Name Mary Laffoy Appointed by Michael D. Higgins Role Judge | Nationality Irish Occupation Barrister | |
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Alma mater University College Dublin, King's Inns | ||
Nominated by Government of Ireland Education University College Dublin | ||
Welcome from Judge Mary Laffoy - Citizens' Assembly (Saturday 4 March 2017)
Mary Eleanor Laffoy (born 17 June 1945) was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland from 2013 to 2017. In July 2016 she was appointed as Chair of the Citizens' Assembly.
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Career
She was educated at University College Dublin and King's Inns. She was called to the Bar in 1971 and to the Inner Bar in 1987. She was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 1995.
She is most notable for presiding over the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse from 1999–2003, an inquiry into child abuse. Her decision to resign as chair before the commission completed its report was controversial. In her letter of resignation from the commission of 2 September 2003, Laffoy outlined her belief that the actions of the Government and the Department of Education had frustrated her efforts and had slowed the commission's work. She felt that: "...the cumulative effect of those factors effectively negated the guarantee of independence conferred on the Commission and militated against it being able to perform its statutory functions." The commission was chaired from 2003–09 by judge Seán Ryan.
Laffoy was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ireland in July 2013.
In July 2016 she was appointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to chair the Citizens Assembly.
She retired on 16 June 2017.