Tony O'Connor (judge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony O'Connor
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O'Connor in 2015
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| Judge of the High Court | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2015 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland |
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Tony O'Connor is an important Irish judge. He has been a judge in the High Court since October 2015. Before becoming a judge, he worked as a lawyer. He started as a solicitor, helping businesses with legal matters. Later, he became a barrister, which means he argued cases in court.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tony O'Connor comes from a family of lawyers. His father and grandfather also worked in law in Swinford, County Mayo.
He studied at several well-known universities and colleges in Ireland. These included University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. He also studied at the Law Society of Ireland and the King's Inns. These places teach people how to become lawyers and judges.
Starting a Legal Career
O'Connor first became a solicitor in November 1983. He worked for a law firm called Arthur Cox Solicitors. He also worked as a legal advisor for Aer Lingus, an airline company. Later, he was a solicitor at Rory O'Donnell & Co. Solicitors.
He was very good at law dealing with competition between businesses. He also understood how companies join together or buy each other (called mergers and acquisitions). In 1996, he even wrote a book about competition law.
In 1991, O'Connor became a barrister. This meant he could represent people in court. He became a senior counsel in 2006. This is a special title for experienced barristers. He worked on many different types of cases. These included cases about business, European Union law, and personal injuries. He also helped with cases about shipping and fishing.
He became a trained mediator in 2009. A mediator helps people solve problems without going to court. He also led groups that heard appeals about aviation (air travel). He also worked with tribunals for mental health cases. From 2007, he helped medical and dental councils with their hearings. He also wrote about important topics like assisted human reproduction.
O'Connor was a member of the council for Concern Worldwide. This is a charity that helps people in need. In 2013, he shared his knowledge with the Seanad Éireann. This is part of the Irish parliament. He spoke about a law related to important health decisions.
Becoming a Judge
Tony O'Connor was appointed as a judge to the High Court in October 2015. As a High Court judge, he hears many different kinds of cases. These include cases about taxes, asking for people to be sent back to other countries (extradition), and money problems (insolvency). He also hears cases about stopping actions (injunctions) and protecting people's reputations (defamation). Other cases involve personal injuries and arguments between businesses.
Important Cases as a Judge
In 2015, Judge O'Connor heard a case about a truck driver. This driver was accused by Greek authorities of having illegal cigarettes. This happened in 2002. More than 10 years later, the driver was told he owed a lot of money. Judge O'Connor asked the European Court of Justice for advice on this case. In 2018, he decided that the Irish tax authorities could not collect the money for Greece.
In 2018, he made a ruling in a significant case. He found that a law used in a conviction was against European Union law. This decision was then reviewed by the Supreme Court of Ireland. The Supreme Court also asked the European Court of Justice for their opinion.
Other Roles and Contributions
Judge O'Connor is also a member of the board of the Courts Service. This group helps manage how the courts in Ireland work.
In July 2020, he was chosen to be part of a special investigation. This was a three-judge tribunal looking into health service concerns. He continued to hear cases in the High Court while working on the tribunal.
In April 2022, Judge O'Connor gave a judgment for the Court of Appeal. This judgment helped make clear how certain European Union rules apply. In December 2022, he awarded money to a factory worker who had a back injury.
In 2023, Judge O'Connor oversaw a jury trial about a young person's well-being. That same year, he ruled that a health service did not owe a duty of care to parents in a case about health information. In July 2023, he finalized a claim for damages against the Christian Brothers related to harm experienced as a child.
In 2024, he presided over a jury trial about someone's reputation. He also made rulings about further publication in that case. Later that year, Judge O'Connor refused to stop a jury's discussions in an investigation into the tragic Stardust fire.
As a special judge, he reported to the Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister). He found that there was "widespread evidence" of criminal groups using secret messages online. They did this to avoid being caught.
Images for kids
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O'Connor in 2015
