Adrian Hardiman

Adrian Hardiman (21 May 1951 – 7 March 2016) was an Irish judge who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court from 2000 to 2016.

Early life and education Adrian Hardiman was born on 21 May 1951, in Coolock, Dublin. and Auditor of the Literary and Historical Society (UCD)

Family Hardiman was married to Judge Yvonne Murphy, She has been chair of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby homes. Hugh, who was a personal assistant to Michael McDowell, when McDowell was Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; and stood (unsuccessfully) for Fianna Fáil in the local elections in Dún Laoghaire in 1985.

In a tribute following his death in 2016, President Michael D. Higgins said Justice Hardiman "was one of the great legal minds of his generation", who was "always committed to the ideals of public service". He was described as a "colossus of the legal world" by Chief Justice Susan Denham.

Politically, Hardiman supported the liberal side in Ireland's debates over abortion, being active in the "anti-amendment" campaign during the 1983 Abortion Referendum and later represented the Well Woman Centre in the early 1990s. After his death, he was described by Joan Burton as a liberal on social issues. But he could be an outspoken opponent of political correctness and a supporter of judicial restraint, such as when he rejected the Equality Authority's attempt to force Portmarnock Golf Club to accept women as full members.

Key judgments Hardiman wrote a number of important judgments since joining the Court. He also presided (as does each Supreme Court judge on a rotating basis) over the Court of Criminal Appeal. The following is a selection of judgments delivered by Justice Hardiman, in reverse chronological order: 2007 O'Callaghan -v- Judge Mahon: dissent; holding that Tribunal of Inquiry should be prevented from further inquiring into the applicants; cites R -v- Lynch (1829) – the Doneraile Conspiracy case – in which by skilful cross-examination Daniel O'Connell secured acquittals on capital charges; concluded that the contrary approach "would represent a very marked coarsening of our standards of procedural fairness." Shortt -v- The Commissioner of An Garda Síochána: one of two judgments, in which the Court more than doubled (€1.9m to €4.7m) the damages granted to a man wrongfully imprisoned for over two years after two members of the Garda Síochána concocted evidence against him P.H. -v- D.P.P. 2006 D.P.P. -v- Anthony Barnes: discusses and restates the criminal law of self-defence in the case of burglary McK. -v- Homan N -v- Health Service Executive: one of five judgments given by the Court; this case concerned the circumstances in which a parent may exercise the right provided for in Irish law to rescind initial consent to adoption. A. -v- The Governor of Arbour Hill Prison: one of five judgments; the case concerned a "collateral" challenge by a prisoner to the lawfulness of his detention following the judgment in C.C. -v- Ireland (see immediately below). C.C. -v- Ireland: striking down as unconstitutional part of the law on statutory rape, due to the absence in any circumstances of a defence of honest mistake as to age. 2005 O'Callaghan -v- The Hon. Mr. Justice Mahon 2003 Gough -v- Neary Lobe -v- Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform: one of seven judgments in a case concerning whether the State could deport the parents of Irish citizens who were still minors; the Court by a majority (5–2) dismissed the appeal and allowed the deportation of the family. 2002 Dunne -v- D.P.P.: one of a series of cases, beginning with Braddish v D.P.P., in which the Court considered the contours of the Garda Síochána's duty to seek out and preserve evidence relevant to a criminal trial. Ardagh -v-. Maguire: this case concerned the procedures to be applied by a parliamentary inquiry into an incident in which members of the Garda Síochána shot dead a civilian, John Carthy. 2001 DPP -v-. Davis: on causation, and the relationship which must be shown between the injuries caused by the defendant and the death of the victim.

Death Hardiman died on 7 March 2016 at the age of 64. He said: "The fates have robbed us of someone who simultaneously excelled in his many different personae as husband, father, grandfather, an original thinker, an advocate and, for so many who are here, simply that of a loyal friend."

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, US Ambassador Kevin O'Malley and Chief Justice Ms Justice Susan Denham all paid their respects. Ex-TDs Lucinda Creighton, Mary Harney, Des O'Malley and Pat Rabbitte were also among those who signed a book of condolence, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny represented by his aide-de-camp.

Upon his death, his colleague Justices of the Supreme Court released an extensive statement acknowledging Hardiman's contributions to the court system and to the country.