Challenge Trump policies, lawyers urge Government

A group of 165 Irish lawyers has called on the Government to challenge what it describes as US President Donald Trump’s “illegal war policies”.

The group, which includes 40 senior counsel (SC), as well as practising barristers and solicitors, has published a “statement of objection” ahead of the US president’s visit to Ireland this weekend.

They say that President Trump’s rejection of fundamental laws on the use of violence and threats of violence are causing, or enabling, “massive death and destruction and risking global catastrophe”.

Rule of law

The lawyers are asking the Government to take a number of steps to uphold the rule of law:

• Ensuring that Shannon Airport is not being used to facilitate illegal war operations,
• Supporting the ICC in the face of US sanctions, and
• Supporting the introduction of economic sanctions against Israel.

They are also encouraging the Irish people to consider participating in “peaceful and lawful demonstrations and activities” in support of these aims.

One of the signatories, Michael L O’Higgins said: “President Trump gave the impression to the US electorate that he would not start wars causing instability. That was not true. 

“Instead, his policies risk global catastrophe. When a business goes bust, it can file for bankruptcy. That is not available to the human race.”

‘Stand up and speak out’

Speaking for the organisers of the statement, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha said: “A fundamental purpose of the rule of law is to stop people who have power from abusing it.

“President Trump rejects the rule of law by abusing his power – including by using and threatening illegal violence,” he added.

“He also insults and threatens those who challenge him. That tends to silence people. And that is exactly why it is necessary to stand up and speak out,” Ó Lideadha concluded.

The full text of the lawyers’ statement is as follows:

President Trump is executing and enabling war policies which are illegal, causing death and destruction on a massive scale.

These illegal wars are apparently motivated by self-interest and yet they are causing severe damage to the USA and world economy and risk causing global catastrophe.

During President Trump’s election campaign in 2024, he gave the clear impression that he would not engage in wars which caused instability.

Of all the untruths spoken by President Trump, this is particularly dangerous and damaging to the security and well-being of the United States and the world.

The law on the use of violence under international law is similar to the laws within many nations: that death and destruction may be legal:

a) if it is to defend against imminent or actual attack, and

b) if the extent of the force and harm caused is reasonable and proportionate.

This reflects the generally held desire to avoid bloodshed if that is reasonably possible; to hold responsible those who cause unnecessary harm; and to recognise that a failure to uphold this law would result in escalating cycles of violence.

The US and Israel’s war against Iran, including the mass killing of its political leaders, was in breach of fundamental principles of International Law and threats of “no quarter” and of obliterating Iran’s civilisation may amount to war crimes.

No credible case has been made that the attack on Iran was legal. This is primarily because there was no imminent threat of an attack by Iran on the USA or Israel; and the UN Security Council did not pass a resolution permitting such a war.

The purported justifications put forward by the US including a history of supporting third parties to carry out unlawful acts of violence; developing nuclear weapons; and human rights abuses – do not justify war under international law.

The attack on Israel launched from Gaza on 7 October was a horrendous act of terrorism and involved reprehensible war crimes.

The state of Israel was entitled to take action to defend itself and to pursue those who were responsible for the attack. But Israel’s right to defend itself does not give it the right to engage in unreasonable, disproportionate acts, such as killing very large numbers of civilians including thousands of children; the use of starvation; destroying objects indispensable to the survival of the human population; forced displacement of the population; and hindering humanitarian aid.

Israel’s leaders have a case to answer in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in respect of “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”

The state of Israel also has a very strong case of genocide to answer in the International Court of Justice.

President Trump’s role in the illegal war on Gaza and in attacking the International Criminal Court: Successive US administrations have supported and enabled Israel in its illegal military actions by funding and supplying military equipment and munitions and by providing political and diplomatic support.

But President Trump in particular has encouraged and facilitated Israel, in his first term in office, and since January 2025.

The economic sanctions ordered by President Trump against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its judges because arrest warrants were issued for Israel’s Prime Minister and Defence Minister, amounts to an open attack on an institution which is designed to investigate and punish war crimes and crimes against humanity.

People who criticise or challenge President Trump’s policies and actions are liable to be subjected to personal bullying – to be insulted/demeaned, threatened, sanctioned or worse.

We note that President Trump himself and many of his supporters have also been subjected to insulting and demeaning treatment by large sections of the media and political establishment. But that does not excuse bullying and the abuse of power.

This statement is made with respect for the President of the United States of America and for the people of the USA who elected him, despite the severity of the criticisms contained in this statement.

We maintain this respect, despite anger and disgust at what has been done and said by President Trump and his administration in causing, supporting and threatening illegal death and destruction.

The statement is also made in a spirit of friendship with the people of the USA. Irish people have so many social, cultural, familial and economic ties with the US – our countries are friends. That does not mean that we do not speak truthfully and condemn the actions of friends when that is necessary.

We request that the Irish Government:

• Clearly and publicly convey to President Trump Ireland’s opposition to violence and threats of violence which are in breach of international law,
• Take effective action to ensure that the USA does not use Irish airspace or facilities (including Shannon Airport) to support illegal international violence,
• Take effective action to support the ICC and its personnel against attack or sanction, and
• Take effective action to support the introduction of economic sanctions against Israel.

We request that people in Ireland consider supporting peaceful demonstrations and engage in other peaceful and lawful activities in support of those objectives.

All lawyers who have signed this statement do so in a personal capacity and do not represent or speak on behalf of any other lawyer or organisation.

The group says that solicitors wishing to put their names to the statement can do so by sending an email from their official work email address to gol@lawlibrary.ie.

The list of SC signatories is:

• Teresa Blake,
• Ray Boland,
• Alan DP Brady,
• James Bridgeman,
• Paul Carroll,
• Lorcan Connolly,
• Garvan Corkery,
• Tom Creed,
• Daniel Cronin,
• James B Dwyer,
• Padraig Dwyer,
• Vinóg Faughnan,
• Karl Finnegan,
• Colman Fitzgerald,
• Patrick Gageby,
• Carl Hanahoe,
• Hugh Hartnett,
• Vincent Heneghan,
• Gerard Humphreys,
• Jane Hyland,
• Ciaran Lewis,
• Mark Lynam,
• Michael Lynn,
• James MacGuill (RIP),
• Patricia McLoughlin,
• Grainne McMorrow,
• Barra McGrory,
• Eanna Mulloy,
• Proinsias Ó Maolchalain,
• Elizabeth O’Connell,
• Turlough O’Donnell,
• Michael L O’Higgins,
• John O’Kelly,
• Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha,
• Eileen O’Leary,
• Dara Robinson,
• Colin Smith,
• Ercus Stewart,
• Marc Thompson-Grolimund, and
• Kevin White.