Patrick Real

Patrick Real (17 March 1846 – 10 June 1928) was a Supreme Court judge in Queensland, a colony and later a state of Australia.

Early life

Real was born in Pallas Green, County Limerick, Ireland, the youngest and sixth child of James Real, tenant farmer, and his wife Ellen, née Donegan. In 1903 when Pope Cooper was appointed Chief Justice, Real was appointed Senior Puisne Judge. The parliament undermined his security of tenure by passing the Judges Retirement Act 1921 (Qld), the effect of which was that immediately upon proclamation three out of six judges, Chief Justice Cooper and Justices Real and Chubb were compulsorily retired, which permitted the government to appoint new judges.

Family Real married Anne Catharine Thynne, sister of Andrew Joseph Thynne, in January 1879, at Ipswich. He and Anne had four children, three daughters, and a son: Ellen, Mary Josephine, Kathleen, and Edward Thynne. The two eldest children, however, did not survive infancy, dying aged 10 months, and 4 months, respectively. His son was Edward Thynne Real, KC, leader of the Queensland bar.

Later life After his retirement as a judge, aged 76, Real practised as a consulting barrister, without great success.

Legacy His home Eulalia in Norman Park was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.