The protest outside the Department of Justice to coincide with the debate on the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 in the Dáil. An amendment to the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 would require a disclosure hearing to take place before counselling records are allowed into evidence during sexual assault trials. Speaking on the steps of the department, Paula Doyle, who had her counselling notes used in evidence during a rape trial, said the experience left her feeling so “contaminated and vile”, she self-harmed. The Therapists Against Harm founder said a campaign launched last week, where therapists take a pledge to never hand over counselling notes, is “growing incredibly fast”. A similar system introduced in Canada in 2020 led to an increase in requests for counselling notes from the defence, she said.

Source: The Irish Times January 23, 2026 07:42 UTC