Trinity awards honorary degrees each year to recognise exceptional achievements by individuals in their respective fields. The other recipients were Linda Ervine, the driving force behind the Turas Irish language centre in Belfast; businessman and philanthropist Dermot Smurfit and renowned osteoporosis expert Moira O’Brien. The degrees were conferred at a ceremony conducted in Latin in the historic Public Theatre.  

Sir Donnell has been an influential graduate of Trinity College Dublin, where he graduated in 1973, having served as the editor of TCD Miscellany, captain of the University Challenge Team, and auditor of the College Historical Society (Hist) winning the Irish Times debating competition on three occasions.

He is one of the most notable judges in the history of the High Court and Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland. His judgments, over 300 in all, have been cited in more than 13 legal textbooks, including Halsbury’s Laws.

He has also served as president of the Irish Legal History Society, where his notable discourse on Irish legal history is about to be published. He is a distinguished figure in Irish and British legal history, with a remarkable career in the courts of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.

His influence extends beyond the courtroom most notably through his leadership on the global stage as chair of the UK Spoliation Advisory Panel (a role that involves addressing the restitution of Nazi-looted art) earned him an international reputation as a leader in legal and ethical integrity and fairness where complex historical injustices are at issue.

Sir Donnell’s work has been acclaimed by experts as a legal triumph and has brought him international recognition, reinforcing his status as an authority on provenance and restitution matters. In June 2023, the Government established an expert committee tasked with advising on the sensitive and significant issue of the restitution and repatriation of cultural objects and the appointment of Sir Donnell Deeny as chair of this committee was a testament to his vast expertise and distinguished career in the field of cultural restitution.

He is a former chairperson of Opera N Ireland and of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, High Sheriff of Belfast in 1983 and founding chair of the Ireland Professorship of Poetry.

Finally, his long-standing involvement with Trinity College culminated in his appointment as pro-chancellor of the University of Dublin in 2014 – a role from which he will retire at the end of this academic year. 

“His judgments have made history,” said the public orator Anna Chahoud of Sir Donnell, “but he is also an immensely influential figure in promoting ‘all things that are right’ in this island.” 

“In our times, we cannot imagine anyone who would provide better judgement, legal and ethical expertise than this superb champion of justice, formidable orator, and exquisite connoisseur.”