The Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law in Ireland (2024-present)
The operation of the in camera (privacy) rule in Ireland has been a contentious source of debate and discussion for some time now. Whilst there appears to be a general understanding that in the family law context the in camera rule operates to protect the identity and privacy of the parties and any child(/ren] to whom the proceedings relate, the actual nature and scope of the rules application is unclear. This research examined how the in camera rule works in practice in Ireland and how it is experienced by those who use and work within the courts. This research has been commissioned by the Department of Justice and was conducted by researchers from UCC (Dr Aisling Parkes (PI), School of Law; Dr Kenneth Burns, School of Applied Social Studies, UCC) and TCD (Dr Simone McCaughren, School of Social Work and Social Policy). The first phase involved a nationwide survey of parents who have been involved with the Irish family law system (317 people completed the study). The second phase involved engagement with other professional stakeholders such as social and legal professionals, services, Judges, researchers, journalists and media, and examined how they experienced the strengths and perceived limitations of the in camera rule in practice. 13 judges and 84 professionals took part in phase two. This research has the potential to have a significant impact on future family law reform by identifying the challenges and opportunities surrounding the rule’s operation. All enquiries to Aisling at a.parkes@ucc.ie Research Funding: Department of Justice
Publications
- Aisling Parkes, Simone McCaughren, and Kenneth Burns (2026) A Short Video Guide to the In Camera Rule for Children and Young People, University College Cork - click here.
- Aisling Parkes, Simone McCaughren, and Kenneth Burns (2026) A Short Video Guide to the In Camera Rule for Parents and Guardians, University College Cork - click here.
- Simone McCaughren, Aisling Parkes, & Kenneth Burns. 'Privacy and transparency in family law proceedings – striking the right balance: an Irish perspective (under review).
- Aisling Parkes, Simone McCaughren, and Kenneth Burns (forthcoming). Privacy at all costs? Children's rights and the in camera rule in Irish Family Law proceedings, Child and Family Law Quarterly (forthcoming).
- Aisling Parkes, Simone McCaughren, and Kenneth Burns (2025) The Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings, Dublin, Department of Justice - click here to read.
Dissemination of research findings
- Burns, K., Parkes, A., and McCaughren, S. (2026) Developing an evidence base to guide the reform of family law proceedings: A comprehensive study on the operation of the in camera (privacy rule) in family law courts in Ireland, 16 Apr 2026, European Conference on Social Work Research: Social Work and Interdisciplinary Research: researching and facilitating evidence informed practice and policy', 15th – 17th April 2026, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
- Parkes A., McCaughren S., and Burns, K., From Privacy to Transparency: Implications for Mediation Practice, The Irish Professional Mediators’ Organisation Annual Conference, April 16th 2026, Dublin Dispute Resolution Centre.
- Parkes, A., Burns, K., and McCaughren, S. (2026) What you need to know about the in-camera rule and child care proceedings: findings from a national study, Tusla Research Webinar, 24th March 2026.
- Burns, K., McCaughren, S. and Parkes, A. (2026) Doing inter-disciplinary research in warp time & on the dime: Key messages from a family law research study, Social Work Educators' and Researchers' Forum, Sligo, ATU, 8th-9th January 2026.
- Parkes, A., Burns, K., and McCaughren, S. (2025) A rule or rules? Unravelling and unsettling what we know about the in camera rule in practice, Law Society Family and Child Law Conference, 14th November 2025.
- McCaughren, S., Parkes, A., and Burns, K. (2025) The operation of the in camera rule in child care proceedings in Ireland, National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference, 23rd – 24th October 2025.
- McCaughren, S., Parkes, A., and Burns, K. (2025) “Secrecy not privacy is what the in camera [privacy rule] actually achieves”: A Study on the Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Courts in Ireland, EuSARF 2025 Conference, Zagreb, Croatia, 8-12 September 2025.
- Burns, K., Parkes, A., and McCaughren, S. (2025) Enhancing transparency in Family Law proceedings: Lessons from research on the privacy rule, Cork Family Lawyers Symposium, Cork, 14th July 2025.
- Parkes, A., Burns, K., and McCaughren, S. (2025) The Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law in Ireland, Family Justice Development Forum, Department of Justice, Dublin, 28th April 2025.
- Parkes, A., McCaughren, S., and Burns, K. (2024) An inter-disciplinary exploration of the in camera rule: The protection of children under Irish family law, Children's Research Network Conference, 5th December 2024.
Media coverage
- Sheridan, Kathy (March 2026) "Forget the egregious pinkwashing of international women's day: this is what women need" Irish Times - click here
- Murphy, Ann (Irish Examiner, 2nd March 2026) 'It is effectively silencing women': Calls to reform in-camera rule in family law" - click here
- Law Gazette (19th November 2025), In-camera ‘inconsistently understood and applied’ - click here
- Radio Kerry interview (June 2025) - click here
- Learning from lessons of the no-so-distant past - lifting the lid on family law (Irish Independent, May 2025) - click here
- Research report entitled “Operation of In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings” (Thurles information, May 2025) - click here
- First-of-its-kind research into ‘in camera’ rule published (Irish Legal News, May 2025) - click here
- Report urges ‘clear definition’ of in camera rule (Law Society Gazette, May 2025) - click here
- Domestic violence perpetrators could be named in family-law cases under proposals before Minister for Justice (Irish Times, April 2025) - click here
- In-camera rule reform on the way for Ireland (iclg, April 2025) - click here
- Plans to reform in camera rule to make family law ‘more transparent’ (Irish Legal News, April 2025) - click here
- RTE Drivetime - 'In camera rule in family cases to be reformed - we hear from one domestic abuse survivor - click here
This research study was a collaboration between the School of Law and School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork (UCC) and the School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland. The project was funded by the Department of Justice.
Research team
Dr Aisling Parkes, School of Law, UCC (Principal Investigator)
Dr Simone McCaughren, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Kenneth Burns, School of Applied Social Studies, UCC
Maria D`Jalma Torres Sanchez, researcher
All enquiries to Dr Aisling Parkes - a.parkes@ucc.ie
