1988 by President Patrick Hillery and served until 1990.[7]

She was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court in 1994, the first woman to hold that office in Ireland.[6] In 1996, she was appointed to the High Court and remained there until her appointment to the Supreme Court in January 2000.[8][9]

In November 2005, she was appointed adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway.[10] She was also appointed President of the Law Reform Commission in 2005, and held that position until 2011.[7]

In April 2009, she was awarded a "Lord Mayor's Award" by Lord Mayor of Dublin Eibhlin Byrne "for her contribution to the lives of children and families in the city through her pioneering work".[11] In September 2010, she was named as one of the "People of the Year" for "her pioneering, courageous and long-standing service to Irish society".[12][13] In November 2012, she won the 'Irish Tatler Hall of Fame Award'[14]

In addition to her judicial career, McGuinness has served on the Employment Equality Agency, Kilkenny Incest Investigation, the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation,[15] the National Council of the Forum on End of Life in Ireland,[5] and the Irish Universities Quality Board.[16] In June 2011, she became patron of the Irish Refugee Council.[17] In November 2011, she was appointed Chairperson of the "Campaign for Children"[18]

She has received honorary doctorates from the University of Ulster, the National University of Ireland, the University of Dublin, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.[15]

In February 2013, McGuinness accepted the Honorary Presidency of Trinity College Dublin's Free Legal Advice Centre.

In January 2014, she was appointed by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte to chair the expert panel to oversee the preparation of reports on the best underground route options to compare with the Grid Link and Grid West high voltage power lines in Ireland.[19]

In March 2015, she received an Alumni Award from Trinity College Dublin.[20]

Miseon Lee, Catherine McGuinness, President Michael D Higgins at the National Gallery of Ireland
Miseon Lee, Catherine McGuinness, President Michael D Higgins

In July 2022 a portrait of her by Miseon Lee was unveiled at the National Gallery of Ireland. The portrait was presented to the Gallery by Tara Doyle, Chair of Matheson (law firm)[21]

Catherine McGuinness Fellowship on Children's Rights and Child Law

In November 2014, the Children's Rights Alliance established the Catherine McGuinness Fellowship on Children's Rights and Child Law, a one-year Fellowship Programme for newly qualified barristers to work as part of their Legal and Policy Team on law and policy reform for children in the area of children's rights and child law in the Irish context. The Programme was developed in partnership with the Bar Council of Ireland and with the support of the Family Lawyers Association of Ireland.[22]

The Fellowship was launched by the Chief Justice of Ireland, Susan Denham who described McGuinness as "an advocate at heart" and a "patriot, in the true sense of the word" who "stands up for the rights of others, particularly those who are marginalised and vulnerable in our society."[23]

References

  1. 1 2 "Catherine McGuinness". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "President appoints seven to Council of State". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Judge McGuinness Appointed Chair of NUI Galway Governing Authority". NUIG Website. 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Catherine McGuinness". Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness". Forum on End of Life. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Fintan O'Toole. "Agents of change 25 women who made a difference". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 Doyle, Kilian (6 January 2012). "Higgins unveils his seven Council of State nominees". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Galway-bias as President Michael D unveils Council of State appointees". Irish Independent. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "New Chief Justice announced as Ahern prepares for reshuffle". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 25 January 2000. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Faculty Appoints Adjunct Professor" (PDF). Law Times (2). 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Norris and McGuinness among recipients of awards". The Irish Times. 4 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  12. ↑ "Selfless qualities mark winners apart". The Irish Times. 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  13. ↑ "Previous People of the Year". Archived from the original on 22 November 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  14. ↑ "Irish Tatler Women of the Year Awards". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  15. 1 2 "Lead Singer of U2 and President of the European Parliament Among Leading Figures to Receive Honorary Degrees at Trinity College Dublin". University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin. 11 July 2003. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  16. ↑ "Board Profiles". Irish Universities Quality Board. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  17. ↑ "Mrs. Justice McGuinness joins campaign for asylum reform". Irish Refuge Council. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "Campaign for Children website". Campaign for Children. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  19. ↑ "Irish Government Information site website". Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  20. ↑ "Trinity College Dublin website". Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Portrait of former Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness unveiled at National Gallery of Ireland".
  22. ↑ "Catherine McGuinness Fellowship on Children's Rights and Child Law". Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  23. ↑ "Retired Supreme Court Judge Catherine McGuinness has said that it is a "very great honour" to have a new fellowship on Children's Rights and Child Law named after her". The Irish Independent. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
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