Mr Justice John Murray

Mr Justice Murray twice served as attorney general in the 1980s and spent a combined total of 24 years on the benches of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the Supreme Court.

He was chief justice from 2004 to 2011, during which time he clashed with the government over the 2011 constitutional referendum on judicial salaries. He spent four more years on the Supreme Court before his retirement in 2015.

The Courts Service said a special sitting of the Supreme Court has been scheduled for 2pm today to pay tribute to Mr Justice Murray.

In a statement last night, justice minister Simon Harris said: “I have learned with great regret of the death of former chief justice John Murray and wish to express my deepest condolences to his wife Gabrielle, daughter Caitriona, son Brian, his grandchildren and wider family.

“A native of Limerick and a resident of Greystones, Judge Murray was a most distinguished jurist who served twice as attorney general, and for a remarkable 24 years as a judge, including on the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, as a judge of the Supreme Court, and as chief justice of Ireland from 2004 to 2011.

“He was rightly proud of the institutions of our State, and took pride in his own service in one of its great institutions, the Supreme Court.

“He will be very much missed by his many friends and of course by his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”