Magna Carta celebrates 800 years as cornerstone of legal system

12/06/2015 17:02:18

The 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta is being celebrated on 15 June.

Director General of the Law Society Ken Murphy said, “This is a document of immense significance. The Magna Carta established for the first time the principle that everybody, including even the king, was subject to the law.”

“The Magna Carta is of particular significance in Ireland as it was introduced into Irish law just a year afterwards in 1216.  Ideas that are central to liberal democracies today - the rule of law, individual liberties, due process, the separation of powers and taxation only by popular consent - can be traced back to the Magna Carta.”

The Director General will speak about the anniversary of the Magna Carta on Monday 15 June with the Right Hook on Newstalk FM at 5.30pm and RTE Radio One's Drivetime at 6.30pm.

For more information, see the press release.