April 12 2011 -- Mrs.  Mathilda Twomey was sworn into office as Justice of the Court of Appeal in a ceremony at State House this morning which was presided by the President James Michel.

Also present were Vice-President Danny Faure, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Patrick Herminie, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Frederick Egonda-Ntende, President of the Court of Appeal Francis MacGregor,  Attorney General Ronny Govinden and the judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal as well as members of the Constitutional Appointments Authority.

The President expressed his congratulations to Justice Mathilda Twomey after taking up her post.  President Michel stated that he had every confidence that Justice Twomey would have an important contribution to the service of justice to the people of Seychelles.

" This is an important achievement for our country, it is another victory for Seychelles. We now have four Seychellois judges, and our first female judge, serving the people of Seychelles and ensuring that our legal system improves," said President Michel.

Mrs. Twomey (née Butler-Payette) is a Seychellois Barrister-at Law, who practiced 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.

In 1992-93, Mathilda Twomey was a member of the Seychelles Constitutional Commission that drafted the Constitution of the Third Republic.

Since 1995, Mrs. Twomey has been living and working in Ireland. Since 1996 she worked as a regional coordinator for Multiple Sclerosis Ireland, a non-governmental organisation working in advocacy, policy development and legal advice for people with disabilities.

Mathilda Twomey is completing a Masters in Law at the University of Ireland, and also 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.