Angry judges clashed with government over pay issues

The country’s judges were engaged in a long-running dispute with successive governments in the early 1980s over their pay and expenses.

Document released under the 30-year rule reveal the judiciary grew increasingly frustrated at the failure of governments led by both Charles Haughey and Garret FitzGerald to respond to their request for an increase in their remuneration.

It even led to one circuit court judge mounting a legal action in Jun 1983 in a bid to embarrass the government into action.