Showing 25608 results

David Norris, scholar, Senator and civil rights activist, took a case to the High Court in 1977 seeking a declaration that the laws of 1861 and 1885 which criminalised homosexual conduct were not in force since the enactment of the Constitution of Ireland (Article 50 of the Constitution provides that laws enacted before the Constitution that are inconsistent with it would no longer be in force). The Irish courts ruled that Norris's right to privacy was not violated by the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (criminalising "buggery") and the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (criminalising "gross indecency").

Norris appealed the Irish court's decision to the European Court of Human Rights in 1983. The Court passed judgment in 1988, deciding in Norris's favour on grounds similar to those of its 1981 decision in Dudgeon v United Kingdom. The laws impugned by the judgment were eventually repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993.

Material relating to this case, for which Mary Robinson (MR) acted as Junior and subsequently Senior Counsel, is arranged across 27 files. An additional subsubsubseries relates to a separate case for which MR was involved: David Norris v Seán Doherty (Ceann Comhairle [speaker of the lower house of Irish parliament]) and 11 other (members of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges) and Seanad Éireann.

Correspondence 1976-1979 predominantly relating to Norris' initial action in High Court. File includes cover letter from Kevin Tuohy to David Norris (DN) for report on research essay Tuohy carried out on the Irish Gay Rights Movement (IGRM), for which DN was chair, as part of his B.A. examination in Maynooth College, 02/01/1976 [report closed]; photocopy of advertisement placed in Miami Herald 04/06/1977 by Dade County Coalition for Human Rights (United States of America) in relation to referendum on repeal of human rights, 04/06/1977; photocopy of introductory statement from Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform (CHLR), [DN, Chairman of Steering Committee], August 1977 with handwritten cover letter from DN to Mary Robinson (MR) asking to meet for chat, 05/08/1977; photocopy of typed letter from Herman Good & Co solicitors (on behalf of John Jay (JJ), solicitor with them) to DN referring to legal opinion sent from Donal Barrington (not enclosed), and referring to confusion relating to IGRM committee, 23/09/1977; correspondence between JJ and MR, 10/05/1978-12/12/1979, including in relation to Statement of Claim; correspondence from DN as Chairman of CHLR to MR, 30/07/1978; photocopies of correspondence between JJ and Chief State Solicitor 07-22/09/1978.

Report on research essay Kevin Tuohy carried out on the Irish Gay Rights Movement (IGRM), for which DN was chair, as part of his B.A. examination in Maynooth College, and which is marked confidential, 02/01/1976.

