Éamon Leahy: The Bar is a clannish place, and its members rarely publicly criticise each other. But there was a different quality about the unanimity and sincerity of the warm tributes paid to one of its most prominent members, Éamon Leahy SC, in the wake of his sudden death on Thursday.
"I never remember such universal grief and shock in the legal community generally," said a judge, and this was evidenced by the reactions to his death from those who spoke to The Irish Times.
One very senior member of the judiciary described him as "a superb barrister", and the adjectives "brilliant", "outstanding" and "respected" were typical of those applied by all who spoke of him. However, his wit, conviviality, personal warmth and generosity were recalled equally by friends stretching across the political spectrum.
"You meet people in life who are ordinary, nice people," said one person who had worked with him in politics. "Then you meet people who are brilliant and are complete b-s. Eamon Leahy was brilliant and a very, very nice man."
He was one of the handful of criminal lawyers who dominate that branch of the profession. It is not one of the most lucrative areas of the law, and those who practise in it tend to do so out of commitment and interest in the impact of crime on society. This was especially true of Eamon Leahy, who, through his involvement with Fianna Fáil and his close friendship with John O'Donoghue, had a major input into criminal justice policy.
Although he began his career working as a defence lawyer, he was best known as a prosecutor. He served his apprenticeship as a devil with Denis McCullough, and also worked at the outset of his career with the late Greg Murphy, who died just under a year ago.
He acted for the State in the prosecution of Paul Ward for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, and in opposing the appeal of John Gilligan against his conviction on drug charges earlier this month. Earlier this week, he appeared for the State prosecution in the case of Kealen Herron (21), who pleaded guilty to the brutal murder of 69-year-old nun, Sister Philomena Lyons, in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan in December 2001. He also represented the Baileys in the Flood tribunal.
But his influence on the law extended far beyond the outcome of court cases. He was an expert on DNA evidence, and broke new ground in getting it admitted as evidence in rape and murder trials. He was also an expert in extradition law.
Mr Leahy was a member of the Bar Council, and served as chairman of the Legal Aid Board. In that capacity he was influential in bringing about the reform of the legal aid scheme. He chaired the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal and was a member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal. He sat on the Long-Term Prisoner Release committee that advised the Minister for Justice on the release of long-term offenders eligible under the Good Friday agreement.
His input into the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) legislation will be an enduring monument. According to a close colleague, he was very preoccupied with the apparent impunity of the leaders of organised crime. As opposition spokesman on justice, Mr O'Donoghue had similar concerns. According to a close colleague, Mr Leahy came up with a draft Bill, and discussed it with Mr O'Donoghue, who brought forward the proposals from the opposition benches that were accepted by the Government. His contributions to Mr O'Donoghue's political interventions were sometimes less serious, reflecting his great sense of fun. "He and O'Donoghue would often meet in the Stephen's Green Club over a bottle of good wine and laugh uproariously over the attacks they planned on Fianna Fáil's enemies," said a journalist friend. Éamon Leahy is credited with contributing to many of the politician's wittiest lines in his sometimes withering speeches as the party's spokesman on justice while in opposition.
"Although he was at the top of his profession, I never heard him weighed down by it," said this journalist. "He was such good company, and if there was an occasion for lunch or dinner it was always a day out."
He was also known for his hospitality. "He was a passionate cook, and a superb cook," said a friend from the world of politics. "He would keep the whole place entertained while cooking a wonderful meal. Law and politics were his passions."
These were united in his personal life, where he was unofficial adviser and most enthusiastic supporter to his wife, Mary Hanafin. They were a partnership as well as a devoted couple, and in his public tribute at the tribunal into allegations against certain gardaí in Donegal, its chairman, Mr Justice Morris, said that friends often remarked on how devoted they clearly were to each other. They enjoyed taking a break from their very full and busy lives in long summer holidays alone in distant locations. They were due to go to Italy for a month in August.
He was born in Inchicore in 1957, the middle son of an insurance loss adjuster, also called Eamon. His mother, Nell, died some years ago. Both parents were from Cork.
The family moved to Portmarnock when Eamon was in his teens. He attended Belvedere College, where he was active in its drama and debating activities, and also developed a passion for rugby. He also loved soccer and hurling, often watching Manchester United and the Cork hurling team with his father. He did some sailing, and had expressed a wish to do more. He attended UCD from 1975 to 1978, and was called to the Bar in 1979, becoming a senior counsel in 1997. He was at the height of his considerable powers, spoken of as a future judge or Attorney General, when he died.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Hanafin, his father, Éamon Leahy, and his brothers Tom and Feargal.