Seychelles judge honour for Kinvara resident

A Kinvara resident has been appointed as the first female judge in the history of the Seychelles.

Mathilda Twomey, who has lived in Ireland since 1995, works as a regional co-ordinator for Multiple Sclerosis Ireland as well as studying for a Masters in Law at NUI Galway. She and her family are well known in Kinvara, with Ms Twomey having been involved in community organisations including the Kinvara Community Council and the Kinvara Farmers’ Market.
Seychelles president James Michel this week approved the appointment of Ms Twomey as a Justice of the Court of Appeal following the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority. The nation is located North East of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
“Mathilda Twomey will become the first female judge in the history of Seychelles. I congratulate Ms Twomey on her achievement and wish her well in her new post.
“I hope that other young women will look to her for inspiration for a career in the judiciary in the future. Her appointment is timely as we have recently celebrated 100 years of Women’s Day; it is another victory for Seychelles,” said President Michel.
Before moving to Ireland, Ms Twomey was a member of the Seychelles Constitutional Commission that drafted the Constitution of the Third Republic.
Marie McGonagle, director of the LLM in Public Law at NUI Galway said, “I am delighted at Mathilda’s appointment. She is a very skilled lawyer who has participated fully in, and contributed immensely to, the LLM  programme. I wish her every success in this important new role.”
As well as studying in NUIG, Ms Twomey (née Butler-Payette) is a Seychellois Barrister-at Law, who practised law in Seychelles between 1987 and 1995 as a senior state counsel and official notary, as well as a barrister/attorney undertaking criminal and civil litigation in courts and tribunals. She has a degree in French Law from the University of Paris Sud, France, as well a bachelor’s degree in English and French Law from the University of Kent, UK.