State archives: ‘Don’t use Aids as a defence of laws on homosexuality’

The Government was advised 30 years ago that Aids should not be used in the State’s defence of Ireland’s laws which made homosexuality illegal.

The country’s top legal advisor expressed concern that such an approach would be regarded as an attack on Ireland’s gay community.

The advice was issued as Ireland was facing a case at the European Court of Human Rights brought by Senator David Norris. Two years earlier, the Supreme Court ruled Mr Norris’ right to privacy had not been violated by legislation which criminalised buggery and gross indecency.