![handle is hein.journals/lglhis42 and id is 1 raw text is: THE JOURNAL OF LEGAL HISTORY
2021, VOL. 42, NO. 1, 1-34
https://doi.org/10.1080/01440365.2021.1893946
Taloutiedge
Taylor & Francis Group
Natural Law in Early Twentieth Century Ireland -
State (Ryan) v Lennon and its Aftermath
Thomas Mohr
School of Law, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
KEYWORDS Irish Free State; 1922 Constitution; 1937 Constitution; natural law; State (Ryan) v Lennon
I. Introduction
The case of State (Ryan) v Lennon, which was heard before the Irish Supreme
Court in 1934, remains one of the most celebrated and closely analysed cases
in Irish legal history.' Jeremiah Ryan and three other persons were charged
with the attempted murder of a rate collector and were brought before a mili-
tary court known as the 'Constitution (Special Powers) Tribunal' that was
empowered to try civilians.2 They challenged the legality of this military
court by contesting the validity of a number of constitutional amendments
that underpinned its existence.3 In a famous dissenting judgment Chief
CONTACT Thomas Mohr thomas.mohr@ucd.ie School of Law, University College Dublin,
Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
'[1935] IR 170.
2The three additional applicants were Hubert Johnston, John Harty and James Cantwell.
3Constitution (Amendment No. 16) Act 1929 and Constitution (Amendment No. 17) Act 1931.
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.journals/lglhis42&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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