Fidelma Macken
Irish judge (born 1942) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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 (1942-02-28) 28 February 1942 (age 82) Dublin, Ireland |
Political party | Labour Party |
Spouse |
Anthony Macken (m. 1972) |
Children | 1 |
Alma mater | |
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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] 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]