A group of senior Irish lawyers have appealed to the Government to challenge what they describe as the US President Donald Trump’s illegal war policies, warning they might “risk causing global catastrophe”.
The group has published a “statement of objection” on Wednesday morning, ahead of the American President’s visit to Ireland this weekend.
The document was signed by over 150 lawyers, including 40 Senior Counsel, 95 Barristers-at-Law and many solicitors practising in Ireland.
In their statement, they said that President Trump’s rejection of fundamental laws on the use of violence is not only causing massive death and destruction, but is also risking global catastrophe.
The statement reads: “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 US and the world,” it reads.
The lawyers said the attack by the US and Israel on Iran was illegal, as there was no imminent threat to the US nor Israel.
The statement, which also addressed Trump’s role in the war on Gaza, recognised Israel’s right to defend itself and to purse the October 7 attackers, however, it added that “disproportionate acts of war are illegal”.
It said that the leaders of Israel 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”.
They also said that economic sanctions ordered by Trump against the ICC and its judges, due to arrest warrants being issued for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, “amounts to an open attack on an institution which is designed to investigate and punish war crimes and crimes against humanity”.
However, they highlighted that their statement is “made with respect for the US President and for the people of the US who elected him, despite the severity of the criticism contained”, as well as “made in a spirit of friendship with the people of the USA”.
The group of Irish lawyers have appealed to the Government to take action to uphold the rule of law.
This includes 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 have also urged the Government to “clearly and publicly convey to President Trump Ireland’s opposition to violence and threats of violence which are in breach of International Law”.
One of the signatories, Senior Counsel 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 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 to speak out,” he said.
Speaking about what message the statement might send ahead of the weekend of Trump’s visit to Ireland, Mr Ó Lideadha said: “The statement clearly acknowledges that the United States as a country is a friend of the country of Ireland.
“This statement is severely critical of President Trump but does not use abusive or insulting language. We have tried to focus on fundamentally important matters.
“He is coming as the President of the United States of America and we recognise that the Government has its own responsibilities in terms of how it interacts with the President,” he said.
Speaking at the press conference on Wednesday morning, one of the signatories, Senior Counsel Michael L Higgins SC said: “We are closer now to having a worldwide war with weapons of mass destruction.”
“There is huge technology out there, it can accomplish things that we have no conception of. We have a person who is the head of a state over there who seems hellbent on a calculated campaign of random actions.
“We now do not know what lies next and I think it’s very important, notwithstanding the economic complications, that people need to address their minds to this and be heard,” he added.
Mr Higgins said that the US President gave an impression to the American 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 bankrupcy. That is not available to the human race,” he added.