Fish tells governments to respect lawyers' opposition

Lawyers should not be pilloried for criticising anti-terrorism laws, the European Parliament was told last week.John Fish, president of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, said: 'My hope is that in future debates the different roles of government and lawyers will be understood and respected.

'When we point out flaws in legislation we should not be seen as undermining policy and supporting criminals, but as carrying out the role which is allotted to us as lawyers - namely the defence of fundamental rights in the justice system.'Mr Fish - a consultant at leading Dublin firm Arthur Cox - said that although lawyers share common interests with governments, 'it is the role of the government to defend the nation against terrorism.

It is not the lawyers' role.

It is the role of the lawyer to defend civil liberties'.While supporting moves to make European societies safer, he said the 'fight against crime should not be fought at all costs'.Mr Fish said he was concerned the recent list of terrorism offences was 'drawn too widely, and includes acts which many in society consider a legitimate part of their role as trade unionists or peaceful demonstrators'.He also criticised the failure to ensure equivalent protection for suspects across member states' legal systems in relation to the European arrest warrant.Andrew Towler