Chief Justice receives UCD honorary doctorate
Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell has been awarded a UCD honorary doctorate for his outstanding contributions to law, public service, and the UCD community.
Known for his speciality in constitutional law, and frequent appearances on behalf of the State while a barrister, the UCD’s Sutherland School of Law graduate rose to the highest judicial office in Ireland when he was appointed Chief Justice in 2021 after more than a decade on the Supreme Court.
His distinguished career had established him as a legal thinker of national and international standing, and one of the foremost jurists of his generation, a UCD spokeswoman said.
Made a Bencher of the King’s Inns in 2009, the following year the Belfast native was appointed directly to the Supreme Court from the Bar, a rare and unusual honour.
Published widely
Beyond the courtroom, he has published widely on constitutional and legal history, served on the Law Reform Commission, and held roles with Our Lady’s Hospice and the Irish Legal History Society.
Throughout his career, Mr Justice O’Donnell has maintained strong ties with UCD, delivering lectures, contributing to research, and supporting student initiatives such as the Law Review, the Legal Service and the Law Society.
His father, the late Turlough O’Donnell, served as a High Court judge in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, presiding over some of the most high-profile trials of the era – including that of the Shankill Butchers.
His official citation was read by UCD Associate Professor Niamh Howlin, UCD Sutherland School of Law.
The small picture is of Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell with Prof Orla Feely of UCD.