Helenus Milmo
Encyclopedia
Sir Helenus Patrick Joseph Milmo (1908–1988) was a British
lawyer and High Court judge
. His career was notable for his role in the prosecution team at the Nuremberg Trials
.
Of Irish
descent, he was the grandson of Patrick Milmo, son of Darby and Kathleen Milmo of Lissaneena, County Sligo. Patrick Milmo emigrated to Monterrey, Mexico in 1857 and, known as Don Patricio, he became one of the wealthiest men in that country. Helenus Milmo attended Downside School
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. He went on to become a barrister
, becoming a QC
in 1961.
, Milmo was a member of MI5
. During this period, he acquired the nickname "Buster" which some sources claim was due to his success as an interrogator. He continued to be referred to by this name by colleagues in his subsequent legal career.
Having previously worked to Kim Philby
, Milmo was chosen to investigate Philby in 1951, when that agent's treachery became suspected but Milmo failed to elicit definitive answers. and concluded “that Philby is and has been for many years a Soviet agent. But the case remained unproven.” Milmo's peers were not entirely forgiving. "Some felt", wrote Peter Carter-Ruck
when Milmo died in 1988, "that he was perhaps too much of a gentleman for that daunting task".
Member of Parliament
Chuka Umunna
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
lawyer and High Court judge
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
. His career was notable for his role in the prosecution team at the Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
.
Of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
descent, he was the grandson of Patrick Milmo, son of Darby and Kathleen Milmo of Lissaneena, County Sligo. Patrick Milmo emigrated to Monterrey, Mexico in 1857 and, known as Don Patricio, he became one of the wealthiest men in that country. Helenus Milmo attended Downside School
Downside School
Downside School is a co-educational Catholic independent school for children aged 11 to 18, located in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, between Norton Radstock and Shepton Mallet in Somerset, south west England. It is attached to Downside Abbey...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He went on to become a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, becoming a QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1961.
Career
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Milmo was a member of MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
. During this period, he acquired the nickname "Buster" which some sources claim was due to his success as an interrogator. He continued to be referred to by this name by colleagues in his subsequent legal career.
Having previously worked to Kim Philby
Kim Philby
Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby was a high-ranking member of British intelligence who worked as a spy for and later defected to the Soviet Union...
, Milmo was chosen to investigate Philby in 1951, when that agent's treachery became suspected but Milmo failed to elicit definitive answers. and concluded “that Philby is and has been for many years a Soviet agent. But the case remained unproven.” Milmo's peers were not entirely forgiving. "Some felt", wrote Peter Carter-Ruck
Peter Carter-Ruck
Peter Frederick Carter-Ruck was an English lawyer, specialising in libel cases. The firm he founded, Carter-Ruck, is still practising.-Personal life:...
when Milmo died in 1988, "that he was perhaps too much of a gentleman for that daunting task".
Family
Milmo's sons are journalist Sean Milmo and barrister Patrick Milmo QC. Two of his grandchildren, Cahal and Daniel Milmo, are also journalists. Another grandchild is British politician and LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Chuka Umunna
Chuka Umunna
Chuka Harrison Umunna is a British Labour Party politician and employment lawyer. He has been the Member of Parliament for Streatham since 2010. After less than 18 months in Parliament, he was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Business Secretary by Labour Leader Ed Miliband on 7 October 2011...
.