"The history of a legal system is inevitably linked to the political history of the territory where the legal system has operated. For that reason alone the legal history of Northern Ireland is long and complex." Law formed a very important factor both in public and private life in ancient Ireland. Early Irish society was hierarchical in character. It was governed by the Brehon law, however it was somewhat disturbed in 1169 by the Anglo-Norman invasions. The Catholic encyclopedia states that "Brehon law is the usual term for Irish native law, as administered in Ireland down to almost the middle of the seventeenth century, and in fact amongst the native Irish until the final consummation of the English conquest. It derives its name from the Irish word Breitheamh (genitive Breitheamhan, pronounced Brehoon or Brehon) which means a judge." This was a legal system based on patriotic customs and traditions.…
