Seán Ryan (Irish judge)
Encyclopedia
Seán Ryan is a judge of the Irish High Court.
As a barrister, he was Senior Counsel
to the inquiry into abuse in the Catholic diocese of Ferns (the Ferns Report), and was chairman of the Compensation Advisory Committee that prepared guidelines on compensation to be paid to abuse survivors at the Residential Institutions Redress Board.
In September 2003 Seán Ryan was selected to head the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
following the controversial resignation of the previous chair, Justice Mary Laffoy
, who claimed her work had been systematically obstructed by the Department of Education. The government appointed him a High Court Judge, without seeking a recommendation from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, "to guarantee that the integrity and independence of the chairperson will be maintained."
Justice Seán Ryan published the Commission's public report on 20 May 2009 and it was immediately hailed as "a work of incalculable value to this country" and praised for its "meticulous gathering of evidence", though "Justice has not been done as many of the abusers will never face the rigours of the law."
As a barrister, he was Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
to the inquiry into abuse in the Catholic diocese of Ferns (the Ferns Report), and was chairman of the Compensation Advisory Committee that prepared guidelines on compensation to be paid to abuse survivors at the Residential Institutions Redress Board.
In September 2003 Seán Ryan was selected to head the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is one of a range of measures introduced by the Irish Government to investigate the extent and effects of abuse on children from 1936 onwards. It is commonly known in Ireland as the Ryan Commission , after its chair, Justice Seán Ryan...
following the controversial resignation of the previous chair, Justice Mary Laffoy
Mary Laffoy
-Career:She is most notable for presiding over the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, known as the "Laffoy Commission", an inquiry into child abuse, before causing controversy by resigning as its chair....
, who claimed her work had been systematically obstructed by the Department of Education. The government appointed him a High Court Judge, without seeking a recommendation from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, "to guarantee that the integrity and independence of the chairperson will be maintained."
Justice Seán Ryan published the Commission's public report on 20 May 2009 and it was immediately hailed as "a work of incalculable value to this country" and praised for its "meticulous gathering of evidence", though "Justice has not been done as many of the abusers will never face the rigours of the law."