Máire Whelan facts for kids

Máire Rita Whelan (born 24 November 1956) is an important Irish judge. She has been a Judge of the Court of Appeal since June 2017. Before that, she was the Attorney General of Ireland from 2011 to 2017. She was the first woman ever to hold this important job.

About Máire Whelan

Máire Whelan was born in Kinvara, a town in County Galway, Ireland. She is married to a lawyer named Bernard McCabe. They live in Dublin, the capital city of Ireland.

Máire Whelan's Education and Early Career

Máire Whelan first studied politics and sociology at University College Galway. Later, she decided to study law. She earned a master's degree from the University of London.

She became a barrister in 1985. A barrister is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. In 2005, she was made a senior counsel. This means she was recognized as a very experienced and skilled lawyer.

Máire Whelan also helped write a book about the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) Act 2009. This law was about managing property loans in Ireland.

She was also involved with the Labour Party. This political party was part of the government from 2011. She worked as the financial secretary for the party.

Máire Whelan's Time as a Judge

In June 2017, the Government of Ireland decided to suggest Máire Whelan to become a Judge of the Court of Appeal. The President of Ireland then officially appointed her.

There was some discussion about how this decision was made. Some people wondered if the usual steps for choosing judges were followed. However, Máire Whelan was appointed as a judge on June 19, 2017. She officially started her role on June 21, 2017.

After she became a judge, there were still some talks in the Irish parliament, Dáil Éireann, about her appointment. The Chief Justice of Ireland at the time, Susan Denham, spoke up to defend the independence of judges. This means judges should be able to make decisions fairly without political pressure.

Máire Whelan continues to serve as a Judge of the Court of Appeal.