Cecil Lavery
Encyclopedia
Cecil Patrick Lavery was an Irish
lawyer, Fine Gael
Party politician and judge. He was elected as a TD
and then as a Senator, and served as Attorney General
before being appointed as a Supreme Court judge.
, Dublin and later UCD where he became one of the first auditors of the UCD Law Society. In 1927 appointed to set up a "Memorial Committee" by W.T. Cosgrave , president of the Irish Free State
Executive Council in order to advance the process of the Irish National War Memorial Gardens
where an impasse situation had evolved.
on his first attempt, at a by-election held on 17 June 1935 in the Dublin County constituency
, after the death of Fine Gael TD Batt O'Connor
. He was returned to the 9th Dáil at the 1937 general election
, but the following year at the 1938 general election
, he lost his seat to his Fine Gael running-mate Patrick Belton, Snr..
He did not stand for election again until 1948, when he was elected to the 6th Seanad Éireann on the Cultural and Educational Panel, and was appointed as Attorney General by Taoiseach
John A. Costello
. Costello made 2 controversial decisions on Lavery's appointment; reversing the practice of many years he decided that Lavery could continue in private practice and that such fees as were paid to him as Attorney General should count as part of his income rather than be paid into the Exchequer. Costello justified both decisions on the ground that Lavery was one of the Bar's top earners and had taken a considerable pay cut as Attorney General. As Attorney General he advised on several difficult issues, notably devaluation of the currency and fishing rights in Lough Foyle which were claimed by both Governments, North and South He left the Seanad on 21 April 1950, when he was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court, where he served till his retirement in 1966. He was offered the Presidency of the High Court but withdrew his name, apparently after the Department of Justice raised a question about his qualifications. In 1961 on the retirement of Conor Maguire
, Costello lobbied hard for Lavery to be appointed Chief Justice
, calling him with perhaps some exaggeration " the outstanding Irish legal figure of the last half-century". He later lobbied, also unsuccessfully, for Lavery to be appointed a judge of the International Court of Justice
( apparently the only time an Irish candidate was even considered).
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
lawyer, Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
Party politician and judge. He was elected as a TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
and then as a Senator, and served as Attorney General
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...
before being appointed as a Supreme Court judge.
Early life
Cecil Lavery was educated at Castleknock CollegeCastleknock College
Castleknock College is a private , secondary school for boys aged between 13 and 18, which is situated in the residential suburb of Castleknock, 8 km west of the city centre in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
, Dublin and later UCD where he became one of the first auditors of the UCD Law Society. In 1927 appointed to set up a "Memorial Committee" by W.T. Cosgrave , president of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
Executive Council in order to advance the process of the Irish National War Memorial Gardens
Irish National War Memorial Gardens
The Irish National War Memorial Gardens is an Irish war memorial in Islandbridge, Dublin dedicated "to the memory of the 49,400 Irish soldiers who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914–1918", out of over 300,000 Irishmen who served in all armies....
where an impasse situation had evolved.
Career
Lavery was elected to Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
on his first attempt, at a by-election held on 17 June 1935 in the Dublin County constituency
Dublin County (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin County was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1969...
, after the death of Fine Gael TD Batt O'Connor
Batt O'Connor
Bartholomew "Batt" O'Connor was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician , and TD for Dublin County from 1924–1935....
. He was returned to the 9th Dáil at the 1937 general election
Irish general election, 1937
The Irish general election of 1937 was held on 1 July 1937, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 14 June. A plebiscite to ratify the Constitution of Ireland was held on the same day...
, but the following year at the 1938 general election
Irish general election, 1938
The Irish general election of 1938 was held on 17 June 1938. The 138 newly elected members of the 10th Dáil assembled on 30 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, he lost his seat to his Fine Gael running-mate Patrick Belton, Snr..
He did not stand for election again until 1948, when he was elected to the 6th Seanad Éireann on the Cultural and Educational Panel, and was appointed as Attorney General by Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
John A. Costello
John A. Costello
John Aloysius Costello , a successful barrister, was one of the main legal advisors to the government of the Irish Free State after independence, Attorney General of Ireland from 1926–1932 and Taoiseach from 1948–1951 and 1954–1957....
. Costello made 2 controversial decisions on Lavery's appointment; reversing the practice of many years he decided that Lavery could continue in private practice and that such fees as were paid to him as Attorney General should count as part of his income rather than be paid into the Exchequer. Costello justified both decisions on the ground that Lavery was one of the Bar's top earners and had taken a considerable pay cut as Attorney General. As Attorney General he advised on several difficult issues, notably devaluation of the currency and fishing rights in Lough Foyle which were claimed by both Governments, North and South He left the Seanad on 21 April 1950, when he was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court, where he served till his retirement in 1966. He was offered the Presidency of the High Court but withdrew his name, apparently after the Department of Justice raised a question about his qualifications. In 1961 on the retirement of Conor Maguire
Conor Maguire
Conor Alexander Maguire was an Irish politician, lawyer and judge. He was a founding member of the Legal and Economic Society in UCD in 1911; now known as the University College Dublin Law Society...
, Costello lobbied hard for Lavery to be appointed Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
, calling him with perhaps some exaggeration " the outstanding Irish legal figure of the last half-century". He later lobbied, also unsuccessfully, for Lavery to be appointed a judge of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
( apparently the only time an Irish candidate was even considered).
External links
- Cecil Lavery's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)