It is with great regret that we learned of the death of Thomas Finlay. On behalf of the members of the Law Library I wish to extend sincere condolences to his daughters Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan, Joan and Ruth, to his sons Tom and John, and to his other family members.
Thomas was universally revered by his colleagues for the exceptional contribution he made to the legal profession in his lifetime, ranging from his work defending Capt Kelly in the 1970s Arms Trial to the 11 years he presided over the High Court, then as Chief Justice of Ireland, a position he held for 9 years.
His many judgments on Constitutional Law were the subject of public attention and commentary, including those relating to Garda powers, cabinet confidentiality, the nature of Tribunals, and abortion issues.
His contribution to the profession and to the State did not stop when he retired as Chief Justice. He was frequently called upon to dedicate time to a major public inquiries, into for example Hepatitis C, the Lansdowne Road riots and the Commission on the newspaper industry. He was a member of the Council of State for over 40 years.
Few have achieved as much as Thomas Finlay did in his career or are so widely respected. His name is synonymous with diligence, pragmatism, and wisdom. He was considered a giant of the law and a father figure to many in the Law Library, where he will be fondly remembered for his courteous disposition and equanimity to his colleagues and in court.
Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.