Fidelma Macken | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Supreme Court | |
| In office 20 May 2005 – 6 June 2012 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 19 October 2004 – 20 May 2005 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| In office 30 July 1998 – 5 October 1999 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Judge of the European Court of Justice | |
| In office 5 October 1999 – 22 September 2004 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | European Council |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Fidelma O'Kelly 28 February 1942 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse |
Anthony Macken (m. 1972) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | |
Fidelma Nora Macken, SC (née O'Kelly; born 28 February 1942) is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court from 2005 to 2012, a Judge of the High Court from 1998 to 1999 and between 2004 and 2005 and a Judge of the European Court of Justice from 1999 to 2004.[1]
In 2004, she succeeded John L. Murray, as Ireland's appointee on the European Court of Justice (ECJ).[2][3] Appointed initially for a five-year term, she was the first female appointee to the European Court of Justice but had her mandate renewed in 2003. She was reappointed a High Court judge on 18 October 2004 on her return to Ireland.[4] In 2005, she was elevated the Supreme Court.[4]
Macken was educated at King's Inns and Trinity College Dublin.[1] She became a barrister in 1972; practiced as legal adviser, Patents and Trade Marks Agents (1973–1979) and became a Senior Counsel in 1995.
As a lawyer, she specialised on medical defence work and pharmaceutical actions. She acted as defence counsel in a series of cases brought by children against whooping cough vaccine manufacturers for damage allegedly caused by the vaccine. The Supreme Court nominated her to act in three referrals by the President of Ireland querying the constitutionality of new legislation before she became a judge. In 2001, the Irish Times reported that she was an owner of the Four Seasons Hotel in Ballsbridge[5]
She has been a lecturer in Legal Systems and Methods and Averil Deverell Lecturer in Law at Trinity College Dublin.[1]
Macken returned to practice at Brick Court Chambers in 2013.[6][7] She is a member of the Investment Advisory Panel of Woodsford Litigation Funding, a company engaged in litigation funding.[8]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Current judges of the Supreme Court". SupremeCourt.ie. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ↑ Fidelma Macken Appointed to European Court of Justice, European Report, 22 September 1999.
- ↑ Female Euro Judge Leaves, Daily Mirror, 14 October 2004.
- 1 2 "Govt makes new judicial appointments". BreakingNews.ie. 19 May 2005. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ↑ "Owners of Four Seasons Hotel". The Irish Times.
- ↑ "Judge (71) back at work in London-based legal firm". Independent.ie. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ↑ "Judge Fidelma Macken SC | Brick Court Chambers". www.brickcourt.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ↑ Savage, Steven (29 June 2016). "Fidelma Macken: WLF Appoints Her to Investment Advisory Panel". Woodsford Litigation Funding. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.