The President of the Circuit Court, Mr Justice Frank Spain, has died in St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, after a short illness. He was 54. He was appointed President of the Circuit Court in June 1991, succeeding Mr Justice Peter O'Malley, who retired.
Born in 1943, he was educated at UCD and King's Inns. He was called to the Bar in 1968 and practised in Dublin and on the Eastern Circuit. He dealt mainly with insurance and personal injury cases. He was called to the Inner Bar in October 1980.
He was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court in August 1987, after some years in the Family Court.
In 1993 he was appointed a member of the United Nations administrative tribunal for a three-year term. The tribunal adjudicates on complaints lodged against the UN by any of its officials.
His hobbies were horse racing, Irish art, reading and films. He was a keen racegoer and was well known in racing circles.
Unmarried, Mr Justice Spain is survived by a brother and a sister.