Analysis

Dear Editor, S. 3 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006, as amended, makes it an offence to engage in a sexual act with a child under the age of 17 years, subject to a defence of reasonable mistake as to age. Consent on the part of the child is no defence unless the child was at least 15 ye

William Fry partners Jason Milne and Michelle Martin consider the latest developments in litigation around the Dublin Airport passenger cap. On 12 February 2026, Advocate General Campos Sánchez-Bordona issued his Opinion in C-857/24 daa and Others.

Roman Shortall highlights the constitutional difficulties with proposals to move some judicial reviews to the Circuit Court. Does the Constitution permit judicial review to be vested in a court of local and limited jurisdiction that lacks competence to determine the validity of laws?

Professor Kieran McEvoy rubbishes claims of a "witch hunt" against former British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland. In recent months, there has been a renewed push by British army veterans and their supporters for a return to some variant of the Boris Johnson-era amnesty and for drawing a lin

Browne Jacobson lawyer William Darmody welcomes proposals for a new pan-European company structure. The 'EU Inc' proposal is the long-awaited 'Delaware moment' for Europe, finally providing Irish and EU founders with a streamlined vehicle to challenge the structural dominance of the US market.

Irish Legal News presents the latest in a series of articles facilitating dialogue between criminal justice policymakers, practitioners and academic researchers. Dr Sharon Duignan summarises the findings from her recent book, exploring the impact of short prison sentences and community sentences on

A new book explores how and why governments have failed to tackle money laundering, writes Robert Shiels. Without money laundering, it appears, few major crimes of acquisition would be worth the trouble. In the old days, in other words, shops, post offices and banks were robbed for their cash, and v

Professor Kevin J. Brown of Queen's University Belfast examines the detail of proposed new sentencing law in Northern Ireland. The recent introduction of the Criminal Justice (Sentencing, etc.) Bill to the Northern Ireland Assembly marks the most significant legislative change in sentencing policy s

Northern Ireland barrister James Stitt examines the detail of a significant UK Supreme Court ruling on "lost years" compensation for seriously injured young children. The United Kingdom Supreme Court recently delivered judgement in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026]

Dear Editor, I agree with my colleague Darren Lalor whose letter points to the absence of dealing with the outstanding unpaid eight per cent due to criminal practitioners under the legal aid scheme amongst other matters.

Niall Pelly questions whether Ireland will meet the transposition deadline for new EU pay transparency rules. In just three months’ time by 7 June 2026, member states are required to have transposed the provisions of the EU Pay Transparency Directive (PTD) into national law.

Dear Editor, I am deeply concerned that our District Courts will become the discount stores for justice. 

Frank Flanagan, Aaron Garavaglia and Daragh O'Shea of Mason Hayes & Curran set out practical steps for Irish companies to improve their sanctions compliance programs. The EU has operated its own sanctions regimes since the 1980s,[1] but they have expanded dramatically in the last four years. Whi

Robert Shiels reviews a new book on a man now seen as fascism's first adherent. Antoine de Vallombrosa, Marquis de Morès, was the first late modern politician in the West to emerge politically as a populist, an antisemite, and what might now be called a fascist militiaman.

Pádraig Langsch sets out proposals to improve efficiency in the District Court without sacrificing fairness. In my last opinion published on 26 February in Irish Legal News, I commented on the minister for justice’s proposal to introduce a flat‑fee system in District Court criminal le