Brian McGovern (judge)

Brian J. McGovern is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal from June 2018 to March 2020 and a Judge of the High Court from 2007 to 2010.

Brian McGovern
Judge of the Court of Appeal
In office
28 June 2018 – 15 March 2020
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMichael D. Higgins
Judge of the High Court
In office
11 March 2006 – 25 June 2018
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMary McAleese
Personal details
NationalityIrish
EducationCastleknock College
Alma mater

Early life

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McGovern attended Castleknock College and obtained a BCL from University College Dublin in 1971. He attended the King's Inns and was called to the Bar in 1972. He became a senior counsel in 1991.[1] During his career as a barrister he frequently practiced in areas of both criminal and civil law. He served as President of the Irish Maritime Law Association.[1] He represented Total S.A. in an inquiry into the Whiddy Island disaster.[2]

Judicial career

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High Court

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He was appointed to the High Court in 2006.[1] Soon after his appointment he heard a case regarding the right of access of a woman to frozen embryos against the wishes of her husband.[3] He acted as the designated arbitration judge for Ireland until his appointment to the Court of Appeal.[4] He was also the presiding judge in the specialist Commercial Court.[5] In the Commercial Court, he was the trial judge for high-profile disputes involving Rory McIlroy, Gay Byrne and Mick Wallace.[6][7][8]

Court of Appeal

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McGovern was appointed to the Court of Appeal in June 2018.[9] He retired as a judge in March 2020.[3]

CervicalCheck Tribunal

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Following his retirement, he continues to serve in a judicial function as a member of the three-judge statutory tribunal into matters arising from the CervicalCheck cancer scandal with chairperson Ann Power and Tony O'Connor.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "High Court judge is nominated". The Irish Times. 3 May 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  2. ^ "New judge for High Court". BreakingNews.ie. 2 May 2006. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Tributes paid to Justice Brian McGovern on his final day on the bench". www.irishexaminer.com. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  4. ^ "800 secondary teachers to train in dispute resolution". Law Society Gazette. 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Ireland's Designated Arbitration Judge". Arbitration Ireland. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Judge in Rory McIlroy case against former management company orders peace talks". Irish Independent. 16 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  7. ^ O'Faolain, Aodhan (2 February 2018). "Gay Byrne and family settle €1.2m financial dispute". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  8. ^ "High Court grants judgment for €2m against Mick Wallace". RTÉ News. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  9. ^ "President appoints new Judges". President.ie. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Two more judges appointed to CervicalCheck Tribunal". RTÉ News. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.