Material relating to the National Gay Federation (NGF) which at some stage [1981?] incorporated the Irish Gay Rights Movement (1974-1978). Material includes typed copy of Constitution of NGF as adopted at first Annual General Meeting (AGM), Gresham Hotel, Dublin, 31/05/1980; letter from Michael Keating T.D. (Alderman), Fine Gael Spokesman on Human Rights, to Tom McClean, NGF, Hirshfield Centre, Dublin 2, stating Fine Gael's view that law on homosexual acts was in need of reform, 24/11/1980; correspondence between Bernard Keogh, General Secretary NGF, Gerry Collins T.D., Minister for Justice and Dr Noel Browne T.D. 13/12/1980-31/03/1981 on law reform; correspondence between Keogh, and Dr Michael Woods, T.D., Minister for Health and Social Welfare in relation to new Mental Health Bill, 03/02-15/04/1981; photocopy of pamphlet "The Homosexual in Ireland”, written by David Norris (DN), for Gay Rights Movement, 19[7?]; photocopy of typed article "Making a case for the socially responsible treatment of homosexuals by the Irish Church hierarchy and Irish people as a whole", Willie Murphy, 19[7?]; report "National Gay Conference 1981 May 15-17 Connolly’s Hall Cork Gays in the Eighties: Which Way Forward?"; photocopy of NGF typed declaration "The Rights of the Homosexual Citizen Of Ireland", 27/06/1981; photocopy of report on Trade Union activity, presented to the second AGM of NGF, Royal Dublin Hotel, 27/06/1981; draft report on political action undertaken by Research Unit, NGF at the time of General Election, June 1981, prepared by Research Unit, September 1981; NGF press statement re concern at dissenting judgement by Justice Walsh to human rights verdict of European Court of Human Rights in case of Dudgeon v United Kingdom, 24/10/1981; correspondence between Keogh, and Eileen Desmond, Minister for Health and Social Welfare [succeeded Woods] 23-29/10/1981; correspondence between Keogh, DN and Dick Spring, Minister of State and Law Reform, which led to delegation from NGF meeting with minister 01/07-09/11/1981; NGF pamphlet 19[8?]; NGF press release relating to survey of all political parties, conducted 09-11/02/1982; NGF pamphlet relating to "Charles Self Murder Investigation" and "Guidelines for Dealing with the Gardaí" [Irish police force], 02/1982; typed agenda for interim National Gay Conference, Trinity College Dublin, 13/05/1982; letter from Edmund Lynch, Research Director, NGF to Garret Fitzgerald, Taoiseach [Irish Prime Minister], Charles J. Haughey, leader of Fianna Fáil [opposition party], and Michael O'Leary, Tánaiste [Deputy Prime Minister] and Leader of the Labour Party, seeking to ascertain their parties' attitude to Gay Rights during general election campaign taking place at the time, 15/02/1982; NGF press release "Gay Law Reform in Northern Ireland" referencing British government's intention to decriminalise homosexual relations in Northern Ireland following Jeffrey Dudgeon case, 26/02/1982; photocopy of circular from Northern Ireland Information Service on proposal for a draft Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1982, 18/03/1982; NGF press statement on banning by Censorship of Publications Board of English periodical "Gay News" in Ireland with copy of letter sent to Gay News Ltd., London, England (04/08/1982), 13/08/1982; Irish Association of Civil Liberties Bulletin Autumn 1982 which includes article by DN "Homosexuality and the Law - Civil Liberties"; copy of letter from Tonie Walsh, General Secretary of NGF (succeeding Bernard Keogh) to Senator Brendan Ryan confirming recent invitation to delegation including from NGF, 15/11/1982; correspondence between Tonie Walsh and Michael Noonan, Minister for Justice, relating to request for meeting to discuss case of death of Declan Flynn, Fairview, and setting up of an enquiry into police behaviour prior to his death 15/03-19/08/1983; NGF document stating resolution passed to nominate DN to represent the organisation in his application to the European Court of Human Rights, 19/09/1983, and copy of constitution and of NGF pamphlet attached; copy of letter from Eamon Somers, Counsel President, NGF to Joe Mulholland, Editor of Today Tonight Show, RTÉ [Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Irish public service broadcaster] relating to programme aired on 16/06/1983 and manner in which sensitive subject on law reform was handled, 17/06/1983, with follow-up letter from Tonie Walsh seeking response, 09/1983; flyer listing programming for Oct 1983-Jan 1984 for Hirschfeld Biograph, 10 Fownes Street, Dublin 2 [55 seat cinema, part of NGF facilities for members].

Folder labelled "Dudgeon v UK" relating to submission by Jeffrey Dudgeon, Belfast, Northern Ireland, to the European Court of Human Rights, represented by Francis Keenan, solicitor, Kevin Boyle, Barrister at Law (BL), and Michael O'Boyle, BL. This case was referred to by Mary Robinson in David Norris case. File includes photocopy of application to Council of Europe Commission of Human Rights, 04/1976; photocopy of Council of Europe Press Release on decision of commission 10/07/1979; photocopy of decision of European Commission of Human Rights on admissibility of application, 03/03/1978; photocopy of report of Commission, 02/1980; photocopy of typed observations of the Government of United Kingdom on merits of Dudgeon's application, 197[?].

This file consists of photocopies of various reports including on breakdown of the National Gay Federation (NGF), 17/03/1979-31/03/1980; report on operation of TAF (TELL-A-FRIEND) for period 24/04/1979-23/04/1980 [TELL-A-FRIEND, a homosexual befriending and counselling service was founded in 1974]; report "Campaign for Homosexual Equality - Scottish Minorities Group Union for Sexual Freedoms in Ireland 'No Offence - the case for Homosexual Equality at Law'", by Bob Sturgess 1975; report on interview between Áine O'Connor and David Norris, Chairman of the Irish Gay Rights Movement, on the RTÉ Programme "Last House" on 24 July 1975, which includes transcript of interview and copy of complaint received by RTÉ [Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Irish public services broadcaster], from Máire Bhreathnach [aka Breathnach] in response.

