Mary Henry MD MA DSc. (h.c. UU), was born in Cork and educated at Rochelle School Cork and Alexandra College, Dublin. She read English and History of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and medicine. She was the first Non Foundation Scholar in Medicine in 1962 and practiced medicine for forty years. Elected to Seanad Éireann on the Dublin University Panel she retired after nearly fifteen years at the last election. She has a life long interest in health and justice issues and has written a column in the Irish Medical News on associated topics for many years. She chairs the Trinity College Association and Trust, is a member of the board of the Rotunda Hospital, serves on the Department of Justice Commission on Restorative Justice, is Patron of One Family (formerly Cherish) the Irish Penal Reform Trust and is a member of the European Parliamentarians Forum on Family Planning and involved in many other organisations.