Dermot Gleeson named by State in defending Mr Justice Kelly case

Ireland’s former attorney general Dermot Gleeson is one of two senior counsel named by the State in the upcoming legal challenge to Mr Justice Peter Kelly’s appointment as president of the High Court.

The challenge, brought by businessman and New Land League activist Jerry Beades, will be strongly contested by the State, the Irish Examiner reports.

Mr Beades failed in a bid to block Mr Justice Kelly’s appointment to the key judicial office last month.

Mr Beades’ application for an interim High Court order prohibiting the appointment caused Mr Justice Kelly’s appointment at a ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin to be delayed by more than an hour.

Mr Justice Kelly was forced to wait before he could accept his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.

However, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan subsequently rejected Mr Beades’ bid and refused to grant a stay on the appointment pending an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Mr Beades is expected to take the case forward by submitting a statement of claim by Monday.