This file consists of correspondence, handwritten case notes and reports for the period 1983-1984. It includes handwritten notes (draft?) on [David] Norris v Attorney General question of costs presented at Supreme Court, June 1983; correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and John Jay (JJ), solicitor, Herman Good, Hubert Wine & Co., in relation to costs and payments received, including letter from JJ to Garrett Cooney, Senior Counsel, 13/07/1983-19/12/1983; correspondence between JJ and MR in relation to David Norris and National Gay Federation application to European Commission of Human Rights, including correspondence received from the Commission 10/10/1983-12/12/1984; report published by Council of Europe from 15th Criminological Research Conference, 22-25/11/1982, "Homosexuality and Social Control", Dr DJ West, Director of Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, with cover note to MR from Kevin Boyle on University College Galway compliment slip, 16/07/1984.

This file consists of correspondence, and copies of same for 1985. It includes correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and John Jay (JJ), solicitor, and others at Herman Good, Hubert Wine & Co., in relation to David Norris (DN) and National Gay Federation application to European Commission of Human Rights including correspondence received from Secretary to the Commission, HC Kruger relating to admissibility of case, from J Raymond, Deputy Secretary and from Jane Liddy, Agent of the Government of Ireland 03/01-28/11/1985; letter from DN to MR which was at some point attached to some documents he had promised her, [1985?]; official document from Commission on their decision as to the admissibility of Norris case 16/05/1985 with official commission stamp; photocopy of Council of Europe provisional edition of parliamentary assembly resolution on discrimination against homosexuals, 198[1?]; Council of Europe booklet in English, French and German on Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, minus front cover, n.d.; draft letter to J. Raymond, Deputy Secretary to European Commission of Human Rights in response to "Observations of the Government of Ireland" [09?]/1985; draft "Observations of Applicant on Commission's decision as to the Admissibility" of case, 1985; press statement from Barry Desmond, T.D., Minister for Health and Social Welfare, on spread of AIDS, with address given at annual dinner of the Royal College of Physicians - Faculty of Pathology, 25/10/1985 with cover letter from Desmond to MR, 08/11/1985.

This file consists of correspondence, and copies of same for 1986. It includes correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and John Jay (JJ), solicitor, and others at Herman Good, Hubert Wine & Co., in relation to David Norris (DN) and National Gay Federation application to European Commission of Human Rights including correspondence with Secretary to the Commission, HC Kruger 15/01-15/12/1986 which also included correspondence in relation to DN being granted legal aid to appear in person at oral hearing; letter from Jane Liddy, Department of Foreign Affairs [previously listed as Agent of the Government of Ireland] to Commission with attached document listing all prosecutions of males "for committing an offence" against another male, 1979-1985 for inclusion ahead of oral hearing, 24/03/1986; typed letter from Kieran Rose, Cork Gay Collective to DN, relating to an ad for a telephone service "to provide positive information to the gay and wider community" in the Cork Examiner Newspaper being pulled, 08/04/1986; photocopies of press communiqué issued by Secretary to the European Commission of Human Rights following oral hearing on 17/04/1986, which declared application admissible, 16/05/1986; handwritten letter from DN to MR which was originally attached to two pieces of possible legislation which he felt might form basis for friendly settlement with government, and which MR photocopied and returned, 30/06/1986; handwritten notes.

This file consists of correspondence, and copies of same for 1987. It includes correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and John Jay (JJ), solicitor, and others at Herman Good, Wine Stokes & Jay (solicitors company name changes from Herman Good, Hubert Wine & Co.) in relation to [David] Norris v Ireland case proceeding to European Court of Human Rights including correspondence with Marc-André Eissen, Registrar to the European Commission of Human Rights, 24/03/1987-08/12/1987*; letter from David Norris (DN) to JJ objecting to the inclusion of Justice Brian Walsh on the panel of the European Court, which was forwarded on to MR for comment 01-03/07/1987; typed submission of the plaintiff (Norris) to the European Court of Human Rights on question of damages, 26/10/1987; correspondence and photocopy of question put to Minister for Health in Dáil [lower house of Irish parliament] from Michael D Higgins, T.D. which was disallowed by Seán Treacy T.D., Ceann Comhairle [chairperson of Dáil Éireann] and related to whether existing laws impeded Department of Health and Health Education Bureau from promoting safer sexual practices within gay community 13-19/11/1987.

*includes some correspondence between Eissen, JJ, and MR, 11/08-26/10/1987 which relates to whether Eissen had permission to make part or all of material supplied to Commission open to public - permission granted by DN in handwritten letter.