Council

Page last updated: Tuesday, January 2, 2024

King’s Inns activities are co–ordinated by Council, the Society’s governing body. It is made up of the Chief Justice (ex officio), the President of the Court of Appeal (ex officio) and the President of the High Court (ex officio), a judge of the Circuit Court, the Attorney General (ex officio), Chair and Treasurer of The Bar of Ireland (ex officio), and a number of other benchers, judges, practising and non–practising barristers elected by the subscribing members of King’s Inns.

A newly formed Council for a succeeding year elect six Committees who are made up of people from Council is to oversee the management of King’s Inns in delivering the strategy and policy, and administering the Society’s day–to–day business operations.

King’s Inns Objectives

Council and the King’s Inns CEO and Under Treasurer, has staff and contractors which services the Society’s Council and Committees, and also administers the objectives of King’s Inns.

King’s Inns is an independent educational institution, renowned for professional legal education and training. Its main objectives are:

  • the promotion and advancement of learning in the law;
  • the education and training of students and members of the King’s Inns;
  • the protection and furtherance of the reputation and standing of the degree of Barrister–at–Law;
  • the preservation of the heritage that is comprised in the King’s Inns, its buildings, library, furnishings and environs; and
  • to ensure the fitness of persons to practise as or to hold themselves out as barristers prior to and, subject to Part 6 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, after their call to the Bar.

Elections

Elections shall be held in each year to fill vacancies caused by the expiry of the term of office of members of Council. 

Elections will take place during Michaelmas Term each year. Voting and meeting provisions are set our in the General Rules of the Society.

Council Officers

Name

Position

Hugh I Mohan SC

Chair of Council

Sara Moorhead SC

Honorary Treasurer

Elizabeth Donovan BL

Honorary Secretary

Judicial Benchers (10 members)

Name

Position

Term Expires

The Hon. Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell

Chief Justice

ex officio

The Hon. Mr Justice Birmingham

President, Court of Appeal

ex officio

The Hon. Mr Justice Barniville

President, High Court

ex officio

The Hon. Ms Justice Nuala Butler

.

31/12/2024

The Hon. Mr Justice Keane

.

31/12/2024

The Hon. Ms Justice Pilkington

.

31/12/2024

The Hon. Mr Justice Edwards

.

31/12/2025

The Hon. Mr Justice Paul Burns

.

31/12/2025

The Hon. Mr Justice David Nolan

.

31/12/2025

The Hon. Mr Justice Oisin Quinn

.

31/12/2025

Bar Benchers Panel (10 members)

Name

Position

Term Expires

Mr James O’Reilly SC

.

31/12/2024

Mr Hugh Mohan SC

.

31/12/2024

Ms Sara Moorhead SC

.

31/12/2024

Mr Shane Murphy SC

.

31/12/2024

Mr Paul McGarry SC

.

31/12/2024

Mr John Rogers SC

.

31/12/2025

Mr Fergal Foley

.

31/12/2025

Mr Finbarr Fox SC

.

31/12/2025

Ms Jacqueline O’Brien SC

.

31/12/2025

Mr John Peart SC

.

31/12/2025

Professional Body Panel (10 members)

Name

Position

Term Expires

Ms Sara Phelan SC

Chair, Bar Council

ex officio

Mr Roddy Maguire BL

Treasurer, Bar Council

ex officio

Mr Sean O hUallacháin SC

Vice-Chair, Bar Council

ex officio

Mr Darren Lehane SC

Mr Sean Guerin SC

Ms Catherine White BL

Mr Tim O’Connor BL

Mr Femi Daniyan BL

Mr Cian Kelly BL

Practising Bar Panel (10 members)

Name

Position

Term Expires

Mr Tadhg Dorgan

.

31/12/2024

Ms Kate Ahern

.

31/12/2024

Mr Mark O’Riordan

.

31/12/2024

Mr Ian Fitzharris

.

31/12/2024

Mr Robert O’Reilly

.

31/12/2024

Ms Elizabeth Donovan

.

31/12/2025

Mr Gerard N Murphy

.

31/12/2025

Mr Patrick Murphy

.

31/12/2025

Mr Paul McCarthy SC

.

31/12/2025

Ms Sally O’Neill

.

31/12/2025

Non–Practising Barristers

Name

Position

Term Expires

Mr Colum Walsh BL

.

31/12/2024

Mr James Mulcahy BL

.

31/12/2025

Circuit Court Judge

Name

Position

Term Expires

Her Hon. Judge Alice Doyle

Circuit Court Judge

31/12/2025

Attorney General

Name

Position

Term Expires

Rossa Fanning SC

AG

ex officio