Bernard Barton | |
---|---|
Judge of the High Court | |
In office 3 April 2014 – 10 March 2021 | |
Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
Personal details | |
Born | Bernard Joseph Barton 1951 (age 72–73) Limerick, Ireland |
Spouse | Anne Marie Barton |
Children | 4 |
Education | Glenstal Abbey School |
Alma mater | |
Bernard Joseph Barton (born 1951) [1] is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the High Court from 2014 to 2021.
Barton was educated in Glenstal Abbey School, University College Dublin, the Irish Management Institute and the King's Inns.
He became a barrister in 1977 and a senior counsel in 1997. [1] His practice as a barrister was focused on tort, contract and personal injury litigation. He also lectured in the King's Inns. [1]
He was appointed to the High Court in April 2014. [2] Barton has heard a variety of criminal and civil matters in the High Court. He has heard cases including proceedings involving extradition, [3] examinership, [4] judicial review, [5] employment law, [6] and personal injuries. [7]
In 2020, Barton became the judge in Charge of the Jury List of the High Court. [8] [9]
He has heard several notable defamation cases. In 2018 he was the trial judge for Paudie Coffey against the Kilkenny People, [10] Paddy McKillen against the Irish Daily Mail, [11] and Maurice McCabe against The Irish Times. [12] He presided over Denis O'Brien against The Sunday Business Post [13] and Gerald Kean against the Irish Daily Star in 2019. [14]
Barton issued an arrest warrant for a juror who failed to return to court during a defamation case in July 2019. [15]
He retired as a judge in March 2021. [16] [17]
He is married to Anne Marie with whom he has four children. [18] He is a member of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem and a former Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of Ireland. [19] Prior to his appointment to the High Court, he was a member of Fine Gael. [20]