Denis Pringle, the illustrious judge and lawyer, was born on May 16th, 1902, and brought up at No 2 Herbert Street, Dublin. He had his first brush with the law as a child when an over-zealous DMP man caught him dribbling a football up Mespil Road. He was duly summoned and fined five shillings.
In 1912 Denis went to Castle Park boarding school in Dalkey. He later repaid the debt he felt he owed to Castle Park by being involved in founding the old Cepian Society and serving long and actively on the board of the charity which took on the running of the school. He completed his schooling at Haileybury College, Hertfordshire.
Denis enjoyed going to Trinity College in 1920. As a senior freshman he won a foundation scholarship in Classics. He was auditor of the Classical Society, an active member of the College Historical Society, captain of the DU Golf Club and a member of the tennis team. Yet he found time to achieve the academic distinctions of Double Senior Moderatorship in Classics and Legal and Political Science, obtaining two gold medals which he later had made into brooches for his wife, Marjorie. He revived the DU Golfing Society in 1926 and served as its secretary for 35 years until 1953 and later as its captain and president.
In November, 1925, Denis was called to the Bar. He practised in towns on three circuits and greatly valued the camaraderie of circuit life. In 1944 he took silk, being called to the Inner Bar by Chief Justice Tim Sullivan. He was elected a bencher of the King's Inns in 1948, having already earned high regard as a chancery senior.
In 1969, at the age of 67, Denis was appointed a judge of the High Court. A strong sense of duty and the support of his wife made him accept the appointment, as he was eligible to receive only one-third of the full pension. The appointment wrought in the respected chancery lawyer a remarkable rejuvenation.
His memorable decisions include that in M. v. An Bord Uchtala [1975] I.R. 81. Section 12 of the Adoption Act, 1952 required that adoptive parents had to be of the same religion as the child and his/her parents; this had effectively prevented the parties in a "mixed marriage" from adopting, even (as in M. v. An Bord Uchtala) where the natural mother was a prospective adopter. Denis held that this was contrary to Article 44.2.3 of the Constitution which prohibits religious discrimination.
In McMahon v. Attorney General [1972] I.R. 69 he held that the existing system of recording votes at elections was invalid as it failed to comply with the constitutional requirement that "voting shall be by secret ballot" which he interpreted as meaning a ballot in which there is complete and inviolable secrecy.
In Duncan v. Gleeson [1969] I.R. 116 he decided that the offence of permitting intoxicating liquor to be consumed on licensed premises during prohibited hours was not established until the prosecution had discharged the onus of proving that the defendant licensee failed to take reasonable steps to prevent such consumption. His less abstemious friends derived mischievous pleasure from this particular ruling.
In 1974 the Minister for Justice appointed him chairman of the committee to advise on the introduction of a scheme of civil legal aid and advice in civil matters. The committee produced a comprehensive report which was the basis for the establishment of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme.
In September, 1974, Denis was appointed to the Special Criminal Court. In his two-and-a-half year stint he presided over a number of high-profile cases, including the trial in 1976 of the kidnappers of Tiede Herrema. On February 25th, 1976, the day before the trial, Denis received a letter bomb which was detected by a Garda and exploded by army experts.
The capital murder trial of Noel and Marie Murray was a difficult experience for Denis who was personally opposed to the death penalty. On July 16th, 1976, he was presiding at "the Donabate Bomb Factory Trial" when three bombs exploded in Green Street courthouse.
In January, 1977, he was appointed chairman of the newly established An Bord Pleanala for five years. By his fairness, steady judgment, efficient dispatch and integrity he helped to establish confidence in the new planning system.
Service to the community was a central part of Denis's life. He was chairman of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests, an unpaid body of experts who assist and enable charities. He served as a governor of the Shiel's Home and the Rotunda Hospital. He was a familiar figure and formidable golfer at Carrickmines Golf Club where he graced many an occasion as president of the club.
Denis married Marjorie McDowell on August 28th, 1929, and lived happily ever after. He took pride and interest in the activities of his daughters Ann (who predeceased him), and Jill and his four grandchildren. He also revelled in one grand-daughter representing Ireland in three sports.
On August 25th, 1998, five weeks after Marjorie's death and just before his 69th wedding anniversary, family and friends from the legal, golf and bridge-playing circles assembled in Kilternan churchyard to say au revoir to an exceptional citizen. Self-effacing commitment, courage in his work and loyalty to friends were mingled with deeply entrenched principles of hard work, a sense of fairness and a belief in the rule of law as the guiding lights by which Denis lived his life. Many give thanks with his family for the memory of a courteous, learned and steadfast gentleman.