Disclosure of counselling notes in trials to be restricted ‘as far as possible’By Cillian Sherlock, Press AssociationThere will be a presumption of non-disclosure of counselling notes in sexual offence trials, under measures signed off by Cabinet. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan wants to legislate that such records are only released where a judge decides after a disclosure hearing that they contain evidence relevant to legal proceedings. He said the measures would restrict the use of counselling notes “as far as possible” after Attorney General advice that a complete ban would be unconstitutional. Mr O’Callaghan said: “The default position will be that counselling notes are not to be disclosed, save for the very small number of cases where disclosure is ordered by a judge and warranted in the interest of justice. He said: “The Victorian-era laws that criminalised consensual sexual activity between men are now rightly recognised as a historical injustice.

Source: Irish Independent February 04, 2026 18:25 UTC