Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan is described as a man who avoids publicity. He is also described as "straight as an arrow" and clearly this quality has eclipsed his reluctance to be thrust into the public gaze.
He was appointed to the High Court in the dying days of the last Government, on April 18th, 1997, following the appointment of Mr Justice Barron to the Supreme Court.
His appointment was seen as particularly "non-political", as he was considered politically close to the Progressive Democrats rather than any of the then coalition parties, at the time of his appointment.
He was educated at Crescent College, Limerick, and Glenstal Abbey, and then in UCC and UCD, before studying for the Bar at the King's Inns. He was called to the Bar in 1969 and became a senior counsel in 1982. As a barrister he was an expert in planning, administrative and company law.
He is the author of one book and co-author of two others on Irish planning law.
His remarks have come as no surprise to those who have worked with him or appeared before him. "He is very bright, very able, a first-class judge," one senior counsel said of him yesterday. "He would be very straight."