Bacik criticises “nasty” Fine Gael attack on Connolly’s past as barrister

Labour leader has dubbed a Fine Gael attack ad on left-wing presidential hopeful Catherine Connolly as a “new political low.”

On Sunday, Fine Gael’s social media channels published a video which criticised Connolly’s past as a barrister and her representation of banks during the economic crash.

As a legal principle, legal professionals typically represent clients who do not agree with their political or personal views, which Bacik, herself a former barrister, pointed out, and Fine Gael, the party which held the Minister for Justice brief between March 2011 and January 2025, neglected to mention.

Bacik said she was “outraged” at the Fine Gael attack ad.

@finegael

Catherine Connolly’s hypocrisy.

? original sound – Fine Gael

“Fine Gael should know better. This attack video is not only a new political low – a new level of ‘nasty’ in this presidential campaign. It also represents a craven and dangerous attack on a fundamental principle of the rule of law in our democratic system.”

The Dublin Bay South TD said, “the Bar Council has already made clear in a statement dated October 9th that it is the professional duty of barristers to accept instructions in any case in their area of practice. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘cab-rank rule.”

“The Bar Council also pointed out that ‘barristers should not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes or suffer adverse consequences as a result of being so identified. This fundamental principle arises from the Code of Conduct of The Bar of Ireland and is recognised in the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and in the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer,” she explained.

The Dublin Bay South TD said, “the duty of barristers to accept instructions and the right of clients to be legally represented are cornerstones of our constitutional order; to chip away at these principles is dangerous.”

“In addition, professional codes also require that barristers do not speak publicly about their clients or the cases that they take. After a case has concluded, it is typically the solicitor who will speak outside court on behalf of the client. Rule 3.7 of the Bar Council Code of Conduct states that:

‘Barristers must maintain the confidentiality of each client’s affairs, and are under a duty not to communicate to any third party, information entrusted to them by or on behalf of their clients, and not to use such information to their client’s detriment or to their own or another client’s advantage. This duty continues at all times after the relation of Barrister and client has ceased, and after the death of the client.’

The Labour TD said, “in accordance with the ‘cab-rank rule’, during my time in practice as a barrister, I represented clients in many criminal and non-criminal cases before the Special Criminal Court and before other criminal and civil courts at every level. Of course, in no individual case did the fact that I took instructions or represented a particular client mean that I shared the views of those whom I represented.”

Bacik took aim at Dublin Bay South stablemate Jim O’Callaghan, saying “indeed, it is well-known that the current Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who also maintained a professional practice while serving as an Oireachtas member, also represented clients whose views and values he patently did not share.”

“It is utterly wrong and misconceived of Fine Gael to mount this sustained, nasty attack upon Catherine Connolly merely because she practised as a barrister, represented clients professionally and does not speak publicly about those clients.”

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said, “it is quite incredible that a self-styled ‘party of law and order’ is suggesting that former barristers are now to be held responsible for the actions of their clients. The Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, must comment on this attack by Fine Gael, and whether he defends the cab-rank rule.”