Donald Binchy

Donald Binchy (born 1963[1]) is an Irish lawyer who is currently a Judge of the Court of Appeal. He was formerly a solicitor and was the President of the Law Society of Ireland between 2011 and 2012. He was a Judge of the High Court between 2014 and 2020.

The Hon. Mr. Justice

Donald Binchy
Judge of the Court of Appeal
Assumed office
18 March 2020
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMichael D. Higgins
Judge of the High Court
In office
30 October 2014 – 18 March 2020
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMichael D. Higgins
Personal details
Born1963 (age 57–58)
NationalityIrish
Alma mater

Early career

Binchy is from Clonmel in County Tipperary. His father Don was a solicitor who was the President of the Law Society of Ireland from 1990 to 1991.[2] He attended Clongowes Wood College and received a BCL degree from University College Dublin in 1984.[3][4] He qualified as a solicitor from the Law Society in 1987 and spent two years practising at a commercial firm in Dublin, Cawley, Sheerin, Wynne, practising in area of funds and re-insurance.[3] He subsequently joined the firm founded by his grandfather, Binchy Solicitors, in Clonmel. He was appointed solicitor to Clonmel Corporation in 1995.[1]

In his practice, he specialised in particular in aspects of company and commercial law, in addition to administrative law and planning law.[5]

He became President of the Law Society of Ireland in 2011 to serve a term until 2012.[2] He had previously served on various committees of the Law Society prior to becoming president.[1]

Judicial career

High Court

Binchy became a High Court judge in October 2014.[6] He was the first solicitor from Clonmel to be appointed to the High Court.[3]

In the High Court he heard extradition cases including those arising out of the Essex lorry deaths and the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.[7][8] He also heard applications for injunctions,[9] and a commercial dispute involving Jedward.[10]

In 2015 he granted an injunction against RTÉ taken by Denis O'Brien to prevent the broadcast of details of his personal banking arrangements contained in a news report.[11] He subsequently held that what was said about O'Brien in Dáil Éireann was reportable.[12]

Court of Appeal

He was elevated to the Court of Appeal in March 2020.[13] A vacancy arose following the appointment of Marie Baker to the Supreme Court of Ireland.[14]

Personal life

He is married to Claire Cusack with whom he has three children.[1]

References
  1. "Clonmel solicitor makes history as first High Court Judge from the town". www.tipperarylive.ie. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. "Mr Justice Donald Binchy for Court of Appeal". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. "Clonmel's Donald Binchy elected President of the Law Society of Ireland for 2011/12". Clonmel Online. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. "Judicial appointments: congratulations to alumni". Facebook. UCD School of Law. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. "Courts Service News" (PDF). Courts.ie. December 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. "Annual Report 2014" (PDF). JAAB. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  7. "Judge to hold off ordering extraditions over outbreak". RTÉ News. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  8. "High Court endorses warrant for Bailey extradition". RTÉ News. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  9. "Stay put on injunction at Dunnes Stores in Gorey". RTÉ News. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  10. "High Court action against Jedward is settled". RTÉ News. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  11. "Denis O'Brien granted injunctions against RTÉ". RTÉ News. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  12. Harrison, Shane (2 June 2015). "Media 'free to report on O'Brien'". BBC News. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  13. Ireland, Office of the President of. "Diary President Appoints Mr Justice Donald Binchy To The Court Of Appeal". president.ie. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  14. "Government agrees nominations for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court and District Court". merrionstreet.ie. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
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