Judge Patrick Mahony
Advisory Board Member
Retired Principal Family Court Judge
Judge Mahony was the Principal Family Court Judge from 1985 to 2004.
During his term of office he stressed the importance of good research
as a basis for formulating family policy and developing family law and
practice. Over recent years a great deal has been learnt about the dynamics
of the divorce process and its impact on children and in particular how
they are affected by ongoing high levels of conflict; research can point
to positive steps which Courts and professionals can take to assist mothers
and fathers to develop high quality parenting arrangements following separation.
These are examples of the numerous issues over a wide variety of family
situations where research can be of inestimable value.
Judge Mahony has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Association
of Family and Conciliation Courts, an American based organisation, attending
many of its conferences over the years. He has acted as a consultant to
the Lord Chancellor in England on proposed divorce law changes there and
he has developed close associations with Family Courts and their personnel
in a number of other countries.
He has an ongoing interest in seeing that the needs of families, including
their children, within our own national environment are properly recognised
and serviced.
|
