The Bar council has observed a reshuffling of leadership as Seán Guerin SC ascends to the position of chairman. Guerin has garnered significant expertise through his involvement in multiple high-stakes criminal cases, one such being the Graham Dwyer murder trial. His competence was further highlighted during the recent inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire incident in 1981, where he represented the families of the victims.
Guerin has spent numerous years on the council’s professional practices committees, serving as the criminal State Bar committee’s chairman since 2022. He has also played a leading role in the Bar council’s ongoing mission to reinstate the legal aid fees trimmed during the economic downturn.
Born in the county of Wexford, Guerin acquired his legal education in France and Ireland before commencing his practice at the Bar in 1997. His elevation to senior counsel came into effect in 2013. His expertise lies primarily in public law, revolving around administrative, regulatory, and criminal law domains.
Wednesday highlighted Guerin’s pride in assuming the chairman role from September onward. He conveyed his appreciation to his fellow colleagues for their backing. He also acknowledged the enormous contribution of Sara Phelan SC, the departing chairwoman.
Guerin emphasised the guiding principles of “relentless diligence, irreproachable integrity, courageous representation, and supremacy” to lead the Bar amidst the fluctuating legal climate. With the profession grappling with substantial technological shifts, socio-political stressors, and economic strain, Guerin recognised the paramount role the Bar council plays in upholding its values and underscoring the profession’s essential role in preserving legal order and ensuring human rights protection.
In 2014, Guerin was appointed by the government to scrutinise the former justice minister, Alan Shatter’s conduct regarding issues flagged by police whistleblower Maurice McCabe. Following the release of Guerin’s report, endorsed by then prime minister Enda Kenny, Shatter tendered his resignation.
In 2019, the Supreme Court backed Shatter’s contestation to the Guerin report’s sections, which portrayed him negatively without prior warning. The court, however, acknowledged Guerin’s meticulous task execution with swift efficiency but didn’t provide clear directives for his inquiry.