William FitzGerald (Irish judge)

William O'Brien FitzGerald (4 January 1906 – 17 October 1974) was an Irish lawyer, judge and barrister who served as Chief Justice of Ireland from 1973 to 1974 and a Judge of the Supreme Court from 1966 to 1974.[1]

William FitzGerald
5th Chief Justice of Ireland
In office 25 September 1973 – 17 Oct 1974
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Éamon de Valera
Preceded by	Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh
Succeeded by	Tom O'Higgins
Judge of the Supreme Court
In office 12 May 1966 – 17 October 1974
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Éamon de Valera
Personal details
Born	William O'Brien FitzGerald (1906-01-04)4 January 1906 Cork, Ireland
Died	17 October 1974(1974-10-17) (aged 68) Dublin, Ireland
Resting place	Deansgrange Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Spouse(s)	Clare O'Brien (m. 1928; d. 1974)
Children	9
Education	Belvedere College
Alma mater	King's Inns

He was born in Cork in 1906, and was educated in Belvedere College, Dublin, and King's Inns. He was called to the Bar in 1927 and to the Inner Bar in 1944. He was appointed directly to the Supreme Court of Ireland in 1966 and on the retirement of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh. In 1972, he became Chief Justice of Ireland. He had a relatively brief tenure as Chief Justice and died suddenly on 17 October 1974.

References

1. "Former Chief Justices". Supreme Court of Ireland. Retrieved 22 December 2010.

Legal offices
Preceded by Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh	Chief Justice of Ireland 1973–1974	Succeeded by Tom O'Higgins