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Carndonagh man appointed to High Court 27.10.11

Tributes flow for Mr Justice Michael White

by Linda McGrory

TRIBUTES and warm wishes have flowed following the appointment of Carndonagh man, Michael White, as a judge of the High Court.
Members of Mr Justice White's family including his solicitor brother, Philip, travelled from Inishowen to Dublin for yesterday's swearing in ceremony.
A Circuit Court judge for the last 15 years, Mr White (58) was sworn in as a High Court judge along with Kevin Cross SC.
Their appointments fill the vacancies left by the retirements of Mr Justice Bryan McMahon and the late Mr Justice Vivian Lavan. Michael White is believed to be the first native of Donegal to sit on the High Court.
Philip White said he and his 92 year old mother Phyllis had received "many warm wishes" from people in Carndonagh, the wider Inishowen peninsula and further afield.
"Michael is humbled by the support and congratulations he has received from all quarters since the announcement," said Philip.
The son of prominent Inishowen solicitor, the late Michael D. White, Michael's early education was at St Patrick’s Boys' National School, Carndonagh Boys Secondary School and the Franciscan College, Gormanstown. He graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in law in 1973 and qualified as a solicitor in 1975.
He took up practice first with his father in Carndonagh and later in Dublin.
After a successful career in private practice he was, in 1996, among the first solicitor appointments to the Circuit Court.
He has presided over a number of high-profile cases including the 'Annabel's' trial in Dublin.
A keen hill-walker, he was a Worker's Party activist who ran in three general elections in the 1980s.
He is married to Dr Maud McKee, a native of Portballintrae Co Antrim. The couple have four sons, John, Brendan, Patrick and Aidan, and live in Dublin.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Philip said it was a "proud day, tinged with a bit sadness" for the White family.
"My father didn't live to see Michael's appointment to either the Circuit Court or High Court. While our older sisters, Maureen and Helen, were present for his Circuit Court appointment in 1996, both have since passed away," he said.
President Mary McAleese officially appointed Judges Michael White and Kevin Cross to the High Court on Monday.
They were the last judges to be appointed by Ms McAleese as her term in office draws to a close.

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