Richard Pyne

His father was probably the Nicholas Pyne who was a key witness for the prosecution at the trial of Florence Newton for witchcraft held at Youghal in 1661.

During the serious disturbances in Munster in 1598, he saved himself by a headlong flight back to England, but was later accused of secretly helping the Irish rebels, although there is no evidence for this.

[1] Although he was willing to accept office under the Roman Catholic King James II, he was himself a strong Protestant and a Whig in politics, and was later a supporter of the Revolution of 1688.

[6] In 1688 he quarrelled sharply with Justin MacCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel, one of James II's most influential Irish generals, but later denied that he had fought a duel with him.

The decision to appoint Pyne instead may reflect Osborne's growing unpopularity with his political superiors, who removed him from office the following year for gross insubordination.

[9] As Chief Justice he clashed with the powerful cleric William King, Bishop of Derry and future Archbishop of Dublin, who accused him of interfering in Church affairs.

[1] In 1703 he bought Blarney Castle, but sold it a few months later, apparently on the basis of a rumour (unfounded as it turned out) that the dispossessed owners, the MacCarthys, were about to recover it.

[14] In 1698, the Irish-born author and publisher John Dunton who was on a visit to Dublin, gave a favourable picture of most of the Irish judiciary, including Pyne, describing them as "men whose reputation is such that no one complains of them".