Material in this file relates to the case "In the matter of the Constitution of Ireland and in the matter of the social Welfare (Consolidation) act, 1981. Between the State (At the Prosecution of Róisín Conroy) Prosecutor and the Minister for Social Welfare, Ireland and the Attorney General, Respondents". Conroy, a former official with the ITGWU, was denied unemployment assistance because she was deemed to be dependent on her husband but was legally separated from him in the High Court five years previously and received no maintenance. Case challenged part of the code which said that separated or deserted wives were not entitled to unemployment assistance in affect because they were married woman and therefore dependent on their husbands, even when they received no maintenance or did not live with them. On 18/05/82 she won in High Court - no written judgement as it was settled on morning of hearing, including State paying Conroy's costs. This still did not help married woman get unemployment assistance which was next target of Women's Campaign for Unified Social Welfare Code.

Material includes correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR), Senior Counsel, and Brian Gallagher (BG) solicitor, Richard F Gallagher, Shatter and Company solicitors 22/02/1982-12/10/1983, which includes photocopies of correspondence between Róisín Conroy (RC) and Department of Social Welfare which she sent BG (24/04-22/10/1981) and correspondence relating to fees; photocopies of legal documents sent as part of communication between MR and BG, or as Discovery, including Affidavit of RC (Grounding) 12/11/1981, Decision of Deciding Officer, Department of Social Welfare, 09/07/1981 which was exhibit B referred to in Affidavit, Deed of Separation (16/12/1977), High Court Order 16/11/1981, Notice Showing Cause 21/01/1982, Notice of Motion 25/01/1982, Supplemental Affidavit of RC 16/03/1982, High Court Order, 01/04/1982, Affidavit of RC (1982) and Affidavit "of Discovery of the President" of Michael Carroll, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of Social Welfare (25/03/1982), both marked "Discovery"; correspondence relating to the wording in an amendment to the Social Welfare Bill, 1982, 26/03/1982; circular from Women's Campaign for a Unified Social Welfare Code, in relation to Conroy case, 10/05/1982, and press statement following Minister for Social Welfare conceding validity of Conroy's claim, 18/05/1982; correspondence between Bob Clarke, Law Faculty, University College Dublin, and MR in relation to him seeking newspaper reports of the case, 10-27/02/1984; newspaper cuttings 23/03/-19/05/1982; handwritten notes and photocopy of chapter from "The Irish Jurist, 1978", "Social Welfare Insurance Appeals in the Republic of Ireland", RW Clarke.

This file consists of Case documents relating to the application to the European Commission of Human Rights including copy of typed Petition of "Eamon Nick Kelly to the European Commission of Human Rights, filed on his behalf by Professor K. Boyle, Barrister at Law and Mary Robinson, Senior Counsel", 07/06/1983; cover letter from Kevin Boyle (KB) to C Kruger, Secretary of European Commission of Human Rights, and attached document "History of the facts of the E.N. Kelly Case", 06/07/1983; photocopies of confidential memo on application by Kelly to the Commission, sent by Senator Mary Robinson, Senior Counsel, to An Tánaiste [Deputy Prime Minister], Dick Spring, 22/11/1983; photocopy of typed Observations of the Government of Ireland, Application No. 10416/83, Eamon N. Kelly v Ireland, 1983; Affidavit of Kelly, and draft with notation (MR's), 1983; Applicant's Replies to the Government's Observations, 02/1984, with cover slip from KB to MR; confidential memorandum on case, by MR and KB, 29/05/1984.

This file consists of correspondence, flyers, and newspaper cuttings. Material includes correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and Nicky Kelly, from Portlaoise prison, 22-30/01/1981, 16/10/1981; written questions and letter from Tony Gregory, Independent T.D. to Michael Noonan, Minister for Justice May 1983; correspondence between MR and Noonan 26-30/5/1983 which includes two press statements in relation to case; photocopies of circulars from Irish Council for Civil Liberties relating to Kelly case, sent to MR by Michael Kelly, Chairman , 14/04-30/05/1983; press release re case from The Irish Commission for Justice and Peace, 01/06/1983; cover letter from Clayton Yeo, Research Department, Amnesty International to Kevin Boyle (KB) attached to copies of material which Amnesty had sent to Michael O'Boyle, European Commission of Human Rights, 08/06/1983; copy of Amnesty International report sent by KB to Mr Kruger, Secretary of European Commission on Human Rights, 23/06/1983; photocopy of letter from KB to Kelly in Portlaoise Prison, updating him on progress, advising him to keep his spirits up, 04/01/1984; correspondence between MR and Brian Gallagher, Richard E Gallagher, Shatter & Company Solicitors including in relation to fees, 10/06/1983-26/07/84; circular from The Nicky Kelly Trust seeking patronage, n.d.; Release Nicky Kelly Committee postcard with handwritten note to MR from Caoilte Breathnach, Public Relations Officer thanking her for speaking out on the case but noting disappointment that she did not comment on his guilt or innocence, 06/04/1984; material relating to Release Nicky Kelly Committee including circulars, press statements, flyers and poster "Dennings Judgement Denies Justice" and press pack "Ireland's Guilford Four / Birmingham Six Victim of an Irish miscarriage of justice" 04/1984-19/12/1989; newspaper cuttings 05/06/1983-02/10/1986.

