Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan noted with sadness the passing of former Chief Justice Thomas Finlay on 3 December 2017, paying tribute to his great contribution to public life and dedicated service to the state.

The Minister described the former Chief Justice as an eminent barrister and jurist, respected and popular among his peers and legal colleagues.

Clear thinking

Minister Flanagan said his 20 years’ service on the bench was characterised by the clear and pragmatic thinking that lay behind his judgments in very many significant cases.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also expressed his condolences saying "Mr Justice Finlay served with great distinction at many levels of the legal system in Ireland.

“He leaves an extraordinary legacy of public service in the law, to which he added a period of time in Dáil Éireann during the 1950s.”  

Fine Gael TD

The late Mr Justice Finlay served as a Fine Gael TD in Dublin South Central in the mid-1950s.

After being called to the bar in 1944, he was appointed to the High Court in 1974 and then as Chief Justice in 1985 where he served until 1994.

Minister Flanagan expressed condolences to the Finlay family, including to his daughter Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan, who has just been appointed to the Supreme Court.

Mr David Barniville, meanwhile, has been appointed a Judge of the High Court.