Whelan appointed to Court of Criminal Appeal despite objections

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The former Attorney General, Máire Whelan has been appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Despite objections to the appointment, it went ahead at a ceremony at Aras an Uachtaráin this morning.

 

In a ceremony that barely lasted 90 seconds, Márie Whelan became a judge of the court of criminal appeal.

The appointment took place alongside two others to the High Court – Judges Eileen Creedon and Charles Meenan.

Mrs Justice Whelan’s warrant of appointment was signed by President Michael D Higgins and countersigned by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Up until the moment of the appointment Fianna Fáil insisted her nomination to the role was flawed and breached the confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael.

The party’s Dara Calleary says they’ll be demanding answers from Government when the Dáil returns tomorrow.

Questions are also likely to be raised by the Independent Alliance at tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting – even though they were in the room last week when the decision was made.

The presence of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at this morning’s ceremony was a clear if confrontational message from him to Fianna Fáil – that he stands over the appointment and it’s up to the party how they want to react now.