Robert Dillon (died 1580)

Sir Robert Dillon (c.1500-1580) was an Irish judge of the Tudor era who held office as Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas for more than twenty years, despite repeated calls for his removal on the grounds of age and ill-health.[1]

He was the third son of Sir James Dillon of Riverstown, County Meath, Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) and his wife Elizabeth Bathe, daughter of Bartholomew Bathe of Dollardstown Castle, Athy, County Kildare. He was "bred to the law": Sir Bartholomew Dillon, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, was his elder brother. This Sir Robert must not be confused with Bartholomew's grandson Sir Robert Dillon (died 1597), who became Chief Justice off the Common Pleas a year after his grand-uncle's death.[2] The confusion is understandable since their careers overlapped and as Kenny points out the records do not always make it clear which Robert Dillon is being referred to.[3]

He followed his father and brother into the legal professon and became Attorney General for Ireland in 1534.[4] In 1536-7 he accompanied Patrick Barnewall, the Solicitor General for Ireland, on a crucial diplomatic mission to England.[5] One purpose of the mission was to prevent the Dissolution of the Monasteries from applying to Ireland. They were successful in the short run, but Dillon, like Barnewall, quickly dropped his opposition to the suppression of monastic houses and was duly rewarded. Dillon received St. Peter's Priory at Newton, near Trim, County Meath, which became the principal family seat, the former Carmelite Abbey at Athnecarne in County Westmeath, [6] and the monastery of Kilkenny West. He served as seneschal of Kilkenny and Governor of Athlone. LIke Barnewall he played an active part in establishing the King's Inn, Ireland's first law school, and was one of the original lessees of the property from the Crown.[7]

In 1555 he was made a justice of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) and in 1558 became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. His promotion was described as being a reward for his discretion and learning.[8] He was, howeve, at least sixty when he became Chiej Justice; Elrington Ball thought that he was probably nearer seventy. By 1575 complaints about his age and incapacity had reached the point where Elizabeth I was actively seeking a suitable replacement.[9] Sir Henry Sidney, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, described Dillon as "much spent in years, decaayed in both sense and body".[10] He was accused of neglecting his official duties entirely: he rarely attended meetings of the Privy Council of Ireland, while he neglected his judicial duties entirely, and had effectively deputised his role as Chief Justice to the second justice.[11] Sidney's ally Sir William Gerard, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, referred to Dillon as a "scarecrow", and lobbied strongly for his removal from office.[12] It seems however that no suitable replacement could be found as Dillon remained in office until his death in 1580, when, in Ball's view he may have been ninety years old.[13]

He married Genet (or Elizabeth) Barnewall, daughter of Edward Barnewall of Criickstown and Elizabeth Plunket, daughter of Sir Thomas Plunket , Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and had seven children. The best-known of his children is Sir Lucas Dillon, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. Lucas was the father of thr first Earl of Roscommon.[14]