Roderick Joseph O'Hanlon (11 April 1923 – 27 March 2002)[1] was an Irish judge and barrister who served as a Judge of the High Court from 1981 to 1995. He was also President of the Law Reform Commission.
Rory O'Hanlon | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 10 January 1981 – 23 May 1995 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Patrick Hillery |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Roderick Joseph O'Hanlon 11 April 1923 Phibsborough, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 27 March 2002 (aged 78) Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland |
| Spouses |
|
| Education | Coláiste Mhuire, Dublin |
| Alma mater | |
He was dismissed by the Irish Government from presidency of the Law Reform Commission in 1992, after commenting that if Ireland's membership of the European Union forced the introduction of abortion to Ireland, the country should withdraw from the bloc. He later sued the Government and won substantial damages.[2]
Post-retirement, O'Hanlon took an active part in campaigning to oppose the divorce referendum of 1995, calling divorce "a grave offence against natural law".[3] During the lead-up to the referendum on the Maastricht Treaty, it was revealed in an interview that he was a member of the secretive Catholic organisation, Opus Dei.[1][4]
He died in March 2002 after a battle with stomach cancer.[1][5]
References edit
- ^ a b c Keane, Ronan. "O'Hanlon, Roderick Joseph ('Rory') | Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie. Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Annemarie Bruinsma Hanlon: Justice Rory O'Hanlon, Hanlon people & Businesses, (undated)
- ^ Clarity, James F. (27 November 1995). "Ireland's Anti-Divorce Camp Gears Up for Court Challenge". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ Sunday Tribune 19 March 2006 Archived 22 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Former High Court Judge O'Hanlon dies". RTÉ News. 24 March 2002. Retrieved 9 April 2023.