Scrapbook of press cuttings compiled by the Language Freedom Movement, including cuttings from 'The Irish Press', 'The Sunday Press', 'The Evening Press', 'The Cork Evening Echo', 'The Cork Examiner', 'The Evening Herald', 'The Irish Independent', and 'T

Material relating to action brought by two Dublin women, Máirín de Búrca (MdeB), Joint Secretary Sinn Féin, and Mary Anderson (MA), journalist, challenging validity under the constitution of the Juries Act 1927. They claimed Act, where women were eligible but not compellable, discriminated against women being called to serve on juries, and against women appearing before circuit criminal court, as most likely to be tried by all-male jury. Case went to Supreme Court. Judgement issued in favour of their appeal 12/12/1975.

This followed on from case where they were charged with disrupting the police in course of their duty, outside Leinster House August 1971 while protesting housing conditions. Brought before District Court, they pleaded not guilty, elected to have charges tried with a jury and trial was due to take place at Circuit Criminal Court 02/06/1972. MdeB and MA objected to being tried by selected panel because there were no women, and all were property holders (juries selected based on property qualifications - a man could be eligible for duty by virtue of property his wife owned, but she was not eligible by virtue of property he owned.) This case was put on hold while they challenged Juries Act.

Material includes handwritten notes, photocopies of conviction orders from the District Court (13/03/1973); photocopies of statistics compiled by the Department of Justice in relation to applications from women to have their names inserted on jurors list 1963 onwards; newspaper cuttings; transcripts of evidence given in High Court; photocopies of judgement given 12/12/1975 (Supreme Court); correspondence including between Mary Robinson (MR) and solicitor Dudley Potter, and between MR and MdeB; research material.

[Archivist’s note: Máirín de Búrca referred to as Maureen Burke in places.]

Material in this subsubseries relates to a hugely significant case relating to the rights of the individual to free legal aid and is arranged chronologically across 7 files. Mrs Airey sought judicial separation from her physically abusive husband. As she was unable to conclude a separation agreement with her husband, she sought a judicially ordered separation. She was unable to obtain such an order since she lacked the financial means, in the absence of legal aid, to retain a solicitor. She took the case to Europe and in spring 1978, European Commission of Human Rights formally found Ireland in violation of the European Human Rights Convention. The European Court of Human Rights heard her case February 1979 and upheld it. Ireland later enacted a civil legal aid system but Mrs Airey no longer qualified because she had secured employment. The Irish government agreed, after being pressured, to fund her judicial separation action in the High Court. Mrs Airey eventually obtained a judicial separation. In 1980 a Scheme of Civil Legal Aid and Advice was established followed by legislation in 1995, but both have been criticized for lack of funding and an almost exclusive focus on family matters. This case has been frequently cited as a precedent for demonstrating there are economic and social rights dimensions within civil and political rights and that States may have positive obligations with respect to civil and political rights. In addition, the case has formed an important precedent for arguing that the right to legal aid is an integral part of human rights. Johanna (Josie) Lynch (maiden name she reverted to) died on 26 August 2002.

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

Material relating to the J Airey v Ireland case for period 1978 including photocopies of newspaper articles; report of the European Commission 09/03/1978; Council of Europe communiqué issued by secretary to the European Commission of Human rights 16/03/1978; Application of the European Commission bringing the case before the Court, filed at the Registry 16/05/1978; correspondence bet BW and the European Commission 01/06/1978, 04/08/1978, 20/10/1978, 31/10/1978, 22/11/1978; Council of Europe Airey Case Memorial of the Government of Ireland, filed at the registry on 16/10/1978; list of petitions for judicial separation, Ireland 1972-1978 and the status of the cases; German magazine "Forum" with article on the case Jan-March 1978.

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

Material relating to the death of Josie Lynch (who had reverted to maiden name), 26/08/2002, including correspondence bet Brendan Walsh and Mary Robinson (MR) and newspaper photocopies; article and brochure relating to FLAC [Free Legal Advice Centres] 40 years of campaigning, including reference to Airey case 20/04/2009; cover letter (05/01/2009) from Tessa Robinson to MR, then in New York, with attached documents relating to Airey case including photocopy of judgement in case of Airey v Ireland, 09/10/1979, copy of European Commission decision on admissibility; printed email from Douglas Emery looking for information on Josie's children for an interview 17-19 June 2009.

