Aindrias Ó Caoimh (attorney general)

Aindrias Micheál Ó Caoimh (4 October 1912 – 30 December 1994) was an Irish judge and barrister who served as a Judge of the European Court of Justice from 1975 to 1985, President of the High Court and a Judge of the High Court from 1966 to 1975 and Attorney General of Ireland from January 1950 to June 1950 and 1957 to 1965.[2][3]

Aindrias Ó Caoimh
Judge of the European Court of Justice
In office 10 February 1975 – 13 July 1985
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	European Council
President of the High Court
In office 11 May 1966 – 2 February 1975
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
Preceded by	Cahir Davitt
Succeeded by	Thomas Finlay
Judge of the High Court
In office 11 May 1966 – 2 February 1975
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
13th Attorney General of Ireland
In office 20 March 1957 – 15 March 1965[1]
Taoiseach	Éamon de Valera Seán Lemass
Preceded by	Patrick McGilligan
Succeeded by	Colm Condon
In office 30 January 1954 – 2 June 1954[1]
Taoiseach	Éamon de Valera
Preceded by	Thomas Teevan
Succeeded by	Patrick McGilligan
Personal details
Born	Aindrias Micheál Ó Caoimh (1912-10-04)4 October 1912 Galway, Ireland
Died	30 December 1994(1994-12-30) (aged 82) Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s)	Sheila Ní Chuilleanáin (m. 1933; d. 1994)
Relations	Brian Ó Cuív (Brother) Éamon Ó Cuív (Nephew)
Children	7, including Aindrias
Alma mater	King's Inns

Family

He was a brother of Brian Ó Cuív and uncle of Éamon Ó Cuív. He and his wife Sheila had seven children,[4] one of whom, also Aindrias Ó Caoimh, was, like his father, appointed a member of the European Court of Justice, in 2004. Ó Caoimh died at his home in Ranelagh in Dublin, and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.[4]

Lawless v. Ireland

During his second term as Attorney General of Ireland he represented the Government of Ireland in Lawless v. Ireland (1957–1961), the first case before the European Court of Human Rights, taken by Gerald Lawless,[5] who was represented by Seán MacBride, the human rights lawyer.[6] The case concerned the detention without trial of a suspected member of the IRA who claimed that Ireland had breached Articles 5, 6 and 7 of the European Convention of Human Rights that provide rights to liberty and security, fair trial and the principle of ‘no punishment without law’.[7] The court found in favour of the Irish Government that no violation of the European Convention on Human Rights had taken place.[8]

Arms Trial

In September 1970, Ó Caoimh withdrew from the Arms Trial, with the result that the case had to be re-heard after six days of evidence had already been given.[4]

See also

• List of members of the European Court of Justice

References

1. "Gailearaí d'Ard-Aighní roimhe seo – 1954 go 1981". Attorney General of Ireland. 27 September 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. The Irish Times, 30 December 1994, p. 23.
3. Kenneth Ferguson, ed. (2005). King's Inns Barristers 1868–2004. Dublin: The Honorable Society of King's Inns in association with The Irish Legal History Society. p. 271. ISBN 0-9512443-2-9.
4. Former High Court president dies, The Irish Times, 30 December 1994, p.5.
5. "Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lawless Case Appearances". Dáil Éireann Parliamentary Debates - Volume 185. Oireachtas. 1960-12-07. Retrieved 2017-06-27.
6. "Sean MacBride (1904-1988)". Searc's Web Guide to 20th Century Ireland. searc.ie. 2008. Archived from the original on 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
7. "The Lawless Papers". NUI Galway. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
8. "Judgment of the Court of Human Rights in the Lawless v Ireland(1 July 1961)". European Court of Human Rights. 1961-07-01. Retrieved 2009-03-23.

External links

• Attorney General page

Legal offices
Preceded by Thomas Teevan	Attorney General of Ireland 1954–1954	Succeeded by Patrick McGilligan
Preceded by Patrick McGilligan	Attorney General of Ireland 1957–1965	Succeeded by Colm Condon