Ireland’s LGBT barristers have been denied permission to wear court attire at Dublin’s Pride March on Saturday 28 June, Hot Press has learnt. In a decision that is bound to spark controversy, the Bar Council of Ireland has decided, according to reliable sources, that wearing court attire outside of court for any reason is not permitted.

This does not appear to be strictly in accordance with the Bar Council’s own Code of Conduct. “There are no regulations that expressly forbid barristers from wearing court attire outside of the court,” one legal insider told Hot Press, “and it is common practice for them to do so. Barristers in wigs, tabs and gowns are a frequent sight on the streets around the courts and on the Luas travelling between the Four Courts and the Criminal Court of Justice.”

The Code of Conduct does however prevent barristers from ‘bringing their profession into disrepute’. It would seem extraordinary, if the ban were to suggest that this was the effect of barristers being openly LGBT.

The decision puts the Irish barrister caste out of step with their more enlightened neighbours in the UK.

“A number of members are very disappointed at this decision, as the Bar Council of England and Wales have publicly supported LGBT members marching in court attire for the last four or five years,” said one barrister who asked not to be named.

The Code of Conduct is, in any event, considered a “voluntary” code, as it is not based on any existing laws. Solicitors’ conduct is regulated by the Solicitors Act, but the Bar Council’s Code of Conduct is based on tradition. Therefore, barristers could in effect ignore the Code of Conduct. However, if any members were to flout the decision, they might well be barred from the Law Library of Ireland, which is run by the Bar Council.