Dr Roderick Murphy SC, who has been nominated for appointment to the High Court, came to public prominence in 1998 with the publication of his report on allegations of sex abuse in Irish swimming. The Murphy report was described by Dr Gary O'Toole, the former Olympic swimmer, as a "dossier of shameful abuse of power in Irish swimming over 30 years".
Dr Murphy (56) has been an enthusiastic swimmer; his wife, Patricia, and several of his seven children, two boys and five girls, are all engaged in the sport. He is a former member of the committee of one of the largest swimming clubs in the State, Glenalbyn in Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
Dr Murphy's appointment to the inquiry led to sharp Dail exchanges as Opposition TDs questioned his suitability to investigate a sport in which he was actively involved at the time.
He acknowledged that he knew some of the people in the controversy, adding: "I hope they will come to me and, hopefully, we will be able to agree terms of reference." He quickly set about establishing his independence, and got on efficiently with the task of producing the 165-page report.
Dr Murphy is described by colleagues as well-liked and respected.
"He's a very nice man. Calm, quiet, kind of self-effacing. In his temperament and personality he is everything a judge should be. He is careful and understated in his way of presenting cases," said one legal source.
One colleague said he would be seen as conservative on social issues, but very humanitarian.
Born in Dublin, Dr Murphy graduated from UCD with an economics degree in 1965 and received a law degree from the King's Inn in 1971. He was called to the Bar the same year and became a senior counsel in 1991. He holds a diploma in international arbitration and is a fellow and former chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Dr Murphy specialised in complex legal areas such as income tax, commercial law, arbitration and property law.
He speaks fluent French and Spanish and has a PhD in economics and law from the University of Navarra in Spain.