Tom O'Higgins

Tom O'Higgins
6th Chief Justice of Ireland
In office 17 October 1974 – 1 October 1985
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Erskine H. Childers
Preceded by	William FitzGerald
Succeeded by	Thomas Finlay
Judge of the European Court of Justice
In office 3 October 1985 – 8 March 1991
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	European Council
Judge of the Supreme Court
In office 14 May 1974 – 1 October 1985
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Erskine H. Childers
Judge of the High Court
In office 30 July 1973 – 14 May 1974
Nominated by	Government of Ireland
Appointed by	Erskine H. Childers
Deputy leader of Fine Gael
In office 20 April 1972 – 14 September 1977
Leader	Liam Cosgrave
Preceded by	New office
Succeeded by	Peter Barry
Minister for Health
In office 2 June 1954 – 20 March 1957
Taoiseach	John A. Costello
Preceded by	James Ryan
Succeeded by	Seán MacEntee
Teachta Dála
In office June 1969 – February 1973
Constituency	Dublin County South
In office February 1948 – June 1969
Constituency	Laois-Offaly
Personal details
Born	(1916-07-23)23 July 1916 Cork, Ireland
Died	25 February 2003(2003-02-25) (aged 86) Dublin, Ireland
Resting place	Shanganagh Cemetery, Shankill, Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Fine Gael
Spouse	Therese Keane ​ (m. 1940)​
Children	7
Parent	Thomas F. O'Higgins (father)
Relatives	Timothy Daniel Sullivan (great-grandfather) Tim Healy (grand-uncle-in-law) Kevin O'Higgins (uncle) Michael O'Higgins (brother) Iseult O'Malley (cousin) Chris O'Malley (cousin)
Education	St Mary's College, Dublin Clongowes Wood College
Alma mater	University College Dublin King's Inns

Thomas Francis O'Higgins (23 July 1916 – 25 February 2003) was an Irish Fine Gael politician, barrister and judge who served as Chief Justice of Ireland and a Judge of the Supreme Court from 1974 to 1985, a Judge of the European Court of Justice from 1985 to 1991, a Judge of the High Court from 1973 to 1974, Deputy leader of Fine Gael from 1972 to 1977 and Minister for Health from 1954 to 1957. He also served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1948 to 1969.^[1]

Part of a new generation of Fine Gael leaders who emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, O'Higgins worked alongside Declan Costello and Garret FitzGerald to liberalise the conservative Fine Gael.^[2][3] In the late 1960s, and early 1970s, O'Higgins twice contested the presidency of Ireland for his party; in his first attempt in 1966, he lost by 1% of the vote against incumbent President Éamon de Valera. In the aftermath, his personal image was greatly enhanced and he was catapulted into the position of deputy leader of Fine Gael. Despite being the initial favourite to win, O'Higgins lost the 1973 Irish presidential election to Erskine H. Childers.^[2]

In 1973, O'Higgins became a High Court judge and the following year was named Chief Justice of Ireland and a Supreme Court judge. Although a liberal politician, O'Higgins was considered by many a conservative judge, given his rulings on matters such as contraceptives and homosexuality. In 1985, O'Higgins became a member of the European Court of Justice following his nomination by Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and his government. He served on the court in Luxembourg until his retirement in 1991.^[2]