Currently a Circuit Court judge, he will also be elevated to the High Court “in light of the significance of the role”, justice minister Helen McEntee announced.

Provided that his appointment is agreed in the Dáil and Seanad, Judge MacCabe will succeed Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, who will return to the High Court when her term ends this weekend.

Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the chairperson of GSOC must be either a serving or retired judge.

Judge MacCabe was called to the Bar in 1984 and admitted to the Inner Bar in 1999. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2007. Prior to joining the Bar, he was a civil servant.

Mrs McEntee said: “The nomination of Judge Rory MacCabe follows an assessment process conducted by a selection committee established by the Chief Justice to identify suitable candidates to be appointed to the position of chairperson of GSOC.

“I am delighted to be able to nominate a person of Judge MacCabe’s experience and calibre to this important body. In light of the significance of the role of the chair of GSOC and the recent precedent, I have also received the approval of the government to nominate Judge MacCabe to the High Court.

“I will now arrange for the necessary resolutions to be moved in the Oireachtas recommending his appointment as chair of GSOC by the president.”

She added: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the outgoing chairperson, the Hon Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.

“Over the last six years, Ms Justice Ring has served with distinction as chair, providing strong and effective leadership to the organisation and has ensured that its reputation as an independent, impartial investigator of complaints against members of An Garda Síochána, has been enhanced.”