The first ever female judge at the European Court of Justice, Ireland's Fidelma Macken, stepped down today after five years in Luxembourg.
Judge Macken resigned before completing her term of office, and replacement Mr Justice Aindrias Ó Caoimh, a High Court judge, was formally sworn in at a ceremony at the court.
He will serve for the remainder of her term of appointment, until October 6th 2009.
Judge Macken is returning home, where she was a High Court judge before joining the European Court, which appoints one judge from each member state to preside over cases involving disputes between the European Commission and EU governments over breaches of EU law.
Judge Macken's replacement is the son of former Irish judge at the Court of Justice, Mr Andreas O'Keeffe, who served from 1974-1985.