20 Facts About Thomas Molony

Thomas Molony was the only judge to hold the position of Lord Chief Justice of Southern Ireland although he did not hold that position under that title.

Thomas Molony served as Solicitor-General for Ireland when he was appointed Attorney General for Ireland.

Later in 1913, Thomas Molony was made a judge of the High Court for Ireland and from 1915 sat as a judge of the Court of Appeal for Ireland.

Thomas Molony was appointed to several governmental inquiries, notably one on certain shootings including that of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington in the wake of the 1916 Irish Easter Rising.

Thomas Molony was appointed the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1918 under Letters Patent from the King under the Great Seal of Ireland.

Thomas Molony sought the retention of the title of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, at the very least for as long as he still held that post personally.

Thomas Molony countered this by pointing to one such anomaly that was universally accepted:.

Thomas Molony corresponded with a number of other prominent members of the British administration including Edward Shortt, the Home Secretary.

Thomas Molony argued that the withdrawal of his title was "unconstitutional and unjust" and that his option to retire was no answer at a time when his "retirement would certainly be regarded as a triumph for the forces of disorder".

The exact provision in the Government of Ireland Act 1920 under which Thomas Molony personally retained his title was under Part III of the Seventh Schedule which provided that:.

Thomas Molony made an effective and dignified attempt to proceed with business as usual and uphold the laws of the land.

Thomas Molony was president of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland between 1920 and 1924.

In May 1924, together with most other members of the Irish judiciary associated with the ancien regime, Thomas Molony retired as the Irish government established its own court system under the Courts of Justice Act 1924.

Thomas Molony had an audience with the King on 14 July 1924 upon relinquishing his appointment as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.

Thomas Molony was created a Baronet, of the City of Dublin, in the 1925 New Year Honours.

Thomas Molony retired to England but was made Vice-Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin in 1931.

Thomas Molony died on 3 September 1949 and is buried in Gap Road Cemetery Wimbledon.

Thomas Molony's family consisted of his wife Pauline, only daughter of Mr Bernard Rispin, of Dublin, and three sons and three daughters.

Thomas Molony's eldest son, Hugh Francis Molony, born in 1900, was a graduate in engineering of Trinity College Dublin and succeeded his father to the baronetcy.

Thomas Molony's second son, Sir Joseph Molony, was a noted barrister.