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Tributes flow for Mr
Justice Michael White
by Linda McGrory
TRIBUTES and warm wishes have flowed following the
appointment of Carndonagh man, Michael White, as a
judge of the High Court.
Members of Mr Justice White's family including his
solicitor brother, Philip, travelled from Inishowen
to Dublin for yesterday's swearing in ceremony.
A Circuit Court judge for the last 15 years, Mr
White (58) was sworn in as a High Court judge along
with Kevin Cross SC.
Their appointments fill the vacancies left by the
retirements of Mr Justice Bryan McMahon and the late
Mr Justice Vivian Lavan. Michael White is believed
to be the first native of Donegal to sit on the High
Court.
Philip White said he and his 92 year old mother
Phyllis had received "many warm wishes" from people
in Carndonagh, the wider Inishowen peninsula and
further afield.
"Michael is humbled by the support and
congratulations he has received from all quarters
since the announcement," said Philip.
The son of prominent Inishowen solicitor, the late
Michael D. White, Michael's early education was at
St Patrick’s Boys' National School, Carndonagh Boys
Secondary School and the Franciscan College,
Gormanstown. He graduated from University College
Dublin with a degree in law in 1973 and qualified as
a solicitor in 1975.
He took up practice first with his father in
Carndonagh and later in Dublin.
After a successful career in private practice he
was, in 1996, among the first solicitor appointments
to the Circuit Court.
He has presided over a number of high-profile cases
including the 'Annabel's' trial in Dublin.
A keen hill-walker, he was a Worker's Party activist
who ran in three general elections in the 1980s.
He is married to Dr Maud McKee, a native of
Portballintrae Co Antrim. The couple have four sons,
John, Brendan, Patrick and Aidan, and live in
Dublin.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Philip said it was a
"proud day, tinged with a bit sadness" for the White
family.
"My father didn't live to see Michael's appointment
to either the Circuit Court or High Court. While our
older sisters, Maureen and Helen, were present for
his Circuit Court appointment in 1996, both have
since passed away," he said.
President Mary McAleese officially appointed Judges
Michael White and Kevin Cross to the High Court on
Monday.
They were the last judges to be appointed by Ms
McAleese as her term in office draws to a close. |
