Brian McCracken facts for kids

Brian Moore McCracken, born on July 13, 1934, is a well-known retired Irish judge. He served as a judge in Ireland's highest courts for many years. From 1995 to 2002, he was a judge in the High Court. Later, from 2002 to 2006, he became a judge in the Supreme Court, which is the top court in Ireland. He is also a special officer at Trinity College Dublin.

Early Life and Education

Brian McCracken was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1934. He went to school at The High School, Dublin. After that, he studied at two famous places: Trinity College Dublin and the King's Inns. The King's Inns is a special place where people train to become barristers. In 1957, he became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who speaks in court. Later, in 1975, he became a senior counsel, which means he was a very experienced and respected lawyer.

Becoming a Judge in Ireland

Judge McCracken had a long and important career in law. In 1995, he was chosen to be a judge in the High Court. This court deals with many important legal cases. His skills were well-known, especially in areas like intellectual property law. This type of law protects things like inventions, books, and music. He also knew a lot about commercial law, which deals with business agreements.

In 2002, he was promoted to the Supreme Court. This is the highest court in Ireland, and its judges make final decisions on legal matters. He retired from the Supreme Court on July 12, 2006.

The McCracken Tribunal: Investigating Financial Matters

In 1997, Judge McCracken was asked to lead a special investigation called the McCracken Tribunal. The government set up this tribunal to look into reports about money dealings involving important political figures. These included a former leader of Ireland, Charles Haughey, and a former government minister, Michael Lowry.

The tribunal worked very quickly. It heard information in July 1997 and released a detailed report just one month later. The report found that some people had not been truthful about their financial dealings. It also showed that large amounts of money were kept in secret accounts. Because of these findings, the government decided to start an even bigger investigation, called the Moriarty Tribunal, to learn more about the financial affairs of these politicians.

The McCracken Tribunal was praised for how fast and effectively it completed its work, especially when compared to other similar investigations.

See also

• Public inquiries in Ireland
• Tribunal
• Public Inquiry
• Moriarty Tribunal