Christopher Bernevall

Bernevall was regarded as a highly "political" judge and his career reflects the bitter political of the time. Fifteenth-century Ireland was deeply troubled by the long feud between James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond and his faction on the one hand, and Richard Talbot, Archbishop of Dublin and his brother John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury on the other. While some judges, notably the Cornwalsh family, which produced two Chief Barons in turn, were supporters of Ormond, Bernevall was a strong supporter of the Talbot faction.[4] He is said to have enjoyed the confidence of the English Crown and was a close associate of Giles Thorndon, the much harassed Treasurer of Ireland. In 1444 Thorndon fled from Ireland, unable to bear any more dissension. He attempted to appoint Bernevall as his Deputy, but Ormond promptly declared the appointment illegal.[5] Numerous accusations of wrongdoing were made against Bernevall,[6] but no action was taken, either because he enjoyed the confidence of the Crown, or because the Ormond–Talbot feud was at last dying away. Bernevall died two years later, still in office.[7]