Professor William Duncan, RIP
The School of Law is saddened to hear of the passing of our former Professor of Law and Jurisprudence, William Duncan.
William worked in the Law School for approximately thirty years before taking up a position with the Hague Conference on Private International Law in 1997. He was a Fellow of College and a onetime Registrar of College. In 2020, he was awarded the prestigious Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad and the following year, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by College. William was a member of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes that reported in 2020.
William pioneered the development of Family Law in Ireland. His research and publications provided the basis for the development of the intellectual and structural framework still governing family law matters today, particularly significant because it took place at a time when this area of law rarely featured in Irish courts. Participating in debates on divorce, he was regarded as an authoritative and persuasive contributor. He continued his important work for Ireland as member of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation (2015-2020). Through his international work, he has contributed significantly to the development of international child and family laws and practices, including child abduction, inter-country adoption, child protection and child support. Between 1989-97 he was Expert/Delegate at the Hague Conference on Private International Law, an intergovernmental organisation charged with the progressive unification of the rules of private international law, serving as First Secretary (1997-2002). From 2002-11 he held the prestigious post of Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference where his work involved the provision of advice and assistance on child protection matters to states and their professionals around the globe, with overall responsibilities for the development and implementation of The Hague Children’s Convention. He was also a member of the Law Reform Commission in Ireland.
Memorial service for William Duncan, formerly Professor of Law and Jurisprudence, Registrar, Trinity College Dublin and Hague Conference on Private International Law will take place on Tuesday, 12 August in the Public Theatre, Trinity College Dublin. Details available here.