Female judge steps down from European role

The first ever female judge at the European Court of Justice, Ireland’s Fidelma Macken, stepped down today after five years in Luxembourg.

Judge Macken resigned before completing her term of office, and replacement Aindrias Ó Caoimh, an Irish High Court judge, was formally sworn in at a ceremony at the court.

Mrs Macken is returning to Ireland, where she was a High Court judge before joining the European Court, which appoints one judge from each member state to preside over cases involving disputes between the European Commission and EU governments over breaches of EU law.

Judge Macken’s replacement is the son of former Irish judge at the Court of Justice Andreas O’Keeffe, who served from 1974-1985.