Appointments to the Court of Appeal, Circuit Court and District Court - 13 April 2022

At its meeting today, the government agreed to nominate Mr Justice Senan Allen for appointment as an Ordinary Judge of the Court of Appeal by the President of Ireland.

The vacancy arose following the appointment of the Hon. Mr Justice Brian Murray to the Supreme Court on 21 February 2022.

The government also agreed to nominate Kenneth Connolly, barrister, for appointment as an Ordinary Judge of the Circuit Court by the President of Ireland.

The vacancy arose following the appointment of the Hon. Mr. Justice Rory MacCabe to the High Court on 13 January 2022.

In addition, the government agreed to nominate Andrew Cody, Solicitor, Michéle Finan, solicitor, and Conor Fottrell, solicitor, as Ordinary Judges of the District Court by the President of Ireland.

The first vacancy arose following the retirement of Judge Kevin Kilrane on 1 March 2022. The second vacancy arose following the appointment of Her Hon. Judge Catherine Staines to the Circuit Court on 1 March 2022. The third vacancy arose following the appointment of His Hon. Judge Michael P. Walsh to the Circuit Court on 8 March 2022.

The government has taken the necessary steps to formally advise President Higgins of the nominations in accordance with constitutional practice.

In accordance with articles 13.9 and 35.1 of the Constitution, judicial appointments are made by the President acting on the advice of the government.

Limited biographical details

Mr Justice Senan Allen

• called to Bar in 1983
• called to Inner Bar in 2000
• appointed as a judge of the High Court in October 2018

Kenneth Connolly, barrister

• called to Bar in 1994
• post-graduate education: The Honourable Society of Kings Inns. Post Graduate Degree of Barrister at Law 1992 – 1994

Andrew Cody, Solicitor

• qualified as a solicitor in 1990
• post-graduate education: Solicitor Law Society of Ireland, 1990

Michéle Finan, solicitor

• qualified as a solicitor in 2001
• Post-graduate education: The Honourable Society of Kings Inns, Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Quasi-Judicial Decision Making

Conor Fottrell, solicitor

• qualified as a solicitor in 2001
• Post-graduate education: LLB (Law Degree), National University of Ireland, Galway, 1994 – 1997