Daniel O’Connell personified the perpetual importance of an independent Bar
Daniel O'Connell's performance in The King v. John Magee exemplifies the best traditions of forensic advocacy at The Bar of Ireland. Picture: Universal History Archive/Getty Images
On July 27, 1813, in the Court of King’s Bench in Dublin, Daniel O'Connell rose to defend John Magee, publisher of the , against a charge of criminal libel.
His speech that day demonstrated how a skilled barrister could transform an oppressive legal system into an instrument of political change. The case of The King v. John Magee remains one of the most memorable examples of O'Connell’s extraordinary ability to use his legal expertise in the service of justice and reform.
