Statement by President Higgins on the death of Donal Barrington
Date: Wed 3rd Jan, 2018 | 19:05
“It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of former Justice Donal Barrington.
Donal Barrington was one of the outstanding minds and voices in Ireland’s legal profession, having made ground breaking contributions in the field of human rights.
He leaves a rich legacy in public and constitutional law, having consistently brought attention to the importance of civil and political rights, not just in Ireland but also abroad.
As founder of organisations such as Tuairim and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, where he worked closely with Mary Robinson, as well as through his work in the High Court, Supreme Court, the European Court of First Instance and as President of the Irish Human Rights Commission, Donal Barrington provided leadership on the application of the global human rights framework to Ireland.
As President of Ireland, may I pay tribute to Donal Barrington, and convey my condolences to his family, friends and many colleagues.”