A written complaint sent to the Irish Prison Service (IPS) outlines the “degrading incident” which took place on 11 June 2020, the Irish Examiner reports.

The solicitor said she was asked by male prison officers if she was “wearing any underwear” after the security monitor sounded, having already removed her shoes, earrings, watch and jacket.

Because she was told she could not enter the prison without passing the security monitor and her visit related to urgent bail proceedings, she felt she had “no option” other than to remove her bra.

She is now seeking a meeting with Justice Minister Heather Humphreys to discuss the incident amid concerns it could impede the ability of women solicitors to carry out their work.

In her complaint, the solicitor said she had “never ever been treated in such a degrading manner” while attending prisons and it was “undoubtedly one of the most traumatic experiences of my life”.

She added: “I fear I will carry this with me for a long time and the confidence I have lost in my professional capacity has not been restored. I am writing this statement because I do not want any woman to feel deterred from fulfilling their role as a legal representative by being treated in such a way by the Irish Prison Service.”

The IPS confirmed that it had received a complaint.