Material in this subsubseries relates to push to have widowers be entitled to portion of deceased spouse's pension in Public Service (in line with widows’ entitlement to deceased spouse's pension), including case taken by Nick and Mary Robinson (MR) v Minister of Public Service, (1977-87), and is arranged chronologically across three files. MR was at this time acting as Senior Counsel for the Employment Equality Agency.

Material in this file includes letter from Office of Chairman of Seand Éireann to Senator Mary Robinson (MR) re request to raise the amendment of the Members' contributory pension scheme following Labour Court determination on 07/05/1979, which they said was unsuitable for discussion on the grounds it would involve amending legislation, 06/02/1980; correspondence with Office of the Minister of State and the Department of the Public Service 15/05/1980; correspondence with Maura Minogue, employed as local authority engineer with Cork Corporation, re her pension rights 18-24/09/1980; typed draft "The Impact on Irish Women of EEC [European Economic Community] Equality Legislation", Eithne Fitzgerald, May 1980; typed project outline involving six people including MR each to submit chapters on "Impact on Irish Women of EEC Equality Legislation: Actual and Potential", [Jan?] 1980; typed outline of proposed chapter on Labour Market "Impact of EEC on Equality for Women in Ireland" 06/1980; typed draft "The Impact of EEC membership on Women's Participation in Vocational Training" [1980?]; circular from Government Chief Whip to Government deputies on schedule for 8th - 10th Nov 1983, 03/11/1980; circular with date of next Seanad Éireann [upper house of Irish parliament] meeting 03/11/1980 from clerk of Seanad Éireann; Dáil Éireann [lower house of Irish parliament] official report Parliamentary Debates 03/11/1983; Seanad Éireann official report Parliamentary Debates 09/11/1983; Second reading speech by Minister for the Public Service in Seanad Éireann "Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary and Judicial Offices (Amendment) Bill, 1983", commending the bill to the House; copy of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary and Judicial Offices (Amendment) Bill, 1983; copy of amendment to above bill, to insert "or widowers" proposed/put forward by Senators Mary Robinson, Catherine McGuinness and Katherine Bulbulia, committee stage, 09/11/1983; Seanad Éireann order paper 09/11/1983; correspondence with Minister for State, Nuala Fennell, 10/11/1983; letter from Office of the Minister of Health announcing the formal approval of the extension to women of the existing widows and children's schemes for pensionable staff in certain hospitals and homes , 31/05/1984.

Material in this folder consists mainly of court documents, handwritten notes of Nicholas Robinson (NR) and draft affidavits. It includes letter from NR, solicitor, to John Paul & Co Ltd [construction company] informing them that Justice Costello, High Court had granted an injunction restraining defendants from demolishing, destroying etc. on contested site until 30th November 1977; draft plenary summons "The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin, Stephenson & Associates and John Paul and Company, Defendants", 28/11/1977; draft and typed affidavits for Francis X Martin, George Eogan [lecturer in archaeology UCD], and Consuelo O'Connor, [Deputy Chairman of An Taisce, the National Trust of Ireland], 28/11/1977; notice of motion for FX Martin to apply for a restraining order on 30 November 1977, 28/11/1977; draft and typed copies of Justice Costello's order, following FXM's motion, that defendant's be restrained from further work until 06/01/1978; handwritten notes (NR's) including a statement of claim, early Dec 1977; bound documents labelled "1977 No. 5919P The High Court Between The Attorney General at the relation of Francis X Martin, Plaintiff, and The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin, Stephenson & Associates and John Paul and Company, Defendants, Documents Relating to the Supreme Court Appeal Against Injunction, Nicholas Robinson & company, Solicitors...", 12/1977.

