Michael Anthony Moriarty, SC (born 10 August 1946) is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the High Court from 1996 to 2018 and a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1987 to 1996.
Michael Moriarty | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 11 March 1996 – 23 November 2018 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary Robinson |
| Judge of the Circuit Court | |
| In office 13 January 1987 – 11 March 1996 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Patrick Hillery |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 August 1946 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Blackrock College |
| Alma mater | |
Early life and career
editMichael Moriarty was born in Belfast to James and Nora Moriarty.[1] He moved to Dublin in 1960 and was educated at Blackrock College, University College Dublin and King's Inns.[2] He was called to the Irish Bar in 1968, and became a Senior Counsel in March 1982.[1] He specialised in criminal law at the bar.[3]
He was appointed Chairman of the Employment Appeals Tribunal in 1986.[2]
Judicial career
editHe became a Circuit Court judge in 1987. He was subsequently appointed a High Court judge in March 1996.[2] He was the chairperson of the Lord Mayor's Commission on Crime.[3]
He is best known as Chair of the Moriarty Tribunal, which he chaired between 1997 and 2010.[3] The Tribunal investigated the financial affairs of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and former Minister Michael Lowry.[4] The first report, in 2006, found that Haughey had misappropriated funds.[5] The second report, delivered in 2011, found that Lowry had shared information with Denis O'Brien "of significant value and assistance" to aid in the awarding of a mobile telephone licence.[6]
He retired in April 2018, following 31 years as a judge.[3]
Personal life
editHe was formerly married to Mary Irvine, with whom he has three children.[7] He subsequently married Doreen Delahunty.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Five called to Inner Bar". The Irish Times. 6 March 1962. p. 8.
- ^ a b c "Name: Mr Justice Michael Moriarty". The Irish Times. 29 January 1999. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Carolan, Mary. "Tributes paid to Mr Justice Michael Moriarty on retirement". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Tributes as Justice Moriarty retires". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Bungs, blank cheques and the Boss: final verdict delivered on Haughey's corruption". The Guardian. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Moriarty Tribunal publishes final report". RTÉ News. 22 March 2011. Archived from the original on 9 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ Leahy, Pat. "Ms Justice Mary Irvine to be promoted to the Supreme Court". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.