Thomas Shortalls, or Shorthals (c.1370–1445) was an Irish municipal official and judge of the fifteenth century.
[1] He was probably born in Kilkenny city,[1] where the Shorthalls were a leading local family, but seems to have spent most of his adult life in Dublin.
Robert, like Thomas, seems to have been a Crown servant of some importance: in 1425 the Privy Council ordered that he be paid 100 shillings for his services in the "wars and treaties".
[5] At the time this office did not necessarily require legal qualifications, and Irish Barons of the Exchequer in the fifteenth century were often criticised for their lack of learning.
[1] He was a member of the Privy Council of Ireland and was present at an important Council meeting in August 1442 where very serious accusations were made against the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Richard Wogan, who was accordingly deemed to have vacated office, and was replaced by Sir Richard FitzEustace.