The Government has approved the appointment of Mr Michael Campion as military judge for the Defence Forces.

Mr Campion was educated at St Benildus College Dublin, UCD, and the Law Society of Ireland. He was enrolled as a Solicitor in 1986. He qualified for admission to the New York Bar in 1989 and also holds a post graduate diploma in European Law. Since 2006 he has served as a chairperson of the Mental Health Tribunal. He was also previously a member of the Criminal Legal Aid Panel.

He was commissioned as an officer in the FCA in 1989 and currently serves with the rank of Captain in the Reserve Defence Force. Following this appointment, he will resign his commission in the Army Reserve.

Mr Campion will be appointed as a Colonel in the Permanent Defence Force with effect from September 4 2012 for the purpose of taking up the appointment as military judge.

The function of the military judge is to preside at courts martial and such other judicial functions as may be prescribed. To be qualified for appointment as a military judge an individual must be a practising barrister or a practising solicitor of not less than ten years standing. The appointment is in the commissioned officer rank of Colonel in the Permanent Defence Force and is subject to the terms of Chapter IVC of Part V of the Defence Acts 1954-2011.

The previous Military Judge, Colonel Anthony McCourt, retired on July 21 2010.