JUDGE Dominic Lynch, whose request to leave the Special Criminal Court was approved by the Cabinet on August 1st, was appointed to the court almost exactly 10 years ago.
Judge Lynch was appointed to the court on August 14th, 1986, by the Fine Gael Labour coalition government headed by Dr Garret FitzGerald.
Earlier, in May 1984, he had been sworn in as a judge of the Circuit Court by the then Chief Justice, Mr Justice O'Higgins. He remains a judge of that court.
In March 1980, Judge Lynch was called to the inner bar by Mr Justice O'Higgins, on the same day as the President, Mrs Robin son, (then a senator) and the former Attorney General, Mr Harry Whelehan.
Judge Lynch is married and has four children. A farmer's son, he comes from Killyfinia, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan. He was called to the bar in 1964. He is also a member of the Northern Ireland bar.
He was educated at the Christian Brothers School, Kells, Co Meath, University College, Dublin, and King's Inn, Belfast.
A senior barrister last night described Judge Lynch as a "respected and very satisfactory judge."
Judge Lynch first indicated to the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, on July 2nd of last year that he wished to be delisted from the Special Criminal Court.
A year later, in July of this year, he reiterated to the Minister his desire to be leave the court. The Minister agreed and the courts division of her Department was instructed to draft the relevant memorandum for the Government.
The delisting of the judge was agreed by the Cabinet on August 1st. The Government replaced Judge Lynch in the Special Criminal Court with Judge Kevin Haugh. Judge Haugh had been sworn in to the Circuit Court just one week earlier.