Case represented in material here relates to a Deportation order for Leopold and Maria Schollen to Belgium. Both arrived in Ireland ca. July 1983 and set up business as fine art dealers, auctioneers, and as cabinet maker (Leopold). Both had worked in Belgium prior as fine art dealers and were convicted of offences in relation to sale of forged paintings. Applied to Gardaí [Irish police force] for registration permits ca. Sep 1983 and were asked for passports which were in turn confiscated by Belgian authorities. Minister refused application for residence with no grounds given, and this was appealed. Assumption of Jerry Healy, Junior Counsel, is that in absence of extradition treaty between two countries, only way for Belgian police to get hands on Leopold and Maria Schollen was if they were deported, and Belgian police therefore influenced decision.

Extradition requested in November 1983 and refused January 1984, expulsion requested March 1984, Decision to Deport 16/04/1984, Injunction on Deportation May 1984 Judge Keane, High Court Hearing 25/06/1984, Application for Discovery March 1985, Order 12/03/1985, Mr. Justice Lardner, Application for Further and Better Discovery March 198[6?], Order 30/07/1986 Justice Gannon. As of 1990 seems to have remained up-in-the-air with neither party pushing it.

Mary Robinson worked as Senior Counsel on this case which is arranged across two files.

This file consists of case documents and photocopies of same (RESTRICTED)

[Archivist's note: This case is both contemporary and sensitive in nature and material in this file is therefore restricted. Please consult archivist to enquire about access to restricted material.]

Material relating to legal query from Sally Shiels on behalf of Dublin City South Branch of INTO [Irish National Teachers' Organisation]. Mary Robinson (MR) asked to advise on the compatibility with the rules and constitution of the INTO of a proposed motion for congress which sought to establish a fund intended to benefit certain teachers who retired in 1980. The Annual Congress in front of which the motion was intended to be presented was to take place in April 1985, and advice was sought prior to this. MR's opinion was that there was nothing in the motion that would be out of order and could be presented to Congress, and it was then up to Congress to vote as they saw fit.

File consists of correspondence including between MR and Colm MacGeehin, solicitor for Sally Shiels, 19-28/03/1985) and photocopy of letter from Carol Fawsitt of Binchy, Fagan, Fawsitt solicitors to Gerry Quigley, General Secretary, INTO, relating to proposed Motion on Retirals Fund (08/02/1985); background material including photocopy of proposed motion, photocopy of other motions proposed and seconded at previous congresses, extract relating to INTO's Services and Benefits, Retired Teachers Association newsletter, October/November 1984, extract of INTO 116th Annual congress, 23-27/04/1984 report, Agenda of INTO AGM 28/01/1985 with list of motions for congress; case notes and a signed legal opinion from Mary, 19/03/1985.

Cuttings relating to case.

Material in this file consists of correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR), Senior Counsel, Gerard Durcan, Junior Counsel, and Kevin P Kilrane, solicitor for Bernadette Harvey (17/09/1986-13/01/1992) some of which includes photocopies of correspondence between Harvey and the Department of Social Welfare (31/07/1985-28/07/1986), memorandum from Gerry Whyte to MR suggesting two arguments in relation to case, 01/10/1986, Durcan's legal opinion on case 06/10/1986, and draft Statement, Affidavit and Notice of Motion (04/12/1986).

This case relates to unequal application of unemployment and pay-related benefit to married women in comparison with married/single men and single women. Tricia Lang was paid unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit for 312 days from date of initial payment, rather than 390 days which was applicable in case of married/single men and single women, she received a lower rate of payment of unemployment benefit than applicable for married/single men and single women and was only entitled to receive Unemployment Assistance on a more restrictive and discriminatory basis.

Case was adjourned, April 1990, on basis of offer of £500 to Tricia Lang and her husband in settlement of part of claim relating to unemployment assistance and ceiling on married couples, and adjournment of remainder of case and question of legal costs pending outcome of decisions in Cotter & McDermott and Emmott (P143/1/2/34). Final outcome of case unknown. See also P143/1/2/37.

Mary Robinson worked as Senior Counsel, and material is arranged across 2 files.

This file consists of case legal documents and handwritten case notes including copy of High Court Judicial Review between Patricia Lang and Robert Lang, Applicants and The Minister for Social Welfare and The Attorney General Respondence, before Mr. Justice Blayney, 16/03/1987; draft statement [1987?]; draft Affidavit of Tricia Lang [1987?]; draft Notice of Motion [1987?]; draft Affidavit of Sally Keogh, expert witness in relation to various provisions of Social Welfare Acts [1987?]; copy of Statement of Opposition [1987?]; copy Affidavit of Eoin O'Broin, Assistant Principal of Department of Social Welfare [1987?].