Aindrias Ó Caoimh (Attorney General)
Encyclopedia
Aindrias Ó Caoimh also known as Andreas O'Keeffe and Ayindries Ó Cuiv, was Attorney General of Ireland
from 30 January 1954 to 21 June 1954, and again from 20 March 1957 to 15 March 1965. For the time between his terms, the position was held by Patrick McGilligan
. He was President of the High Court from 1966–1974. Between 1975–1985 he was a member of the European Court of Justice
.
and uncle of Éamon Ó Cuív
. He and his wife Sheila had seven children, 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 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
.
, taken by Gerald Lawless who was represented by Seán MacBride
, the human rights lawyer. 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’. The court found in favour of the Irish Government that no violation of the European Convention on Human Rights
had taken place.
Attorney General of Ireland
The Attorney General is a constitutional officer who is the official adviser to the Government of Ireland in matters of law. He is in effect the chief law officer in Ireland. The Attorney General is not a member of the Government but does participate in cabinet meetings when invited and attends...
from 30 January 1954 to 21 June 1954, and again from 20 March 1957 to 15 March 1965. For the time between his terms, the position was held by Patrick McGilligan
Patrick McGilligan
Patrick McGilligan was an Irish lawyer and Cumann na nGaedheal/Fine Gael politician.McGilligan was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland. He was educated at St...
. He was President of the High Court from 1966–1974. Between 1975–1985 he was a member of the European Court of Justice
European Court of Justice
The Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
.
Family
Aindrias was a brother of Brian Ó CuívBrian Ó Cuív
Brian Ó Cuív was a Celtic scholar who specialised in Irish history and philology.-Life:Ó Cuív was professor of Celtic Studies at University College Dublin and later at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. His later years were devoted to the compilation of a catalogue of the Irish manuscripts...
and uncle of Éamon Ó Cuív
Éamon Ó Cuív
Éamon Ó Cuív is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency since 1992 and was previously a member of Seanad Éireann.-Early life:...
. He and his wife Sheila had seven children, one of whom, also Aindrias Ó Caoimh, was, like his father, appointed a member of the European Court of Justice
European Court of Justice
The Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
, in 2004. Ó Caoimh died at his home in Ranelagh and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
.
Lawless v. Ireland
During his second term as Attorney General he represented the Irish Government in Lawless v. Ireland (1957–1961), the first case before the European Court of Human RightsEuropean Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
, taken by Gerald Lawless who was represented by Seán MacBride
Seán MacBride
Seán MacBride was an Irish government minister and prominent international politician as well as a Chief of Staff of the IRA....
, the human rights lawyer. The case concerned the detention without trial of a suspected member of the IRA
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
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’. The court found in favour of the Irish Government that no violation of the European Convention on Human Rights
European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953...
had taken place.