Surprise resignation of Mrs Justice Heneghan leaves courts stretched

Mrs Justice Margaret Heneghan has unexpectedly resigned from the High Court benches just two years after her appointment.

The move is expected to put additional pressure on the superior courts, and it is not yet clear whether a successor will be appointed before the Judicial Appointments Bill is passed.

Mrs Justice Heneghan, 58, will only qualify for about a quarter of the judicial pension as she has not served on the bench for 20 years.

According to The Irish Times, the senior judge sent a resignation letter to the Department of the Taoiseach during the summer recess, who forwarded it to the President as per section 6 of the Courts Act 1961.

It said she would resign on 2 October, first day of the new legal year.