Mary Faherty facts for kids

Mary Faherty was born in Galway, Ireland, on January 16, 1960. She is an important Irish judge. Since November 2019, she has served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal.

Before this, she was a judge in other important courts. She worked as a Judge of the High Court. She also served as a Judge of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal from 2011 to 2016. Earlier in her career, she was a Judge of the Circuit Court from 2002 to 2014.

Mary Faherty started her legal journey as a barrister. A barrister is a lawyer who represents people in court. She also led the Employment Appeals Tribunal for a time. This tribunal helps solve disagreements about work.

Becoming a Judge

Mary Faherty studied law at University College Galway. She also spent time studying in Germany at the University of Freiburg. After finishing her studies, she became a barrister in 1986. This meant she could argue cases in court.

In 2001, she became a Senior Counsel. This is a special title for experienced barristers. She also worked for the Employment Appeals Tribunal. She helped solve problems between workers and employers. She became the chairperson of this tribunal in 1995.

Her Work in Courts

Mary Faherty has worked in several different courts. Each court has a specific role in the legal system.

Circuit Court

In 2002, Mary Faherty became a judge in the Circuit Court. This court handles many types of cases. These include serious criminal cases and civil cases involving larger amounts of money.

She was appointed to help with a special investigation. This investigation looked into certain planning matters and payments. Her appointment, along with two other judges, meant that the law had to be changed to add more Circuit Court judges.

United Nations Appeals Tribunal

From 2011 to 2016, Judge Faherty worked for the United Nations Appeals Tribunal. This court helps solve legal problems for people who work for the United Nations. It's like a special court for UN staff.

She was the Second Vice President of this tribunal from 2012 to 2013. Then, she became the President of the Tribunal. She held this important leadership role from July 2013 to June 2014.

High Court

In October 2014, Mary Faherty was appointed to the High Court. This court handles very important and complex cases. These can include big claims for damages or challenges to government decisions.

She heard cases about various legal issues. These included cases about property and challenges to decisions made by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Court of Appeal

In 2019, the number of judges in the Court of Appeal was increased. Mary Faherty was chosen to join this court. She officially became a judge there in November 2019.

The Court of Appeal hears cases where people believe there was a mistake in a lower court's decision. It reviews these decisions to make sure justice is served.