The award of doctor of philosophy (honoris causa) has previously been awarded to the likes of Louis le Brocquy, Brian O’Driscoll, President Mary Robinson, Former Chief Justice Susan Denham, Jim Gavin, Vivien Lusted and Annette Kennedy and, most recently, community leader Pat Kavanagh.

Delivering the citation at yesterday’s event, Dr Tom Hickey, associate professor of DCU School of Law and Government, paid tribute to the judge’s “process-based, and legitimacy-oriented judicial philosophy”.

“It is a philosophy informed by lawyerly virtues such as attention to legal and factual detail; fidelity, but not mindless devotion, to legal and constitutional text; and institutional, as well as personal intellectual, humility – manifested, for example, by an aversion to the use of moral rhetoric in judgments handed down by courts of law,” he said. 

“No judge has contributed more to the development and refinement of foundational constitutional doctrine.”

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Justice O’Donnell said: “I am conscious that this honour is not just personal, but also reflects the fact that in 2024 we are celebrating 100 years of an independent Irish legal system which can be dated back to the enactment of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. 

“The process of commemorating that event, and celebrating this centenary, has been a valuable and instructive one.

“In particular, connecting again with the spirit of that turbulent and formative period in our country’s history helps us to recognise something that was apparent then, and has come increasingly into focus now: that is that a functioning legal system is an essential element in a rights-based democracy with a separation of powers enforced by the judicial branch.

“That operates not simply at the elevated constitutional level, but also at the most basic level, that the administration of justice in ordinary courts day in day out is a vital component of a modern rights based democracy. And that is important for everyone, not just lawyers.”

Commenting, Professor Daire Keogh, president of Dublin City University, said: “In an exceptional career, Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell has made an extraordinary contribution to Irish constitutional law and to our country’s independent courts system, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary.

“His intellect, integrity and dedication to constitutional principles has been critically important for the development and refinement of the fundamental law of our republic.”