Copies of report by Dr Frank Roche, Director of Colin McIver Associates Limited, "Exploratory Study of the Tourism Potential of Wood Quay", submitted to Irish Hotels Federation 12/1977; "Dublin's Wood Quay", a Civic Heritage Publication, Nuala Burke, Ph.D., signed by Nick Robinson, 20/11/1977; pull out map "Dublin c840-c1540, The Years of Mediaeval growth", prepared by the Friends of Mediaeval Dublin and printed by the Ordnance Survey 1977.

Correspondence including between Father Francis X Martin (FXM) and Nicholas (NR) and Mary Robinson (MR) 02/01/1978- 19/12/1978; between NR and The Law Agent [William Dundon], Dublin Corporation 09/01/1978-29/08/1978; between NR and MR in their official capacities 09/01/1978-09/06/1978; between NR and Donal Barrington, Senior Counsel 12/01/1978-; between NR and Chief State solicitor 16/01/1978-23/1/1978; copy of letter from Ole Klindt-Jensen, Director of Prehistoric Museum and Institute of Archaeology, University of Aarhus to Dublin Corporation 26/01/1978; from City Manager to SS McCarthaigh, Chairman, Commissioners of Public Works, 30/01/1978-19/04/1978; between Dr Joseph Raftery, Director National Museum of Ireland, to George Hegarty, Dublin Corporation 02/02/1978; between Principal Officer, [Dublin Corporation?] and Dr Joseph Raftery, 10/02/1978-17/05/1978; between P Russell, Dublin Corporation and Stephenson Associates (consultant architects) 22/02/1978-15/05/1978; from NR to J McCarthy, Chairman, Commissioners of Public Works, 01/03/1978-04/05/1978; letter from FXM and George Colley, Minister for Finance, 03/03/1978; letter for Pascal Scanlan, Principal Officer, Office of Public Works, National Parks and Monuments branch 21/03/1978; J McCarthy, Chairman, Commissioners of Public Works, and J Molloy, City Manager, Corporation of Dublin 19/04/1978; letter from City Manager to Dr Joseph Raftery, 19/04/1978; letter from Dr Joseph Raftery to JM Molloy, City Manager, Corporation of Dublin, 21/04/1978; correspondence between Alf Smyth, University of Kent and Frank [FXM?] 21/04/1978-22/05/1978; correspondence between FXM and Peter Addyman, Director York Archaeological Trust, 13/04/1978-22/05/1978; letter from Professor Dr Walter Janssen to Dr Anngret Simms, 23/05/1978; letter to Dublin City Council from Scandinavian participants in the archaeological summer-colloquy of International Council of Museums, Svenborg, Denmark with signatures and institutions attached, 10/06/1978; letter from Anngret [Simms] to NR 22/06/1978; letter from Bob O'Driscoll, Celtic Arts, Canada to FXM in support 26/06/1978; letter from NR to TX Smyth, SC, 27/06/1978; correspondence between NR and Kevin Fox, Hon Sec, National Monuments Advisory Council 30/06/1978-10/07/1978; postcard from Consuelo O'Connor to NR 02/07/1978; correspondence between NR and AJ Hederman, SC Office of the Attorney General 13/07/1978; letter from MR to Irish Press, Irish Independent and Irish Times Editors re secrecy surrounding and high security at site 09/09/1978; invite to farewell party for Anngret and David Simms, from Friends of Mediaeval Dublin 25/09/1978; typed copies of Senator MR's statement (address?) 23/09/1978 "Wood quay has taught us a very valuable lesson, that democracy demands more of citizens than a passive role between elections"; letter from Ruairi [Quinn?] architects office Burke-Kennedy Doyle and Partners re press statement 01/10/1978; copy of letter to MR as Senator from [O'Doherty Owens?] asking her to do utmost to have civic offices built outside of city centre, 05/10/1978; letter to MR as Senator from Alice J Moore, chairperson of Local Government and Public services Union, regarding motion being debated in Seanad Éireann, 06/12/1978;

The file also includes minutes (photocopies) of National Monuments Advisory Council Standing Committee meeting 04/05/1978 and some handwritten notes re costs.