Nial Fennelly facts for kids

Nial Fennelly (born 3 May 1942) is a well-known retired judge from Ireland. He had a very important career, serving as a judge in Ireland's highest court, the Supreme Court. He also worked as a judge and an Advocate General for the European Court of Justice, which is a big court for countries in Europe.

Who is Nial Fennelly?

Nial Fennelly was born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 3, 1942. He grew up to become a very respected legal expert. His work helped shape important decisions in both Irish and European law.

Early Life and Education

Nial Fennelly went to a school called Clongowes Wood College. After that, he studied economics at University College Dublin. He then continued his studies at the King's Inns to become a barrister. A barrister is a type of lawyer who represents people in court.

A Career in Law

Nial Fennelly worked as a barrister from 1964 until 1995. For some of that time, he worked in both Dublin and the southeastern part of Ireland. Later, he became a senior counsel, which is a more experienced type of barrister. He then focused his work full-time in Dublin.

Before he became an Advocate General, he was the Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland. This council represents barristers in Ireland. He was also the president of the Irish Society for European Law, which shows his interest in law across Europe.

Important Work: The European Courts

From 1995 to 2000, Nial Fennelly served in two important roles at the European Court of Justice. He was both a judge and an Advocate General. An Advocate General is like an independent legal advisor to the court. They give opinions on cases to help the judges make their decisions.

After his time in Europe, he returned to Ireland. He became a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland in 2000. He served on this court, which is the highest court in Ireland, until he retired in 2014.

The Fennelly Commission

In April 2014, the Irish government asked Nial Fennelly to lead a special investigation. This investigation was called the "Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters relative to An Garda Síochána and other persons)." It was more commonly known as the Fennelly Commission.

The purpose of this commission was to look into some issues involving the Garda Síochána, which is Ireland's police force. Nial Fennelly was the only member of this commission. His job was to investigate and report on these matters to the government.

See also

• List of members of the European Court of Justice