An tUasal Tomás Ó hUigín, T.D.,
Thomas O'Higgins T.D.
Thomas O'Higgins is a former Fine Gael TD and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Son of Dr. Thomas F. O'Higgins and nephew of Kevin O'Higgins. Educated at UCD and King's Inns, called to the Bar in 1938. First elected to the Dáil in 1948, he served as Minister for Health in the Government of 15th Dail, setting up the VHI. From the left wing of Fine Gael, worked closely with Garret FitzGerald and Declan Costello in pushing the Just Society policy within the party.
In 1966, he ran against incumbent President Eamon de Valera, losing by less than 1% of the vote. He was instrumental in bringing about the 1973 Fine Gael/Labour coalition, turning down a ministerial post in favour of again contesting the Presidential election. This time he was well beaten by Fianna Fáil candidate Erskine H. Childers. In 1974 O'Higgins became Chief Justice, a post he held until 1985, when he was appointed to the EU Court of Justice, a position he held until 1991. He died in 2003.