George Shurley

Sir George Shurley (1569–1647) was an English-born judge who held the office of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.

Uniquely among the holders of that office, he ranked as junior in precedence to the Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.

[4] His account books give some interesting details of the Inns' considerable expenditure in those years, including the building of a new parlour and cellar, and the fitting of new windows in the main hall.

[6] Apart from the issue of precedence, he could reasonably have complained at any honour being shown to Sarsfield, a judge who was already notorious for the corruption which led to his eventual removal from the Bench, and who died in disgrace.

[6] Shurley is also said to have complained of being forced to go on assize in Ulster (possibly because of the appalling condition of the roads), although he was happy to take the Munster circuit, and appears to have been diligent enough in the exercise of his duties.

In the disturbed period following the Irish Rebellion of 1641, he returned to England for a time and lived in Chester;[7] but he owned a substantial mansion, Young's Castle in Dublin (no trace of which remains now), together with lands in County Carlow, and wished to spend his last years in Ireland.

Elrington Ball states that Shurley was not a judge of outstanding ability, but that he was impartial and conscientious, and noted for his refusal to engage in political controversy.