Law firm that victimised lesbian lawyer Allison Bailey over transgender stance refuses to condemn barrister over his ‘pro-Hamas tweets’ including image of terrorists storming the Israeli border
- EXCLUSIVE: Barrister at London law firm appeared to tweet support for Hamas
- Garden Court Chambers refused to condemn Franck Magennis over social posts
- Same firm was ruled to have victimised barrister Allison Bailey over her views
A barrister who appeared to support Hamas massacring Jews in a social media post will not face action from his chambers – despite the same firm investigating former barrister Allison Bailey over transgender views.
Self-proclaimed communist Franck Magennis, of Garden Court Chambers, posted the ‘inflammatory’ picture of the terrorist group storming through Israel’s Erez border on October 7 – the day when more than a thousand Jewish men, women and children were butchered or snatched.
In an email – seen by MailOnline – from the law firm’s HR department in response to a complaint about the tweets, Garden Court Chambers said it would only investigate complaints about the quality of service.
But less than a year ago the very same chambers was told to pay barrister Allison Bailey £20,000 after a tribunal ruled she had been victimised for her beliefs when she opposed Stonewall’s ‘trans extremism’ in a case in which she received support from JK Rowling.
Magennis has told MailOnline he stands by his comments and reiterated his desire for the ‘rebellion’ to succeed.
Barrister Franck Magennis (left) appeared to support Hamas massacring Jews in a social media post. His law firm, Garden Court Chambers in London, has refused to condemn him, after victimising previous employee Allison Bailey (right) over her gender critical views
Magennis is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers who have said no action will be taken over his tweets that appear to show support for terror group Hamas
On the day of the invasion he posted Sir Keir Starmer’s message condemning the attacks on Israel and wrote above ‘victory to the intifada’
The communist barrister retweeted the same image of Hamas storming the Israel border where someone had written it would be ‘remembered as one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time’
Bailey claimed that because of her belief that biological sex is immutable and those who are born male cannot transition to become women, she was branded a transphobe and discriminated against, losing out on lucrative work
MailOnline understands the posts have been sent to counter terrorism officers, while it is thought a number of people have complained to Garden Court Chambers.
A complaint has also been lodged with the Bar Standards Board (BSB) who would not confirm whether it is investigating Magennis’ conduct.
READ MORE: Courage of heroine who dared shine a light on toxic subject many are too scared to even discuss: Lesbian barrister wins historic battle over being victimised for standing up to ‘trans extremist’ group trying to erase biological sex
The lack of action taken over Magennis’ tweets is perhaps even more staggering as last year Ms Bailey found herself under investigation from the very same firm after arguing against the chambers becoming a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
She told her colleagues her belief that Stonewall was involved in ‘harassment, intimidation and threats’ against anyone with an opposing view.
Garden Court went on to publicly tweet that she would be investigated over allegations she was transphobic, and Ms Bailey said her earnings were drastically cut short.
Ms Bailey retired from the Bar in March after 22 years, 19 of which were spent at Garden Court.
Magennis, who is described on the law firm’s website as having knowledge of Palestine, retweeted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s message condemning the ‘act of terror’ and wrote above: ‘For almost two decades, “Israel” has trapped more than two million people in an open air prison for the “crime” of being insufficiently Jewish.
‘We owe Palestinians our solidarity in their struggle against this naked racial domination. Victory to the intifada.’
Self proclaimed communist Magennis’ X timeline is plastered with pro-Palestine propaganda, some of which accuse Israel of being an apartheid state
Mr Magennis has used a photo of Hamas breaking through the Erez border on October 7 on the day the terrorists massacred more than a thousand Jewish people as the background of his X page
Magennis’ X timeline, formerly known as Twitter, is plastered with pro-Palestine propaganda, some of which accuse Israel of being an apartheid state.
On October 21 he retweeted another user’s post of the same image of a bulldozer being driven by Hamas tearing down the barbed-wire topped border which read: ‘This will be remembered as one of the most iconic, hopeful images of our time.’
A Jewish solicitor, whose grandmother was murdered by Nazis in Auschwitz during the Holocaust, has been left appalled by Mr Magennis’ tweets and the chamber’s response.
The legal professional, who did not wish to be named for safety reasons, told MailOnline: ‘To see someone effectively celebrating the slaughter of Jews, a barrister… it’s beyond outrageous.’
