John Moriarty (Attorney General) facts for kids
John Francis Moriarty (1855 – 2 May 1915) was a well-known Irish lawyer and judge. He held many important positions in the legal system during his life.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Francis Moriarty was born in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland. His father, also named John Moriarty, was a successful lawyer in the town.
Young John went to Stonyhurst College for his education. Interestingly, his brother Michael and he were classmates with Arthur Conan Doyle, who later created the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. After Stonyhurst, Moriarty studied at Trinity College Dublin. He began his legal training in 1875 and became a lawyer in Ireland in 1877.
Family Life
John Francis Moriarty was married twice. His first wife was Katherine Beatrice Kavanagh (1859–1898). They had eight children together:
- Frances Caroline Joan Moriarty (1896–1933)
- Marguerite
- Ellen
- Kathleen
- Michael
- Samuel
- Daniel
- Shannon
Later, he married Mabel Dolphin. His niece, Joan Denise Moriarty (1910?–1992), was a famous ballet dancer, dance teacher, and musician. She was the daughter of his brother Michael.
Legal Career and Judge Roles
Moriarty became a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1900. This title is given to very experienced and respected lawyers. He then became a Third Serjeant in 1909 and a First Serjeant in 1910. These were also important legal roles.
Even though he was a very busy lawyer, he sometimes faced money challenges. He supported the Liberal Party but was not very interested in becoming a politician.
In 1913, he was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland, and then became Attorney-General for Ireland. These roles meant he was a chief legal advisor to the government. In 1914, he was made a Lord Justice, which is a high-ranking judge in the Court of Appeal in Ireland.
Sadly, he served as a judge for less than two years. John Francis Moriarty died suddenly in May 1915 while visiting England. His death was reported in newspapers, even as far away as the New York Times.
His Reputation as a Lawyer
People who knew John Francis Moriarty often described him as an incredibly skilled and lively lawyer. Maurice Healy, another lawyer, wrote that Moriarty was amazing at arguing cases. He was known for being very clever in court.
Moriarty was also a fine legal mind. For example, he gave a very smart argument in a case called Ussher v. Ussher in 1912. This case was about whether a marriage performed in the Roman Catholic Church was legal without a second witness.
Some people have wondered if he was the inspiration for Professor Moriarty, the clever enemy of Sherlock Holmes. This is an interesting idea because John Francis Moriarty went to school with Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes!
Moriarty was especially good at questioning witnesses in court. He was considered one of the most challenging lawyers to face. He was a tall man with a strong presence, and he often wore a monocle, which is a single eyeglass.
