A judge who presides over deportation asylum appeals has reposted calls to decriminalise illegal migration to the UK, appearing to breach judicial social media guidelines.
Greg Ó Ceallaigh KC, appointed as a deputy upper tribunal judge in July last year, rules on appeals from individuals facing deportation, rejected asylum claims and other challenges to Home Office decisions.
His social media activity, uncovered by The Times, includes reposting comments from the Asylum Aid charity calling for the repeal of the Illegal Migration Act.
He also shared a post welcoming Labour's decision to scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme.
He rules on appeals from individuals facing deportation, rejected asylum claims and other challenges to Home Office decisions
GETTYÓ Ceallaigh, originally from Dublin, is a barrister specialising in human rights, asylum and immigration at Garden Court Chambers.
His posts appear to contradict guidance issued by the lady chief justice, Dame Sue Carr, which discourages judges from active use of social media.
Before becoming a judge, Ó Ceallaigh also publicly supported the campaign to reverse Brexit.
In 2019, he wrote a poem on LinkedIn referencing Theresa May, Boris Johnson and David Davis, saying: "Boris and Davis and May; one lies, one's thick, one's grey. These terrible crooks; so different in looks; should not have the final say."
MORE LIKE THIS:
In 2012, he posted that the Conservative Party "need to be dealt with as you would deal with the Nazis, cancer or lava."
That same year, he made derogatory remarks about Donald Trump, comparing him to a bulldog with "bum-hair forward over his head like a tsunami."
He also posted a joke about Jimmy Savile, referencing "drunk Liverpool fans and a blind man."
Ó Ceallaigh has also reposted criticism of Labour's border security bill over its expansion of criminal offences for illegal entry.
Neither Ó Ceallaigh nor Garden Court Chambers responded when asked for comment.
Since being contacted by the publication, he has taken his LinkedIn page offline
PASince being contacted by the publication, he has taken his LinkedIn page offline.
His profile on Garden Court Chambers was also temporarily removed.
The judicial social media guidance states: "Active use of social media by the judiciary is discouraged. Judges who nevertheless choose to use social media must be alert to the potential security and reputational risk."
A spokesperson for the judiciary said: "Judicial independence and impartiality are fundamental to the rule of law."
They added: "Upon taking office, judges take the judicial oath where they swear to act 'without fear or favour, affection or ill will'."
The spokesperson emphasised that judges "make decisions based on the evidence and arguments presented to them and apply the law as it stands."
GB News has reached out to Garden Court Chambers for comment.
