Hugh Holmes
Encyclopedia
Hugh Holmes QC
(17 February 1840 – 19 April 1916) was an Irish Conservative Party
then after 1886 a Unionist Member of Parliament
(MP) in the United Kingdom Parliament and subsequently a Judge.
, County Tyrone
, the son of William Holmes of Dungannon. He attended Trinity College, Dublin
. He was called to the English bar in 1864 and to the Irish bar in 1865.
(QC) in 1877. he was appointed Solicitor General for Ireland on 14 December 1878 and served until the Conservative government was defeated in 1880. He became Attorney General for Ireland 1885–1886 and 1886–1887. He was made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
on 2 July 1885. He was MP for Dublin University 1885–1887.
Holmes retired from the House of Commons
when he was appointed a Judge in 1887. He was a Justice of the Common Pleas
Division of the High Court of Justice in Ireland until 1888 when he became a Justice of the Queen's Bench Division. He was promoted to be a Lord Justice of Appeal
in 1897. Ill health caused his retirement in 1914.
He appeared to be a stern judge, who did not suffer fools gladly and often imposed severe sentences in criminal cases. His judgments did however display some good humour and humanity and the sentences he imposed sometimes were less severe than those he actually announced in Court.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(17 February 1840 – 19 April 1916) was an Irish Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
then after 1886 a Unionist Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) in the United Kingdom Parliament and subsequently a Judge.
Background and education
Holmes was born in DungannonDungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, the son of William Holmes of Dungannon. He attended Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He was called to the English bar in 1864 and to the Irish bar in 1865.
Legal and judicial career
Holmes became a Queen's CounselQueen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(QC) in 1877. he was appointed Solicitor General for Ireland on 14 December 1878 and served until the Conservative government was defeated in 1880. He became Attorney General for Ireland 1885–1886 and 1886–1887. He was made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
on 2 July 1885. He was MP for Dublin University 1885–1887.
Holmes retired from the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
when he was appointed a Judge in 1887. He was a Justice of the Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas (Ireland)
The Court of Common Pleas was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror image of the equivalent court in England...
Division of the High Court of Justice in Ireland until 1888 when he became a Justice of the Queen's Bench Division. He was promoted to be a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
in 1897. Ill health caused his retirement in 1914.
He appeared to be a stern judge, who did not suffer fools gladly and often imposed severe sentences in criminal cases. His judgments did however display some good humour and humanity and the sentences he imposed sometimes were less severe than those he actually announced in Court.