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 | |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Alma mater | |
Robert Eagar is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the High Court from 2014 to 2023.
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]
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]
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]
Eagar is married to Monica and has two daughters. [26]