Ireland’s Judge Síofra O’Leary has been elected president of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) this afternoon (19 September).

Ambassador Breifne O’Neill, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the Council of Europe, said this afternoon that the election was a very significant achievement for Judge O’Leary personally.

'Very good news'

“It also reflects well on the country. It’s very good news,” he said.

The ambassador added that Judge O’Leary was well-known in Europe and very highly regarded.

She will take office on 1 November, when current Judge Robert Spano steps down. O’Leary is the first female president of the court.

Last November Judge O’Leary was elected as the ECtHR vice president. Her election will be welcomed by human-rights campaigners as a boost to the court as well as to Ireland’s international reputation.

UCD law graduate

UCD BCL graduate O’Leary was born in Dublin in 1968. She specialises in fundamental rights, EU employment law, the free movement of persons and services, and EU citizenship.

She received her Ph.D in European law in 1993 at the European University Institute in Florence.

From 1996, Judge O'Leary held the position of Référendaire (consultant) at the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg (CJEU), where she became ‘Chef de Cabinet’ from 2000 to 2004.