Three new judges appointed to the High Court

The Government has nominated senior counsels Marie Baker and Bronagh O'Hanlon and solicitor Max Barrett for appointment by the President to the High Court.

The vacancies arose following the recent death of Mr Justice Kevin Feeney in August and the elevation to the Supreme Court of Ms Justice Mary Laffoy and Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne in October.

The successful nominees were selected from a list of candidates put forward by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.

Marie Baker was born in 1954 and was educated at University College Cork and at King's Inn. She is a part time commissioner at the Law Reform Commission and has worked as a lecturer. Ms Baker has practiced primarily in the areas of family law, civil litigation, commercial law and conveyancing.

Bronagh O'Hanlon was born in 1951. A fluent Irish and French speaker, Ms O'Hanlon was educated at both Trinity College Dublin and at King's Inn. She is chair of the Family Lawyers Association of Ireland.

Max Barrett enrolled as a solicitor in 2001. Educated at Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and the University of Salford in the UK, he has worked in the legal field at Danske Bank Ireland, Rabobank Ireland, Bank of Ireland and, most recently, at SEB International Assurance.