Fidelma Nora Macken, SC (née O'Kelly; born 28 February 1942) is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court from 2005 to 2012, a Judge of the High Court from 1998 to 1999 and between 2004 and 2005 and a Judge of the European Court of Justice from 1999 to 2004.[1]
Fidelma Macken | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Supreme Court | |
| In office 20 May 2005 – 6 June 2012 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 19 October 2004 – 20 May 2005 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| In office 30 July 1998 – 5 October 1999 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Judge of the European Court of Justice | |
| In office 5 October 1999 – 22 September 2004 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | European Council |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Fidelma O'Kelly 28 February 1942 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse |
Anthony Macken (m. 1972) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | |
In 2004, she succeeded John L. Murray, as Ireland's appointee on the European Court of Justice (ECJ).[2][3] Appointed initially for a five-year term, she was the first female appointee to the European Court of Justice but had her mandate renewed in 2003. She was reappointed a High Court judge on 18 October 2004 on her return to Ireland.[4] In 2005, she was elevated the Supreme Court.[4]
Macken was educated at King's Inns and Trinity College Dublin.[1] She became a barrister in 1972; practiced as legal adviser, Patents and Trade Marks Agents (1973–1979) and became a Senior Counsel in 1995.
As a lawyer, she specialised on medical defence work and pharmaceutical actions.[citation needed] She acted as defence counsel in a series of cases brought by children against whooping cough vaccine manufacturers for damage allegedly caused by the vaccine.[citation needed] The Supreme Court nominated her to act in three referrals by the President of Ireland querying the constitutionality of new legislation before she became a judge.[citation needed] In 2001, the Irish Times reported that she was an owner of the Four Seasons Hotel in Ballsbridge[5]
She has been a lecturer in Legal Systems and Methods and Averil Deverell Lecturer in Law at Trinity College Dublin.[1]
Macken returned to practice at Brick Court Chambers in 2013.[6][7] She is a member of the Investment Advisory Panel of Woodsford Litigation Funding, a company engaged in litigation funding.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "Current judges of the Supreme Court". SupremeCourt.ie. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^ Fidelma Macken Appointed to European Court of Justice, European Report, 22 September 1999.
- ^ Female Euro Judge Leaves, Daily Mirror, 14 October 2004.
- ^ a b "Govt makes new judicial appointments". BreakingNews.ie. 19 May 2005. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ^ "Owners of Four Seasons Hotel". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Judge (71) back at work in London-based legal firm". Independent.ie. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "Judge Fidelma Macken SC | Brick Court Chambers". www.brickcourt.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ Savage, Steven (29 June 2016). "Fidelma Macken: WLF Appoints Her to Investment Advisory Panel". Woodsford Litigation Funding. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.