Robert Eagar
Judge of the High Court
In office
30 October 2014 – 17 January 2023
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMichael D. Higgins
Personal details
NationalityIrish
Alma mater

Robert Eagar is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the High Court from 2014 to 2023.

Early life

Eagar was educated at University College Dublin from where he graduated with a BCL degree in 1977.[1] He attended the Law Society of Ireland and was added to the Roll of Solicitors in 1978.[2]

He began his career as a solicitor at the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, a constituent part of the Office of the Attorney General, working there until 1984.[2] In 1982, he was involved in proceedings in the Circuit Court involving a licensing request by the owner of the Stardust nightclub.[3] He was the prosecuting solicitor in a case against Vinnie Doyle and the Irish Independent for a breach of the Official Secrets Act.[4]

He joined the law firm of Garrett Sheehan in 1984, becoming a partner in 1995.[5] His expertise as a solicitor was in criminal law, extradition, asylum law, human rights law and child law.[2] He has represented an anti-war activist convicted of damage to US military property,[6] fugitive solicitor Michael Lynn,[7] the former company secretary of Anglo Irish Bank on trial for tax offences,[8] and a Christian Brother accused of 110 charges of indecent assault.[9] He has also acted as a solicitor for clients accused of murder and fraud.[10][11] He has acted in cases involving judicial review in the Supreme Court of Ireland and cases in the Court of Criminal Appeal.[5]

In 2008, he called for the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan Jnr to fund an independent forensic laboratory.[12]

He was a member of the Law Society's Criminal Law Committee and a lecturer in criminal law.[13][5] He is a former chair of the Dublin Simon Community, a founder of the Irish Refugee Council and board member of the Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School.[2]

Judicial career

Eagar was appointed a Judge of the High Court in October 2014.[14] He has been the presiding judge in cases involving criminal law,[15] defamation law,[16] equality law,[17] medical negligence,[18] judicial review,[19] and refugee law.[20]

He has presided over cases in the Special Criminal Court.[21] He was the judge in bail hearings involving Lisa Smith and those accused of the murder of Ana Kriégel and the kidnapping of Kevin Lunney.[22][23][24]

He was a designated judge to report to the Taoiseach on the operation of the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009.[25]

He retired as judge in January 2023.[26]

Personal life

Eagar is married to Monica and has two daughters.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "Recent judicial appointments for our alumni". Facebook. UCD School of Law. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Finn, Christina. "New appointments chosen to fill vacancies in High Court". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Stardust owner's plea adjourned". The Irish Times. 19 January 1982. p. 11.
  4. ↑ "'Independent' editor fined for breach of Official Secrets Act". The Irish Times. 8 February 1984. p. 12.
  5. 1 2 3 "Bar of Ireland & The Law Society of Ireland Joint Conference: "Sexual and Domestic Violence – Questions for 21st Century Justice"" (PDF). COSC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Sentencing of anti-war activist adjourned again until December". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  7. ↑ Mooney, John. "Fugitive lawyer offers to meet fraud squad". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  8. ↑ Tuite, Tom. "Ex-Anglo company secretary to stand trial on tax charges". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 November 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  9. ↑ "Former Christian brother sent for trial on 110 indecent assault charges in late 70s". Limerick Post Newspaper. 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  10. ↑ "Man charged with Galway murder". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  11. ↑ Carolan, Mary. "Former stockbroker asks court to prevent his trial". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "Top law firm critical of forensic services". www.irishexaminer.com. 6 June 2008. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Two solicitors appointed to the High Court". www.lawsociety.ie. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "Annual Report 2014" (PDF). JAAB. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "Woman convicted of cruelty to her son". RTÉ News. 23 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  16. ↑ "Dana denies defamation claims". RTÉ News. 11 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  17. ↑ "Judge awards female army captain €800k in equality case". RTÉ News. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  18. ↑ O'Donnell, Orla (12 November 2018). "Medical clinic apologises in court over woman's death". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "An Taisce and environmentalist cannot appeal board's decision, court rules". www.irishexaminer.com. 14 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "Judge slams 'insulting' comments on refugee's beliefs". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  21. ↑ "Man guilty of being a member of the IRA". Herald. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  22. ↑ "Lisa Smith granted bail with strict conditions". RTÉ News. 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  23. ↑ Tuite, Tom. "13-year-old boy accused of murdering Ana Kriegel denied bail". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  24. ↑ "Two men charged over Lunney attack bailed at High Court". RTÉ News. 28 April 2020. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  25. ↑ "Report to An Taoiseach" (PDF). Oireachtas.ie. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  26. 1 2 "Mr Justice Bobby Eagar retires from High Court bench". www.lawsociety.ie. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
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