Catholic World News News Feature

Ireland's First Jewish Judge Appointed March 25, 1997

DUBLIN (CWN) - Ireland's first Jewish judge was appointed to the Supreme Court this week, becoming the first non-Christian to serve in that post.

Justice Henry Barron, 68, joins seven other Irish Supreme Court judges. All the others are Catholic men except Justice Susan Denham. At 52, she's the youngest member of the Court and the only Protestant.

Barron previously served 15 years as a High Court judge. Said to be an intellectual liberal, the judge has a background in commercial law. He recently granted Ireland's first divorce to an elderly American businessman who married his long-time partner and died shortly afterwards.