Harry Hill: Harry Hill, who died on July 3rd, 2006, served with distinction as Master of the High Court from 1984 to 2001. A native of Dublin, he was the second son of Harry Hill, an engineer, and his wife Ann Glennon. He attended the Christian Brothers school in Westland Row in Dublin, studied law in King's Inns, and became a senior counsel in 1978.
Many of his pupil barristers, or "devils", subsequently became judges, including Michael Moriarty, Kevin Feeney, John MacMenamin, Liam Devally and others. His most famous pupil was Peter Sutherland, later attorney general, EU commissioner, and chairman of BP and Goldman Sachs.
"Harry Hill never compromised his principles, or his opinions. He disliked above all posturing, cant and hypocrisy," Peter Sutherland said of his friend and mentor. "He sought to hide his light under a bushel, but what drove him fundamentally was personal relationships, sport and the Bar, probably in that order. Those who knew him know what a man of true quality he was."
At the Bar, Harry successfully prosecuted Malcolm MacArthur for the murder of nurse Bridie Gargan in the Phoenix Park in Dublin in 1982. His closing address in a defamation action against the BBC arising out of the Herrema kidnap was seen as a model of its kind by his peers.
His distinction as a lawyer and legal talent spotter was matched by his prowess at cricket. His mother loved sport and brought her children to watch rugby matches. When the family moved to Sandymount in Dublin in 1940, the house overlooked the YMCA sports ground, and the nearby Pembroke cricket club acquired some very keen new members.
A wicket-keeper is a pivotal player in a cricket team, ready to pounce on the tiniest slip by the batsman. Harry Hill was a big man, over six feet tall, and a formidable presence behind the stumps. From 1947 to 1977 Harry guarded the wicket at Pembroke, playing 421 matches, making 292 catches and 210 stumpings, making 502 dismissals in all. This record stood until last year when it was overtaken by Charlie Kavanagh, also of Pembroke cricket club. On 10 occasions he was named champion wicket-keeper in Leinster. He would have won international honours if his cricket career had not so closely overlapped with that of Ossie Colhoun. Harry was less successful at rugby - turning out for Lansdowne's "thirds" was about as far as that went. He retained his love of sporting events all his life.
In 1984 he became Master of the High Court, a post exercising limited judicial functions, although its holder is not a judge. The master is an officer of the court with jurisdiction over the discovery of documents prior to trial, and can enter judgments for liquidated sums, where the amount is not in dispute. In layman's terms, the process is one of clearing the ground so cases can be dealt with efficiently.
Harry Hill was a fair man and people liked him, but he could be a stickler for legal niceties. He did not hide his displeasure when young barristers appeared before him ill-prepared. Friends saw a parallel between his vigilance in court and behind the wicket. A colleague noted that a gruff exterior obscured the fact that he was a very good barrister, who when faced by someone with a problem would listen sympathetically and apply his considerable skills to finding a solution. When his former pupils came up against him later in court, he enjoyed the contest. "He gave us no quarter. We - of all people - had to get it right," one recalls.
Harry Hill retired in 2001 aged 70. He did not marry. He is survived by his brother, Jim Hill, and sister, Joan Hill.
William "Harry" Hill, born March 2nd, 1931; died July 3rd, 2006.