Paul Anthony McDermott

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan led tributes on Twitter, writing that he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of “a very talented barrister, popular lecturer and entertaining newspaper columnist”.

Mr McDermott, a leading barrister, lecturer at UCD Sutherland School of Law and the Law Society of Ireland, and author of a number of highly-regarded textbooks, called to the Bar in 1996 and became a Senior Counsel in 2015.

In a statement this morning, Micheál P. O’Higgins SC, chairman of the Council of The Bar of Ireland, said: “On behalf of the Council of The Bar of Ireland, and all our colleagues in the Law Library, I offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Paul Anthony McDermott SC whose untimely passing has been announced this morning.

“Paul Anthony was a skilled and knowledgeable advocate who represented his many clients with distinction. A high level scholar, he was also a terrific advocate with an unrivalled ability to persuade.

“Paul was immensely generous in sharing his legal expertise, not only with colleagues seeking assistance, but also through his lecturing and media work. He was a gifted teacher of the law in UCD who was hugely popular with his students. His ability to explain complex legal subjects and distil them for better public understanding was unparalleled.”

Mr O’Higgins added: “Paul will be greatly missed by his many friends here. I would like to extend our sympathies to Paul Anthony’s wife Annick, his children Harry and Andrew, his mother Margaret, his brother James and all of his wider family.”

Ken Murphy, director general of the Law Society, added: “Paul Anthony was an evidence teacher in the Society’s Law School and, for a great many years, one of the main external legal advisors to the Society on regulatory legal cases before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the High Court.

“We held him and his advice in the highest regard. He was one of the legal profession’s great communicators. We also appreciated his wit and sense of humour. This was exemplified in the whimsy of his Sunday Times columns. It made him such a special pleasure to deal with at all times.

“Our deepest sympathy is extended to his family and many friends.”

Students at UCD also paid tribute to Mr McDermott in a statement issued through UCD Law Society, which said: “A wonderful lecturer, Paul Anthony strived to instil in all his students, above all else, a genuine love and enthusiasm for law and the Irish legal system. His absence leaves UCD and the Irish legal system a lesser place. We shall not see his like again.”