Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket

Sir Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket (c.1407–1471) was a leading Irish lawyer and judge of the fifteenth century who held office as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.

Thomas was born about 1407 in County Meath, third of the seven sons of Sir Christopher Plunket, who married Janet Cusack in 1403, the heiress of Killeen Castle, Dunsany.

[3] During the Wars of the Roses Thomas, like most of the Anglo-Irish gentry of the Pale, was a supporter of the would-be King Richard of York; he accompanied him to England in 1460 and was knighted.

[2] After the triumph of York's son, King Edward IV in 1461, Plunket was appointed Lord Chief Justice, but was forced to contest the position with his predecessor, Sir Nicholas Barnewall.

There are several romantic stories about the marriage, and a celebrated ballad, "The Song of Mary Cruys", describes how Thomas as a young barrister in London restored Marion, then a penniless refugee in England, to her rightful inheritance.

Marian's father was probably a descendant of the wealthy politician and landowner Sir John Cruys of Thorncastle (died 1407), who included Rathmore among his many estates.