Anthony J. Hederman, class '40
1921-2014
We have lost a loyal friend of the College with the passing January 10th of The Hon. Mr. Justice Anthony J. Hederman, class '40.
The death has occurred of The Hon. Mr. Justice Anthony J. HEDERMAN
Naas, Kildare / Dublin
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HEDERMAN, The Hon. Mr. Justice Anthony J. (Naas and Dublin) 10th January 2014 (peacefully) after a short illness. He will be very sadly missed by his loving sister Miriam, brother-in-law Bill, his nephews and nieces Donat, Aoife, Eilis, Dervilla and Murrough, extended family and friends. Removal on Monday afternoon to St. Vincent's Castleknock College Chapel arriving for 6pm. Requiem Mass on Tuesday morning at 11am, followed by burial in Castleknock College Cemetery. |
Date Published: Saturday 11th January 2014
Date of Death: Friday 10th January 2014
Tony was born in 1921 in Naas and attended the College between the years 1933-1940, alongside his late brother, Fr. William, CM. In his time with us, Tony excelled in academics, the arts and sport. A brilliant career in law followed. He qualified as a barrister in 1944 and practised for many years, being called to the Inner Bar in 1965. He was Attorney General during the Fianna Fail government, 1977-81. In 1981 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court and served as a judge of that court until his retirement in 1993. He was President of the Law Reform Commission from 1992 to 1998, and from 1998 to 2001 chaired the Committee to Review the Offences against the State Acts, 1939-98.
These achievements aside, we remember him best as a great friend of the Vincentian community, Castleknock College and the Union. Indeed he is the only past man to serve two separate terms as President of the Union, in 1987 and again in 1996 for the centenary year celebrations.
We are honoured that he chose his alma mater as his final resting place.
Requiescat in Pace.
FORMER Supreme Court Judge Anthony Hederman was described as "a quiet hero and a complete man" at his funeral.
Paying tribute to the 92-year old judge, who died last Friday after a short illness, former Chief Justice John Murray hailed him as someone who had "a passionate and deep love of his country".
Many members of the legal world attended the requiem Mass at St Vincent's Castleknock College chapel in Dublin yesterday -- the alma mater of Mr Hederman. The chief mourner was his sister Miriam, brother-in-law Bill and nieces and nephew Donat, Aoife, Eilis, Dervilla and Murrough; the large congregation included Chief Justice Susan Denham, Supreme Court Justices Adrian Hardiman, Frank Clarke, Mary Laffoy, Elizabeth Dunne and John McMenamin.
President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide-de-camp Comdt James Galvin.
The Mass was celebrated by Father Peter Slevin, President of Castleknock College, and the homily was delivered by Judge Hederman's long-standing friend, Father Brian D'Arcy. In his eulogy, Fr Darcy spoke of the deep faith of Mr Justice Hederman and how he had been "adamant that law should be a vocation and not just a profession".
The Naas-born judge was called to the Bar in 1944 and served as Attorney General from 1977 to 1981, before being appointed to the Supreme Court where he served until 1993.
He was the sole dissenter in the landmark 1992 X-Case judgment -- a decision which Fr D'Arcy said "was one of the most difficult parts of his life".
After the Mass, the funeral cortege walked up the hill to a small graveyard on the grounds. Traditionally, it is the resting-place only for priests attached to Castleknock College, but in deference to Mr Justice Hederman's devotion to his old school and to his faith, he was buried within its walls.