Maurice Collins (judge)

• University College Cork
• King's Inns

The Hon. Mr. Justice Maurice Collins
Collins in 2024
Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 November 2022

Maurice Gerard Collins ^[1] is an Irish judge and lawyer who has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since November 2022. He previously served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal from 2019 to 2022.

Early life

Collins is from Clonakilty in County Cork. He is the grandnephew of Michael Collins. He completed a BA in English Literature and Philosophy at University College Cork and later attended the King's Inns. ^[2]

Legal career

He was called to the Bar in 1989 and became a senior counsel in 2003. ^[3] He is a former chair of the Incorporated Council for Law Reporting and became a bencher of the King's Inns in 2017. ^{[3] [2]}

Collins had a broad practice while at the bar. He frequently represented the State in public law matters. He appeared for the State in a challenge taken by Brian Mohan to the constitutionality of parliamentary gender quota legislation and an action initiated by Jolyon Maugham to try to prevent Brexit through the High Court. ^{[4] [5]}

His practice included commercial matters and disputes. He represented parties opposite Rory McIlroy and Dunnes Stores. ^{[6] [7]} He also appeared in actions involving medical negligence. ^[8]

He appeared for Ireland in 2019 in the EU's General Court in appeal to the European Commission's decision arising from the EU illegal State aid case against Apple in Ireland. ^[9]

Judicial career

Court of Appeal

He became a Judge of the Court of Appeal in November 2019. ^[10] His appointment arose out of a vacancy was created due to the retirement of Michael Peart. ^[11]

Law Reform Commission

Collins was appointed to the Law Reform Commission as a part-time commissioner for a five-year term in October 2020. ^[12]

Supreme Court

Collins was nominated and appointed to the Supreme Court of Ireland in November 2022. ^{[13] [14] [15]}

Personal life

He is married to Nora Rice. ^[2] They are patrons of the National Gallery of Ireland. ^[16]

References

1. "Applicant for leave to review planning decision mustshow substantial grounds and substantial interest". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
2. "Clonakilty's Maurice is one of seven new judges". The Southern Star. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
3. "Appointments to the Court of Appeal". www.justice.ie. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
4. "Court reserves judgement on challenge to link between political funding and gender quotas". www.irishexaminer.com. 25 July 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
5. "Legal challenge to Brexit struck out". www.irishexaminer.com. 29 May 2017. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
6. "Claim that Wozniacki told McIlroy that UNICEF donation was "stupid" - News". Irish Golf Desk. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
7. "Dunnes Stores winding up order withdrawn". RTÉ News. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
8. Traynor, Vivienne (18 October 2019). "I expected nausea not narcolepsy, father tells court". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
9. Brennan, Joe. "Ireland set for courtroom showdown over €13bn Apple tax case". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
10. "Diary President Appoints Judges To The Court Of Appeal". president.ie. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
11. "First solicitor appointed to the High Court retires after 17 years on the bench". Irish Legal News. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
12. "Three commissioners appointed to LRC". www.lawsociety.ie. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
13. "Mr Justice Maurice Collins appointed to Supreme Court". www.lawsociety.ie. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
14. "Courts Service set to receive additional resources for new High Court division". The Irish Times. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
15. "Diary President Appoints Judges To The Supreme Court And The High Court 29 11 22". president.ie. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
16. "Current Patrons". National Gallery of Ireland. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.