Peter Smithwick

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Peter Smithwick (15 February 1937 – 8 March 2022) was an Irish judge who served as chairman and the sole member of the Smithwick Tribunal, a Tribunal of Inquiry into the events surrounding the killing of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).[1]

Smithwick was born on 15 February 1937.[2] Prior to his appointment as Chairman of the Smithwick Tribunal in 2005, he was President of the District Court for 17 years.[citation needed]

Smithwick was a director and the ninth generation of his family to be associated with Smithwick's, the famous beer brewed by his family firm. He appears to have been extremely well-liked and respected.[3][4] He was a Freeman of the city of Kilkenny.[5]

He grew up in Kilcreene Lodge, and was educated at Castleknock College and University College Dublin. His family was prominent as part of the landed gentry of County Kilkenny, Leinster, Ireland.[6]

Smithwick died on 8 March 2022, at the age of 85.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into suggestions that members of An Garda Siochana or other employees of the State colluded in the fatal shooting of RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and RUC Superintendent Robert Buchanan on 20 March 1989
  2. ^ Who's Who, What's what and where in Ireland. Geoffrey Chapman Publishers. 1973. p. 328. ISBN 9780225658873. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. ^ "A skilled gentleman with the common touch". Independent.ie. 8 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Judge Peter Smithwick, Inistoge (Part 1)". Irish Life and Lore.
  5. ^ "Member of Kilkenny brewing family Smithwick awarded OBE by the Queen". Irish Mirror. 31 December 2016.
  6. ^ Art Kavanagh (2004). "The Landed Gentry & Aristocracy of County Kilkenny". Kilkenny. Irish Family Names.
  7. ^ Carolan, Mary (8 March 2022). "Former District Court president Judge Peter Smithwick dies". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 March 2022.