A man of many enthusiasms, who combined brilliance with modesty and loyalty to his family and friends; such a man was Mr Justice Pringle, mourners were told at his funeral yesterday.
"Many of those who worked with him or lived in his family will have found in his life a template for their own existence," the Rev Fred Appelbe told the congregation at Kilternan Parish Church in Co Dublin.
Mr Justice Pringle died on Saturday at the age of 96. A High Court judge from 1969, he was best known for his presidency of the Special Criminal Court during the period 1974-76.
Former colleagues from the Bar and the courts were prominent among the mourners at his funeral.
Mr Appelbe, from Rathmichael Parish Church, said Mr Justice Pringle and his wife, Marjorie McDowell, who died earlier this year, formed a "complete picture". He described the deceased as a man of enormous enthusiasm for life in general, who combined this with warmth for his family. "He always sought the best for them in all circumstances, yet was also absolutely dedicated to his work."
In the Special Criminal Court Mr Justice Pringle presided over a series of major trials, including the Tiede Herrema kidnapping, the Rose Dugdale case and the murders of Senator Billy Fox and Garda Michael Reynolds.
In 1974 he handed down a landmark judgment in which he ruled a section of the Adoption Act unconstitutional. Two years later, the then Fine Gael-Labour coalition appointed him the first chairman of An Bord Pleanala, set up to remove planning appeals from political control.
In his address Mr Appelbe paid tribute to Mr Justice Pringle's "brilliance yet modesty, his loyalty and his appreciation of family, friends and colleagues who were near and dear to him".
He led prayers for Mr Justice Pringle's surviving daughter, Mrs Jill Hipwell, and his grandchildren, Brian, Caroline, Ruth, Claire and Rebecca, and their children. His other daughter, Ann, died some time ago.
A large legal contingent attending the funeral was led by the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Hamilton. From the Supreme Court, Mrs Justice Denham, Mr Justice O'Flaherty and Mr Justice Murphy were present. The retired Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Henchy, also attended.
High Court judges present included Mr Justice Budd, Mr Justice Moriarty, Mr Justice O'Higgins and Mrs Justice McGuinness, who was accompanied by her husband, the broadcaster Prionsias Mac Aonghusa.
Mr Nial Fennelly, an Advocate General at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, was also present.
Senator Shane Ross attended, as did his father, Mr John Ross, who also represented Trinity College in the Seanad.
Others present included Judge Liam Devally and Judge Thomas Ballagh of the Dublin Circuit Court and the president of the District Court, Mr Justice Smithwick.
