TDs discuss rules for lobbying judges

A CODE of conduct for politicians on making representations to the judiciary in legal cases will be discussed at a meeting between government and opposition parties tonight.

The attempt to draw up all-party guidelines on the practice of writing character references follows controversy over Labour TD, Kathleen Lynch, who wrote to a judge in a rape case.

A protest was held outside the Labour Party offices in Dublin yesterday over Ms Lynch’s representation to a judge in the rape trial of Trevor Casey (31) from Fairhill in Cork, who was sentenced last week to 14 years on eight counts of rape. Ms Lynch, who has since apologised, said in her letter that Casey’s parents were decent people.