[1][2] He was known to be an advocate for progressive policies, he was also the first President of the Irish Human Rights Commission.
[3] As a barrister, he was a key advocate for social change.
He successfully represented Mary McGee, in the landmark 1973 case over the ban on importing contraceptives in Ireland, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the ban infringed on married couples' right to privacy.
[5] Barrington was born in North Dublin, the fifth child of Thomas Barrington, a principal officer in the Department of Agriculture and native of Ennistymon, County Clare, and Eileen, a daughter of J. K. Bracken and sister of Brendan Bracken, 1st Viscount Bracken.
They had four children, Kathleen, Kevin, Eileen and Brian.