Turlough O'Donnell facts for kids
Turlough O'Donnell (born August 5, 1924, died April 21, 2017) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. He worked in Northern Ireland. From 1979 to 1989, he was a senior judge called a Lord Justice of Appeal. He was also a member of the Privy Council.
Early Life and Education
Turlough O'Donnell was born in Newry. His parents were Charles and Eileen O'Donnell. He went to Abbey Grammar School in Newry. Later, he studied law at Queen's University Belfast. He earned his law degree there.
His Career as a Lawyer and Judge
O'Donnell started his career as a lawyer in Northern Ireland in 1947. This is called being "called to the Bar." In 1964, he became a Queen's Counsel. This is a special title for experienced lawyers. He worked on many important legal cases.
In 1971, Turlough O'Donnell became a judge. He was appointed to the High Court of Northern Ireland. This is a very important court. In 1979, he became an even more senior judge. He was promoted to Lord Justice of Appeal. He also joined the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen. He retired from his work in 1989.
As a judge, O'Donnell handled very serious cases. In 1979, he presided over a major trial. He gave out 42 life sentences in that case. This was a record number in British legal history at the time. He was one of the few senior judges from the Catholic community in Northern Ireland. Because of his important role, he sometimes faced threats.
O'Donnell also helped lead legal organizations. He was the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Bar Council from 1970 to 1971. He also led the Council of Legal Education (Northern Ireland) from 1980 to 1990.
His Family
Turlough O'Donnell married Eileen McKinley in 1954. Eileen passed away in 2008. They had two sons and two daughters. His sons followed in his footsteps. One son, Turlough O'Donnell SC, became a top lawyer. He was Chairman of the General Council of the Bar of Ireland from 2016 to 2018. Another son, Donal O'Donnell, became a judge on the Supreme Court of Ireland in 2010. He later became the Chief Justice of Ireland in 2021.
