John Moriarty (Attorney General)
Encyclopedia
John Francis Moriarty PC
, QC
(1855 – 2 May 1915) was an Irish lawyer and judge.
, County Cork
, the second son of John Moriarty, a successful solicitor. He graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Irish bar in 1877.
in 1900 and a sergeant-at-law in 1908. Despite a flourishing practice he was often in financial difficulties and went bankrupt in the 1890s. In 1913 he was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland
, then Attorney-General for Ireland
and finally a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal; but served less than two years before dying in May 1915.
Maurice Healy in his popular memoir The Old Munster Circuit gives a vivid portrait of Moriarty as an exceptionally able and flamboyant barrister who was utterly unscrupulous in the tactics he used in conducting a case and was equally unscrupulous in his financial dealings; in Healy's opinion " he seemed to prefer to lose a case by a trick than win it by fair means ". . The picture he paints may welll be exaggerated,: Healy himself admits that Moriarty was an exceptionally fine Law Officer during a period of acute political tension, and his few reported decisions suggest that he would have been a good judge had he lived longer.However the report of an action in which Moriarty was a major figure, National Bank v Silke certainly raises questions about his financial probity, since there is an uncontradicted statement by the defendant that Moriarty induced him to sign a cheque by fraudulent misrepresentation.
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...
, QC
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...
(1855 – 2 May 1915) was an Irish lawyer and judge.
Background and education
Moriarty was born in MallowMallow
Mallow or Mallows may refer to:Nature:* Malvaceae, family of plants; in particular the following genera:** Abelmoschus** Althaea – Marsh mallow** Callirhoe – Poppy mallow** Corchorus – Jews Mallow, Molokia, Mlukhia...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, the second son of John Moriarty, a successful solicitor. He graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Irish bar in 1877.
Legal and judicial career
Moriarty became 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...
in 1900 and a sergeant-at-law in 1908. Despite a flourishing practice he was often in financial difficulties and went bankrupt in the 1890s. In 1913 he was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland
Solicitor-General for Ireland
The Solicitor-General for Ireland was the holder of an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was a deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. At least one holder of the office, Patrick Barnewall played a significant role in...
, then Attorney-General for Ireland
Attorney-General for Ireland
The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was senior to the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters...
and finally a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal; but served less than two years before dying in May 1915.
Maurice Healy in his popular memoir The Old Munster Circuit gives a vivid portrait of Moriarty as an exceptionally able and flamboyant barrister who was utterly unscrupulous in the tactics he used in conducting a case and was equally unscrupulous in his financial dealings; in Healy's opinion " he seemed to prefer to lose a case by a trick than win it by fair means ". . The picture he paints may welll be exaggerated,: Healy himself admits that Moriarty was an exceptionally fine Law Officer during a period of acute political tension, and his few reported decisions suggest that he would have been a good judge had he lived longer.However the report of an action in which Moriarty was a major figure, National Bank v Silke certainly raises questions about his financial probity, since there is an uncontradicted statement by the defendant that Moriarty induced him to sign a cheque by fraudulent misrepresentation.