Sir Lucas Dillon (c.1530-1592) was a leading Irish barrister and judge of the Elizabethan era who held the offices of Attorney General for Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was held in high regard by the Crown, although enemies accused him of corruption and maladministration. He was father to the first Earl of Roscommon.
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He was born at Newtown in County Meath, son of Sir Robert Dillon, Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas, and Elizabeth Barnewall of Crickstown.[1] Sir Robert Dillon (judge) later Chief Justice, was his second cousin. He entered Middle Temple in 1561, then returned to Ireland. His rise in his profession was rapid: he became Principal Solicitor in 1565 and Attorney General the following year.[2] He entered the Irish House of Commons and purchased Moymet, near Trim, where he built Moymet Castle, now a ruin. In 1570 he succeeded his father-in-law James Bathe as Chief Baron.[3]
Until his last years, Dillon was held in high regard by the Crown. Sir William Gerard, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, described him as an energetic reformer, diligent in attending Council and the Castle Chamber, and one of the few judges of real eminence in Ireland.[4] He was particularly close to Sir Henry Sidney, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, who called him " my faithful Dillon", and knighted him.[5] He played a considerable part in putting down the Desmond Rebellions and the rebellion of William Nugent. His reputation suffered by his willingness to sit as a judge of the trial of William's uncle Nicholas Nugent for treason in 1582. Nicholas had been Chief Justice of Common Pleas, and the trial of a senior judge on such a charge was without precedent. Further there was a long and bitter enmity between the two families, Lucas' cousin Robert hoped to succeed Nugent as Chief Justice, and the fact that among the charges was an accusation that Nugent had plotted to kill both Dillons should have disqualified them from sitting.[6]
Dillon was acquiring enemies, but also had friends, including the new Deputy, Sir John Perrot. He was spoken of as Lord Chancellor, although enemies said he was too corrupt for the post. Elizabeth I herself thought highly of him and at one point seems to have offered him the office of Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland.[7] As Perrot's deputyship became increasingly embattled Dillon, his ally, was also attacked: Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Dublin accused him of recusancy, a very serious charge against a senior judge.[8] William Nugent, now pardoned for his rebellion, made a concerted attack on Sir Robert Dillon, now Chief Justice, and for a time had him suspended. Lucas was also attacked, and the strain is said to have hastened his death, although he had been in ill- health for some years.He died in Dublin, and was buried at Newtown.[9]
Dillon married firstly Jane Bathe, daughter of his predecessor Chief Baron James Bathe; their son James became 1st Earl of Roscommon. He married secondly Marion Sherle, widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey; Eleanor, one of her many daughters by her first marriage, married James Dillon.[10]
Lucas Dillon has received somewhat mixed treatment from historians. Elrington Ball stresses the charges of corruption and his handling of the Nugent trial.[11] Crawford on the other hand stresses his talent and energy and the high regard most Crown officials had for him, and argues that the charges of corruption were partisan in nature.[12]