Airey v Ireland

Airey v. Ireland (application No. 6289/73) was a case decided by the European Court of Human Rights in 1979.
Facts.
Mrs. Airey wished to obtain a decree of judicial separation from her husband (divorce was illegal in Ireland); at that time legal aid was not available in Ireland for any civil matters, including seeking a judicial separation.
Judgment.
The Court held that:
Judges Thór Vilhjálmsson, O'Donoghue and Evrigenis each filed a dissent.
Impact.
In the case, it was established that the right of effective access to the courts may entail legal assistance. "Airey" case has been applied in a number of cases on civil legal aid.