Posting an image of Hamas breaking through the border with Israel while calling for a ‘victory’ for Hamas’ ‘rebellion’ is a ‘flagrant breach of the terrorism act’, he alleged.
Those convicted under the Terrorism Act 2006 for glorifying acts of terror can be jailed for up to 15 years.
He added: ‘I’m Jewish with connections with Israel and I find it extremely offending and all the rest of it and I would hope every decent human being, whether Jewish or not, is offended by it.
‘On the day of the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, when children and babies are being butchered, someone celebrates it with a picture of a terrorist breaking through to carry out the massacre with “victory to the intifada”. Every decent human being would be utterly appalled.’
He has been left ‘flabbergasted’ and ‘astonished’ that Garden Court Chambers ‘do not want to know’ and accused the firm of being complicit by refusing to investigate the barrister.
Magennis appeared to show solidarity with a tube driver who was suspended for leading political chants
He has also retweeted comments regarding the fall of Israel
When asked about whether he supported Hamas, Mr Magennis said he stands by his messages and his support for Palestine.
He told MailOnline: ‘Palestinians have the right to resist occupation within the limits of international law. That includes a prohibition on targeting civilians. None of my comments suggest otherwise.
‘Palestinians are facing racial domination at the hands of Israel’s apartheid regime. That regime, and its colonial Zionist ideology, has always viewed Palestinians as a racial impurity, a “demographic threat” to a so-called Jewish state.
‘As a consequence, Israel has violently herded millions of Palestinians into the Gaza concentration camp, where they are treated like animals and routinely slaughtered.
‘The word “intifada” means “shaking off” or “rebellion” in Arabic. We are witnessing the mass murder of Palestinians, including thousands of children. If you have a conscience, if you have an ounce of empathy and humanity, please lend your support to the Palestinians at this very dark hour for them. Even if you’re unwilling to stand with oppressed Palestinians, please have the courage to call for a ceasefire.
‘I stand by and reaffirm my support for the people of Palestine. May we rebuild a world out of the pain and rubble in Gaza, one where everyone can live in peace and dignity. May we live to see victory to the intifada.’
Garden Court did not respond to a wide range of questions posed by the MailOnline including if the firm supports Mr Magennis and his views, instead saying it does not make any comments about complaints relating to individual barristers.
Magennis (far left) joined the law firm in 2017 after completing the trainee scheme
Mr Magennis was previously reported to the BSB in 2020 by Campaign Against Anti-Semitism for a tweet in which he said ‘Zionism is a kind of racism’
He had previously been wrongfully arrested by Scotland Yard officers in 2020 outside St George’s Hospital in London during a strike by security guards
BSB told MailOnline: ‘The BSB does not comment as to whether or not it has received any information about potential misconduct by a barrister regardless of how any information comes to our attention. Such matters are dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in detail on our website.
‘These procedures are usually conducted confidentially unless they result in a listing for a Disciplinary Tribunal hearing. Such listings are published on the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service website and hearings are held in public.’
Mr Magennis was previously reported to the BSB in 2020 by Campaign Against Anti-Semitism for a tweet in which he said ‘Zionism is a kind of racism’. A BSB panel found although it may be seen as ‘offensive’ it was not ‘seriously offensive’.
He denied at the time being anti-Semitic.
The barrister was wrongfully arrested by Scotland Yard officers in 2020 outside St George’s Hospital in London during a strike by security guards when he questioned the legality of them trying to break up a picket.
He sued the Met for false imprisonment and last year was given £3,000 in compensation while the force issued an apology. The barrister promised to donate all damages to the strike fund.
In December of that year, the campaign against anti-semitism submitted an official complaint to the Bar Standard Board after Magnannis tweeted that ‘Zionism was a form of racism.’
In 2021 he represented a 21-year-old anti-Zionist Jewish student in court who was appealing against the Home Office’s decision to reject his asylum claim after he fled Israel four years earlier when he was called up for military service.
Mr Magennis told the Morning Star at the time: ‘What this case establishes is that it is absurd to try and determine a claim for asylum or international protection without considering the question of apartheid.
‘That’s been true for a long time, but it’s especially absurd in light of recent reports from B’tselem and Human Rights Watch, which confirm that Israel is governed by an apartheid regime.’
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