[1][2][3] She is a granddaughter of Kevin O'Higgins, the Minister for Justice who was assassinated in 1927.

[9] She was Director and Chair of the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) from 1985 to 2012.

[9] During her time as chairperson, the organisation campaigned for the introduction of civil legal aid.

[4] She was nominated to the Supreme Court in July 2015[13] and was appointed by the President of Ireland on 1 October 2015.

[14] She made the Declaration required by the Constitution of a Justice of the Supreme Court on 6 October 2015.