Donald Binchy (born 1963[1]) is an Irish judge and lawyer who has served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal since March 2020. He previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2014 to 2020. He formerly practiced as a solicitor, and was the President of the Law Society of Ireland between 2011 and 2012.
Donald Binchy | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Court of Appeal | |
| Assumed office 18 March 2020 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 30 October 2014 – 18 March 2020 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1963 (age 60–61) Waterford, Ireland |
| Spouse | Claire Cusack (m. 1999) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Clongowes Wood College |
| Alma mater | |
Early career
editBinchy was born in Waterford in 1963, but is from Clonmel in County Tipperary. His father Don, was a solicitor who was the President of the Law Society of Ireland from 1990 to 1991.[2] He attended Clongowes Wood College and received a BCL degree from University College Dublin in 1984.[3][4] He qualified as a solicitor from the Law Society in 1987 and spent two years practising at a commercial firm in Dublin, Cawley, Sheerin, Wynne, practising in the areas of funds and re-insurance law.[3] He subsequently joined the firm founded by his grandfather, Binchy Solicitors, in Clonmel. He was appointed solicitor to Clonmel Corporation in 1995.[1]
In his practice, he specialised in particular in aspects of company and commercial law, in addition to administrative law and planning law.[5]
He became President of the Law Society of Ireland in 2011 to serve a term until 2012.[2] He had previously served on various committees of the Law Society prior to becoming president.[1]
Judicial career
editHigh Court
editBinchy became a High Court judge in October 2014.[6] He was the first solicitor from Clonmel to be appointed to the High Court.[3]
In the bench in the High Court, he heard extradition cases including those arising out of the Essex lorry deaths and the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.[7][8] He also heard applications for injunctions,[9] and a commercial dispute involving Jedward.[10]
In 2015, he granted an injunction against RTÉ taken by Denis O'Brien to prevent the broadcast of details of his personal banking arrangements contained in a news report.[11] He subsequently held that what was said about O'Brien in Dáil Éireann was reportable.[12]
Court of Appeal
editHe was elevated to the Court of Appeal in March 2020.[13] A vacancy arose following the appointment of Marie Baker to the Supreme Court of Ireland.[14]
Personal life
editHe is married to Claire Cusack with whom he has three children.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Clonmel solicitor makes history as first High Court Judge from the town". www.tipperarylive.ie. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Mr Justice Donald Binchy for Court of Appeal". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Clonmel's Donald Binchy elected President of the Law Society of Ireland for 2011/12". Clonmel Online. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Judicial appointments: congratulations to alumni". Facebook. UCD School of Law. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Courts Service News" (PDF). Courts.ie. December 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Annual Report 2014" (PDF). JAAB. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Judge to hold off ordering extraditions over outbreak". RTÉ News. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "High Court endorses warrant for Bailey extradition". RTÉ News. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Stay put on injunction at Dunnes Stores in Gorey". RTÉ News. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "High Court action against Jedward is settled". RTÉ News. 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Denis O'Brien granted injunctions against RTÉ". RTÉ News. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Shane (2 June 2015). "Media 'free to report on O'Brien'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ Ireland, Office of the President of. "Diary President Appoints Mr Justice Donald Binchy To The Court Of Appeal". president.ie. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Government agrees nominations for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court and District Court". merrionstreet.ie. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.