Kevin Lynch (judge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Lynch
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| Judge of the Supreme Court | |
| In office 15 April 1996 – 15 December 1999 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary Robinson |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 24 January 1984 – 15 April 1996 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Patrick Hillery |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 June 1927 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | (aged 85) Croom, County Limerick, Ireland |
| Spouses | Bernadette Lynch (m. 1957; d. 2013) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent |
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| Education | St Mary's College, Dublin |
| Alma mater |
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Kevin Lynch (24 June 1927 – 31 October 2013) was an important Irish judge and lawyer. He served as a judge in Ireland's highest courts. From 1996 to 1999, he was a Judge of the Supreme Court. Before that, he was a Judge of the High Court from 1984 to 1996. In 1984, he led a special investigation known as the Kerry Babies tribunal.
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Early Life and Education
Kevin Lynch was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1927. His father, Fionán Lynch, was also a judge. He was a member of the First Dáil, which was Ireland's first parliament.
Kevin went to St. Mary's College, Dublin for his schooling. He then studied at University College Dublin. Later, he attended the King's Inns, a famous place where lawyers are trained. There, he won a special award called the John Brooke Scholarship.
In 1949, Kevin Lynch became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He became a senior counsel in 1970. This means he was a very experienced and respected lawyer. He mostly worked on cases in the middle part of Ireland.
Judicial Career
Serving in the High Court
Kevin Lynch became a judge of the High Court in 1984. The High Court deals with serious legal cases. In December 1984, he was chosen to lead a special investigation. This was called the tribunal into the Kerry Babies case.
He also heard many other important cases. For example, he was one of three judges who heard a challenge to the result of the 1995 divorce vote. He also handled a very long case called Bula Ltd v Tara Mines Ltd (No 6). This case lasted for 277 days, showing how complex some legal matters can be.
Serving in the Supreme Court
In April 1996, Kevin Lynch was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ireland. This is the highest court in Ireland. He was delayed from starting his work there because he was still finishing the long Bula case.
He retired from his role as a Supreme Court judge in December 1999.
Personal Life
Kevin Lynch was married to Bernadette, and they had five children together. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 85. He died in a nursing home near Croom, County Limerick.
