Rory Brady facts for kids

Rory Brady (born August 20, 1957 – died July 19, 2010) was an important Irish lawyer. He worked as a barrister, which is a special type of lawyer who argues cases in court. From 2002 to 2007, he was the Attorney General of Ireland. This job means he was the main legal advisor to the Irish government.

Rory Brady was also a member of the Council of State, a group that advises the President of Ireland. He even worked as a mediator at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, helping countries solve disagreements peacefully. He was a visiting expert at Harvard University in the United States and was thought to be a possible judge for the Supreme Court of Ireland.

Rory Brady's Early Life and Education

Rory Brady was born on August 20, 1957. He went to Synge Street CBS for his secondary education. In 1975, he completed his Irish Leaving Certificate, which is a big exam for students in Ireland.

After school, he decided to study law. He went to University College Dublin and earned a Bachelor of Civil Law Degree in 1978. While he was there, he also helped teach Business Law to other students.

His Career as a Lawyer

Rory Brady became a barrister in Ireland in 1979, after studying at King's Inns. Later, in 1986, he also became a barrister in England. This meant he could argue cases in courts in both countries.

In 1996, he was made a senior counsel. This is a special title given to very experienced and respected barristers. From October 2000 to June 2002, he was the chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland. This council represents all barristers in Ireland.

Rory Brady was also part of several important groups in Ireland. He was on the Courts Service Board, which helps manage the courts. He chaired the Censorship of Publications Board, which looked at books and magazines. He was also on the Garda Síochána Complaints Board, which handled complaints about the police.

Becoming Attorney General

After the 2002 general election in Ireland, Taoiseach (the Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern chose Rory Brady to be the Attorney General of Ireland. This is a very important role where he advised the government on legal matters.

One important case he worked on was about a boy named Tristan Dowse. Tristan was born in Indonesia and adopted by an Irish family. Rory Brady helped with the legal process to make sure Tristan's Irish citizenship was clear. He also told the Health Service Executive to pay back money they had wrongly collected from nursing home residents.

Rory Brady left his role as Attorney General in 2007. It was a bit of a surprise when he resigned. After that, he went back to working as a barrister.

Later Work and Legacy

From April 2008 until he passed away, Rory Brady was the Chairperson of the Irish Takeover Panel. This group helps make sure that when one company tries to buy another, it happens fairly.

Rory Brady passed away in July 2010, after being unwell for two years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. Many important people spoke about him after his death. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he was one of the "finest and most able barristers of his time." Bertie Ahern, who had worked closely with him, called him "a great Dubliner" and his "closest and most trusted colleague." Many politicians and friends attended his funeral, and he was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.