Robert Eagar
Irish judge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Eagar is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the High Court from 2014 to 2023.
Robert Eagar | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 30 October 2014 – 17 January 2023 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | |
Early life
Eagar was educated at University College Dublin from where he graduated with a BCL degree in 1977.[1] He attended the Law Society of Ireland and was added to the Roll of Solicitors in 1978.[2]
Legal career
He began his career as a solicitor at the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, a constituent part of the Office of the Attorney General, working there until 1984.[2] In 1982, he was involved in proceedings in the Circuit Court involving a licensing request by the owner of the Stardust nightclub.[3] He was the prosecuting solicitor in a case against Vinnie Doyle and the Irish Independent for a breach of the Official Secrets Act.[4]
He joined the law firm of Garrett Sheehan in 1984, becoming a partner in 1995.[5] His expertise as a solicitor was in criminal law, extradition, asylum law, human rights law and child law.[2] He has represented an anti-war activist convicted of damage to US military property,[6] fugitive solicitor Michael Lynn,[7] the former company secretary of Anglo Irish Bank on trial for tax offences,[8] and a Christian Brother accused of 110 charges of indecent assault.[9] He has also acted as a solicitor for clients accused of murder and fraud.[10][11] He has acted in cases involving judicial review in the Supreme Court of Ireland and cases in the Court of Criminal Appeal.[5]
In 2008, he called for the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan Jnr to fund an independent forensic laboratory.[12]
He was a member of the Law Society's Criminal Law Committee and a lecturer in criminal law.[13][5] He is a former chair of the Dublin Simon Community, a founder of the Irish Refugee Council and board member of the Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School.[2]
Judicial career
Eagar was appointed a Judge of the High Court in October 2014.[14] He has been the presiding judge in cases involving criminal law,[15] defamation law,[16] equality law,[17] medical negligence,[18] judicial review,[19] and refugee law.[20]
He has presided over cases in the Special Criminal Court.[21] He was the judge in bail hearings involving Lisa Smith and those accused of the murder of Ana Kriégel and the kidnapping of Kevin Lunney.[22][23][24]
He was a designated judge to report to the Taoiseach on the operation of the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009.[25]
He retired as judge in January 2023.[26]
Personal life
Eagar is married to Monica and has two daughters.[26]