Thomas Finlay (judge) facts for kids

Thomas Aloysius Finlay (1922–2017) was an important Irish judge and politician. He served as the Chief Justice of Ireland, which is the highest judge in the country, from 1985 to 1994. Before that, he was a judge in the Supreme Court and the High Court. He also served as a Teachta Dála (TD), a member of the Irish parliament, representing Dublin South-Central from 1954 to 1957.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Finlay was born on September 17, 1922. His father, also named Thomas Finlay, was a politician and a senior lawyer. Sadly, his father passed away when Thomas was young.

Thomas went to Clongowes Wood College for his schooling. He then studied at University College Dublin (UCD) and King's Inns. While at UCD, he was chosen to lead the university's Law Society. His older brother, William Finlay, became a governor of the Bank of Ireland.

A Career in Law

Thomas Finlay became a lawyer in 1944. He worked in the Midlands area of Ireland. By 1961, he became a senior counsel, which means he was a very experienced and respected lawyer.

He was involved in some very important legal cases. For example, he defended Captain James Kelly in a well-known trial in 1970.

In 1971, the Irish government asked him to represent Ireland in a human rights case. This case was brought against the British government regarding the treatment of people in Northern Ireland. The court decided that Ireland's complaint was valid.

Soon after, Thomas Finlay was appointed a judge of the High Court. In 1974, he was promoted to President of the High Court. This meant he was the main judge in that court.

In 1985, he was nominated to the Supreme Court and became the Chief Justice of Ireland. This was a very high honor. He was officially appointed by President Patrick Hillery on October 10, 1985.

As Chief Justice, he made many important decisions. In one case, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Finlay, decided that government discussions should remain private to protect how the government works together.

He retired from his role as Chief Justice in 1994.

Political Journey

Thomas Finlay also had a brief career in politics. He was elected as a TD for the Fine Gael party in the 1954 Irish general election. He represented the Dublin South-Central area. However, he lost his seat in the next election in 1957.

Public Inquiries and Retirement

After retiring from his judicial roles, Thomas Finlay continued to serve the public by leading several important investigations.

Lansdowne Road Riot Inquiry

In 1996, he led an investigation into a soccer match incident. There was violence by English fans at a friendly match between Ireland and England in 1995. His report looked at security issues and suggested ways to improve ticketing, seating, fan checks, and policing for future events. The Irish government shared his findings with the British government.

Commission on the Newspaper Industry

In 1995, a major Irish newspaper group closed down. This led to concerns about how competitive the newspaper industry was. Minister John Bruton asked Thomas Finlay to chair a special commission. This group looked into many things, like who owned newspapers, how competitive the industry was, and how free journalists were to report the news.

The commission had many members and received a lot of information. It took some time, but their report was published in July 1996. It suggested many changes for the newspaper industry.

Blood Transfusion Service Board Inquiry

In 1996, Thomas Finlay was appointed to lead an inquiry into a serious public health issue involving the Blood Transfusion Service Board. This inquiry was very important for restoring public trust.

His work on this inquiry was praised for being quick and effective. It helped people trust that such investigations could help solve big public problems.

Sports Adjudication

He also served on a panel for the IRFU. This panel made decisions about rugby players who were accused of using banned performance-enhancing substances.

Personal Life

Thomas Finlay was married to Alice Blayney. She passed away in 2012. They had five children. Two of their children followed in his footsteps and became lawyers. His son, John, became a Senior Counsel, and his daughter, Mary Finlay Geoghegan, became a judge in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court. When he wasn't working, he loved to go fishing in County Mayo.

Death

Thomas Finlay passed away on December 3, 2017, at the age of 95.

Sources

• Irish Times Obituary: Thomas Finlay, a considerate, patient and shrewd chief justice (Irish Times 6 December 2017)
• A man of common sense rather than abstract principle (Irish Times 18 October 1996)
• Former Chief Justices of the Irish Supreme Court
• Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Blood Transfusion Service Board (1997)