William Drennan Andrews

William Drennan Andrews PC (1832-1924) was an Irish judge who served for many years as the Probate Judge. He was the uncle of Sir James Andrews, 1st Baronet, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, (whose career he did much to foster), John Miller Andrews, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and Thomas Andrews, architect of the Titanic. There is a sympathetic sketch of his character in The Old Munster Circuit by Maurice Healy. He was a grandson of William Drennan, the United Irishman leader.

He was born in Comber, County Down, second son of John Andrews, a wealthy flax spinner, and Sarah, daughter of William Drennan; his elder brother Thomas, father of three eminent sons, inherited the family business. William was educated at the University of Dublin and the Middle Temple. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1855, Queen's Counsel in 1872. He married Elizabeth Galloway of Monkstown, County Dublin in 1857; she died in 1901. They had no children.

He practiced mainly on the North-Eastern Circuit, where his skill in persuading juries of the justice of his client's cause became renowned: Healy quotes the remark: "Once Andrews has stated his client's case to the jury, the only uncertain thing is how great the award of damages will be".

He was appointed to the High Court of Justice in Ireland in 1882, first to the Exchequer Division and on its abolition in 1897 to the King's Bench Division. He was the Probate Judge for many years, and Healy praises his efficiency in dealing with probate cases - "dealing out the orders like a pack of cards". In criminal cases he was known for his scrupulous fairness in summing up, but also for his exceptionally severe sentences: it was said that where another judge would think three years imprisonment a sufficient punishment, Andrews would usually impose ten years. He was made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland in 1897. He retired in 1909 and died in 1924.

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