Mr Justice Bobby Eagar retires from High Court

Each speaker at the retirement of Mr Justice Bobby Eagar (High Court) on 17 January at the Four Courts remarked on his kindness, courtesy, helpfulness, compassion, and gentle good nature.

The retiring judge started his career as a solicitor with the Chief State Solicitor's Office in 1978, and has had a varied and well-balanced working life since then, Law Society President Maura Derivan told the attendees, who had gathered to pay tribute.

In Court 4, Attorney General Rossa Fanning said that Bobby Eagar's father had been a legendary and much-loved teacher of English and French at Saint Vincent's Christian Brothers School in Glasnevin in Dublin 9, recalled with great fondness by former environmental journalist Frank McDonald in his memoir.

"We thought he was the best teacher ever," McDonald wrote.

Extraordinary contribution

The Attorney General (AG) added that Mr Justice Eagar's parents would be justifiably proud of the career that he had enjoyed, and his extraordinary contribution to Irish society, by no means confined to the law.

"Your contribution to Irish public life has been extensive. You have served as Chair of the Dublin Simon Community. You are a founder of the Irish Refugee Council, and you served on the board of Dublin's Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School – all hallmarks of your personal attributes of devotion to public service and compassion for others," the AG said.

Mr Justice Eagar will be best remembered for his long and successful career as a lawyer, Fanning continued.

Criminal law

After a stint with the chief state solicitor, Eagar joined the firm of Garrett Sheehan and partners, where he practised for some 30 years, 19 of them as a partner, specialising in criminal law, extradition, asylum, and human rights.

In the best tradition of our adversarial legal system, no cause was too hopeless or unpopular to be taken on, the AG continued.

Mr Justice Eagar has served with distinction as a judge of the High Court since October 2014 – just the sixth solicitor in the history of the State to hold such an office.

Mr Justice Eagar would be remembered as a man of compassion and integrity, who remained stoic in the face of recent medical challenges, the Attorney General said.

He has had a long-term devotion to both Bohemians and Everton football clubs.

Bar Council chair Sara Phelan said that Mr Justice Eagar was known for his empathy and understanding when dealing with criminal-defence clients, who had often been accused of the most egregious of crimes.

"I'm also told by my colleagues that you were a wonderful briefing solicitor, who sent full case notes to counsel encompassing everything that counsel needed to know, and nothing that counsel didn't need to know," she said.

Respect

Mr Justice Eagar was also known for giving his clients the advice that they needed to hear, rather than the advice that they wanted to hear, she added. Every client was treated with dignity and respect, regardless of the offences with which they had been charged, and regardless of their ultimate guilt or innocence, she said.

The Bar Council chair said that Mr Justice Eagar was "unbelievably principled" and a most decent person, whose view of life as a solicitor was one of honour, vocation, and working in the public service, rather than working for financial gain.

Esteem

"The esteem in which you are held by my colleagues, and by members of the profession in general, is not just because of your considerate nature, but also because of your humanity, your humility, and your ability to treat everybody equally, regardless of their background," she said.

Law Society President Maura Derivan said that Mr Justice Eagar's drive to improve the criminal justice system in the public interest was immense and most commendable.

Throughout his career he had constantly championed reforms for the benefit of the ordinary citizen, she said.

Mr Justice Eagar had witnessed first-hand the impact that law had on people and society, and the vital role of an independent judiciary in upholding the rule of law in the public interest.

The appointment of Mr Justice Eagar to the High Court in 2014 was a cause of great pride, the Law Society President said.

He had been a great friend to the Society, and the solicitors' profession in general, and generously gave time to lecture at the Blackhall Place Law School and to serve on the Criminal Law Committee, she added.

"We thank you for your commitment, time, energy, and hard work," the Law Society President said.

Pride

Angela Denning, Chief Executive of the Courts Service, said that Mr Justice Eagar was a gentleman of the highest order, patient and generous of spirit, and he would be greatly missed for his extraordinary public service.

Mr Justice Eagar thanked his wife Monica and daughters Katie and Sarah for their wonderful support throughout his working life.

'Cut-throat'

"I came from a very competitive legal world as a defence solicitor – cut-throat might be a description!" quipped Mr Justice Eagar.

Arriving at the High Court, and a very friendly establishment of judges, was a big change, he said.

More solicitors should be considered for judicial jobs, he suggested, although the barristers who had gone to the bench were also of very high quality.

His colleagues had always aimed to support each other, and he thanked them for their friendship and collegiality, as well as the warm messages of support that came when he announced his retirement last summer.