Robert Bagod
Sir Robert Bagod (died after 1298) was an Irish judge who was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. He built Baggotrath Castle, which was located at the present Baggot Street in central Dublin.
He was born in Dublin, son of Ralph Bagod; his family came to Ireland in the 1170s. Robert spent the earlier part of his career in Limerick where he served both as sheriff and constable of King John's Castle. He was accused of misconduct in respect of his official duties in 1275, but was cleared of the charges; he was held in high regard by the English Crown and was a friend of Robert Burnell, the Lord Chancellor of England.[1]
In 1274 the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland), generally known in its early days as "the Bench" was established, and Bagod was chosen as its Chief Justice; he had three associate justices, though in later centuries this was reduced to two.[2] He was also required to act as an itinerant justice when necessary. In addition to his judicial role he was Deputy Treasurer of Ireland.
The Crown continued to hold him in high regard: in 1281 he received financial rewards for his loyalty, and in 1284 in consideration of long service he was excused from going on assize. He retired on health grounds in 1298;[3] his date of death is uncertain. His eldest son and heir, also Robert, was like his father a judge.
In 1280 he bought the lands then called the Rath, and subsequently called Baggotrath. He built Baggotrath Castle, which passed from the Bagods to the Fitzwilliam family. It was severely damaged during the English Civil War , allowed subsequently to fall into ruin and demolished in the early nineteenth century. The family name is commemorated in Baggot Street and nearby Baggotrath Place.
He has been described as a man of energy and ability, noted for loyalty to the Crown and the confidence the Government placed in him.[4]