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John Loyola Murray (27 June 1943 – 18 January 2023) was an Irish judge who served as Chief Justice of Ireland from 2004 to 2011, a judge of the Supreme Court from 1999 to 2015, a judge of the European Court of Justice from 1992 to 1999 and as Attorney General of Ireland from August 1982 to December 1982 and 1987 to 1991.

Early career

Murray was born in Limerick on 27 June 1943. He was educated at Crescent College, Limerick, Rockwell College, County Tipperary, University College Dublin, and the Honorable Society of King's Inns. He was twice elected President of the Union of Students in Ireland in 1966/67. He qualified as a barrister in 1967 and had a successful law practice dealing with commercial, civil, and constitutional law.

Attorney General

Murray was Attorney General of Ireland under the Fianna Fáil government from 17 August to 14 December 1982. The Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, appointed him as Attorney General after his predecessor, Patrick Connolly, resigned abruptly over the GUBU scandal, when a murderer Malcolm McArthur was arrested in Connolly's Dalkey flat.

His next term in office as Attorney General extended from 11 March 1987 to 25 September 1991. In 1988, he refused to allow the extradition of Fr. Patrick Ryan to Britain on explosives charges dealing with the Provisional IRA, on the basis that the trial he would be given would not be fair due to excessive media coverage and remarks made in Parliament by the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher which were considered prejudicial.

Judicial career

In 1991, he was appointed a Judge of the European Court of Justice serving until 1999, when he was appointed to the Irish Supreme Court.

Murray served on the Supreme Court from 1999. He was appointed Chief Justice of Ireland in 2004.

In 2011, Chief Justice Murray became involved in controversy with the Government over a proposal to amend the Constitution to allow the remuneration of judges to be reduced in parallel to the remuneration of public servants in State employment.

The criticisms of the Government's plans were contained in a 12-page critique by Chief Justice Murray, and the President of the High Court, Nicholas Kearns, and published in the Court Services website, but subsequently redacted at the request of the Government.

He retired as Chief Justice in 2011, though he remained a member of the Supreme Court until 2015.

Chancellor of the University of Limerick

Murray was appointed Chancellor of the University of Limerick (and so also Chairman of UL's Governing Authority) in 2013.

Telephone tapping inquiry

In January 2016, it was announced that the Minister for Justice and Equality had appointed Murray to conduct a review of the legislation allowing access to the phone records of journalists. Murray was asked to propose any legislative changes required and examine the legislation in other countries and examine best international practice in this area.

Personal life and death

Murray was married to Gabrielle Walsh, daughter of Brian Walsh, a former Supreme Court judge, described as "one of Ireland's greatest judges" and the "outstanding legal reforming mind of his generation" by Prof. J. J. Lee.

His brother, Michael D. Murray, is the State Solicitor for Limerick City.

Murray died on 18 January 2023, at the age of 79.

See also

• List of members of the European Court of Justice

References

1. "Murray, John Loyola, (born 27 June 1943), Chief Justice of Ireland, 2004–11; Senior Ordinary Judge, Supreme Court of Ireland, 2011–15; Chancellor, University of Limerick, since 2013". Who's Who. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U246148.
2. "An Príomh-Bhreitheam a Cheapadh" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil (in Irish). 2004 (61): 828. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007.
3. "Government rejects judiciary's call for independent pay review". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
4. "Shatter dodges quizzing on judges row". Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
5. "Memo on judges' pay removed from website". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
6. "Mr Justice John Murray retires as Supreme Court judge". The Irish Times. 26 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
7. "Former Chief Justice John Murray retires". Irish Independent. 26 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
8. "UL Governing Authority Appoint the Hon. Mr Justice John Murray as Chancellor". University of Limerick. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
9. "Fitzgerald denies authorising tapping of journalists' phones". The Irish Times. 20 January 2016. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
10. Alan Murdoch, "Obituary: Judge Brian Walsh Archived 12 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine" The Independent, London 1998-03-11 (accessed 20 January 2016)
11. "New breed of Limerick criminals believe settled community are prey, says solicitor". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
12. "Former chief justice John Murray dies aged 79". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 January 2023.

• 1943 births
• 2023 deaths
• Lawyers from County Limerick
• People educated at Crescent College
• People educated at Rockwell College
• Alumni of University College Dublin
• Alumni of King's Inns
• Attorneys general of Ireland
• European Court of Justice judges
• Irish judges of international courts and tribunals
• Chief justices of Ireland
• Chancellors of the University of Limerick
• Grand Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
• 20th-century Irish judges
• 21st-century Irish judges