He was regarded as a leading expert on Irish criminal law and presided over murder and rape trials since his appointment to the High Court in 1991.
[citation needed] Carney, as the "listing judge" of the criminal division of the High Court and the only judge permanently assigned to the Central Criminal Court, heard seven out of every 10 rape cases and over half of all murder trials in Ireland.
[citation needed] Additionally, in September 2008, he was appointed an adjunct professor of the Department of Law and Business at NUI Maynooth.
[citation needed] His views on many issues were controversial, and his insistence upon wigs being worn and titles used in public courtrooms that he was serving in resulted in his being rebuked by his superiors.
[6] Three days later Carney revoked the bail, and apologised and admitted he was wrong and insensitive to the victim.