The Kerry native was a graduate of University College Dublin and was called to the Bar in 1959. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Patrick Hillery in 1990 at the age of 52, one of a few to join directly from practice at the Bar.

In 1992 he was one of five judges to preside over the seminal X case which established the right to an abortion where there was a “real and substantial risk to the life of the mother”, including a real and substantial risk of suicide. Mr O’Flaherty resigned from the Supreme Court in 1999.

Mr O’Flaherty is pre-deceased by his wife Kathleen and survived by his children Hugh, Catherine, Rory, and Bríd.

He will be reposing in the Daly Funeral Home, Cahirciveen on this Thursday from 6pm until 8pm to arrive in Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church of the Holy Cross at 8.30pm.

Requiem mass will be held on Friday morning at 10am with the funeral proceeding to The Star of the Sea Church, Sandymount Dublin to arrive at 7pm. Mass on Saturday morning will be held at 10am with the burial afterwards in Kilternan Cemetery.