Dermot Gleeson facts for kids

Dermot Gleeson is an Irish barrister, which is a type of lawyer. He was born on April 22, 1948. From 1994 to 1997, he served as the Attorney General of Ireland. This important role means he was the main legal advisor to the Irish government.

Early Life and Education

Dermot Gleeson went to school at Blackrock College in Dublin. He then studied at University College Dublin. He earned degrees in Arts and Law.

He became a barrister after studying at the King's Inns in Dublin. His father, John Gleeson, was also a barrister and later became a judge. Two of Dermot's brothers also became barristers.

Dermot Gleeson started his law career in 1970. He first worked in Cork, away from Dublin, which is Ireland's main legal hub. In the early 1970s, he also taught law part-time at University College Cork.

Becoming a Senior Counsel

In 1979, Dermot Gleeson moved to Dublin. He was appointed a Senior Counsel (SC) at the age of 30. A Senior Counsel is a very experienced and respected lawyer.

Many people believe he was the youngest person to become a Senior Counsel in countries that follow a similar legal system. This includes places like Australia and the UK.

Role as Attorney General

In the 1980s and 1990s, Dermot Gleeson was a leading barrister in Ireland. He then became a top advisor to the government. From 1994 to 1997, he was the Attorney General of Ireland.

In this role, he gave legal advice to the government. He worked closely with John Bruton, who was the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) at the time. Mr. Gleeson is also a special member of King's Inns. He is a visiting expert at the School of Law at University College Dublin.

Business Career

In more recent years, Dermot Gleeson became well-known for his work in business. In 2000, he joined the board of Independent News and Media. This is a large media company.

In 2003, he became the Chairman of Allied Irish Banks (AIB). This was one of Ireland's biggest banks. During his time there, the world faced a big financial crisis in 2008. This crisis caused AIB's share price to drop a lot.

Also in 2003, Mr. Gleeson was chosen as an ombudsman for the Diamond Trading Company (DTC). This company is part of the diamond mining giant De Beers. In 2007, he became the chairman of the Governing Body of University College Cork.

Other Interests

Dermot Gleeson was once the leader of the Literary and Historical Society, University College Dublin. This is a well-known debating society. He also won the Irish Times National Debating Championship.

He lives in Dublin with his wife and their four children.

See also

• Auditors of the Literary and Historical Society (University College Dublin)