Paul Burns (judge)

Paul Burns is an Irish lawyer who has been a judge of the High Court of Ireland since March 2020. He previously practised as a barrister with a focus on criminal trials.

The Hon. Mr. Justice
Paul Burns
Judge of the High Court
Assumed office
20 March 2020
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMichael D. Higgins
Personal details
NationalityIrish
Alma mater

Early life

Burns attended Trinity College Dublin where he obtained a bachelor's degree in legal science in 1984 and a Master of Letters in law in 1987.[1]

He became a barrister in 1986 and became a senior counsel in 2004.[2] His practice was predominantly focused on criminal law, appearing for both accused persons and the Director of Public Prosecutions.[3][4] Among the trials he has been involved with included serious offences of murder, sexual offences and drug offences.[5][6][7] He has also acted in actions involving judicial review, constitutional law, personal injuries and defamation.[8][9][10][11]

In 1998 he appeared in the Special Criminal Court for Paul Ward in his trial for the murder of Veronica Guerin and in 2003 in the Court of Criminal Appeal for Catherine Nevin in an appeal of her murder conviction.[12][13] He represented former judge Brian Curtin at trial and in Oireachtas proceedings and later former judge Heather Perrin in her trial for false accounting.[14][15][16] In 2007 he was counsel for the Garda Síochána in a case for damages taken by Frank McBrearty Snr and appeared for solicitor Michael Lynn in preliminary hearings.[17][18] Burns has also represented the wife of John Gilligan in civil proceedings and, in defamation actions against media organisations, Declan Ganley, Paddy McKillen and Denis O'Brien.[19][20][21] He prosecuted cases against Thomas "Slab" Murphy and against a man accused of the shooting of Gareth Hutch.[22][23]

He was appointed to the Electronic Communications Appeals Panel in 2005.[24]

Judicial career

Burns was nominated to become a judge of the High Court of Ireland in December 2019 and was appointed in March 2020.[1][25] The vacancy was created following Donald Binchy becoming a judge of the Court of Appeal.[1]

He has heard cases involving extradition and bail applications.[26][27] In October 2020 he refused to order the extradition of Ian Bailey to France for trial arising from the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.[28] He has also presided over cases involving personal injuries, medical negligence and homicide.[29][30][31]

Coffey is a judge of the Special Criminal Court.[32][33]

References
  1. "Government agrees nominations for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court and District Court". merrionstreet.ie. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  2. "Four judicial appointments agreed at final Cabinet meeting of the year". Irish Legal News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. "Remand on stolen property charge". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  4. "Five appeal Kieran Keane murder convictions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  5. "Nevin trial witness is recalled". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  6. "Man jailed for abusing two girls". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  7. "Man gets seven years for importing cocaine". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  8. Greene, Paul. "Holiday lettings not within scope of planning permission for residential use". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  9. Gillane, Sean. "RTE obliged to give equal time to both sides in constitutional referendum". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  10. "£20,000 for girl's pool fall". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  11. "Leave given to O'Brien to expand case against 'Post'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  12. "Guerin murder trial adjourned for week". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  13. Carolan, Mary. "Media 'had no bearing' on Nevin's trial". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  14. Coulter, Carol. "Moves to impeach Judge Curtin delayed". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  15. "Disgraced ex-judge does U-turn over €1m legal costs deal". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  16. "Perrin sentenced to two years for false accounting". RTÉ News. 13 March 2013. Archived from the original on 16 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  17. "McBrearty to receive interim payment". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  18. "Banks to share solicitor's financial details". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  19. "Cab wants receiver put into Gilligan centre". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  20. O Faolain, Aodhan. "Declan Ganley alleges RTÉ defamed him by implying he had links to organised crime". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  21. McCarthy, Justine; Tighe, Mark. "O'Brien muzzles Sunday Times". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  22. Giblin, Ruaidhrí. "Slab Murphy given November date for tax evasion appeal". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  23. "CCTV recording breaches privacy claims lawyer for Gareth Hutch murder accused". Irish Examiner. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  24. "Dempsey beefs up comms appeals panel - Comms | siliconrepublic.com - Ireland's Technology News Service". Silicon Republic. 21 June 2005. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  25. "Diary President Higgins Appoints Mr Paul Burns S.c To The High Court". president.ie. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  26. Reynolds, Paul (30 April 2020). "Man facing extradition over migrant deaths refused bail". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  27. "Dublin man to face trial over Kevin Lunney assault". RTÉ News. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  28. O'Donnell, Orla (12 October 2020). "Court rejects French attempt to extradite Ian Bailey". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  29. "Teenager awarded €61,000 in damages after she was hit by car on way to school". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  30. "Mother 'besieged' Cork University Hospital for help with son, court told". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  31. O'Donnell, Orla (20 May 2021). "Deirdre Morley found not guilty by reason of insanity". RTÉ News. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  32. "Businessman Jim Mansfield Junior granted legal aid by Special Criminal Court". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  33. "Conviction declared a miscarriage of justice after 'grave defect' in administration by agents of State". independent. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
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