Analysis

A new tipstaff has been warmly welcomed in the High Court, a reader tells Irish Legal News. For many years, the legendary Mr Ian Barclay was the tipstaff for the then Chancery list judge, including Ms Justice Reynolds, Mr Justice O’Moore, Mr Justice Allen and finally Mr Justice Sanfey. Mr Barc

Dr Andrew Forde responds to the furore over Ireland's intention to intervene in cases brought against Israel and Myanmar under the Genocide Convention. On 11 December, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin announced Ireland’s intention to intervene in the

Perhaps Ireland's most famous — and unlikeliest — human rights activist, Seán MacBride was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 50 years ago this week. Born in 1904 to Maud Gonne, the actress, Irish republican icon and long-time muse of WB Yeats, and Major John MacBride, who was executed

Robert Shiels looks at the "story of law’s reasonable person" — one that has "many beginnings and no end", according to Professor Valentin Jeutner, of Lund University, Sweden. Identifying the concept of a "reasonable person" is not an easy task, given, as this professor discovered, there

William Fry partner Dr Barry Scannell examines a recent trademark case in which ChatGPT represented one of the parties. Good idea: Getting a well-trained lawyer to represent you in a trademark dispute. Bad idea: Having ChatGPT represent you in a trademark dispute.

Being a public figure is tough. In some ways, few public roles are harder than those of politicians and government officials. The constant judgement, insults and threats alone are enough to put almost anyone off public service, writes Scottish lawyer Benjamin Bestgen. There is no denying that being

Barry Crushell highlights recent cases where employers failed to carry out proper investigations before dismissing employees. Very often, when an employer believes an employee may be guilty of some form of misconduct, there can be an immediate rush to judgment, which may prejudice any eventual outco

Robert Shiels reviews a new book on an infamous series of London murders. The purportedly whole story of the grim events at 10 Rillington Place, London has been offered to the public in different forms over the years but what version is complete, and separately, an accurate one?

Recent years have seen an impressive influx of significant international law firms to Ireland. They have arrived in the country to service multinational businesses attracted to the country by seamless access to the EU post-Brexit as well as the country’s growing reputation in areas such as tec

Dear Editor, The Optional Protocol to the Convention on Persons with Disabilities will come into force in Ireland on Saturday 30 November.

Professor Russell Sandberg suggests legal sanctions for blasphemy continue to exist in Britain following a ruling against Scottish comedian Fern Brady. The criminal offence of blasphemy is dead in England and Wales. It was unceremoniously abolished by section 79(1) of the Criminal Justice and Immigr

Amy McNicholas and Ana Harrington examine the legal implications of a new employment code of practice, outlining its key provisions and what businesses must do to comply with the updated guidelines. This week, the Department of Social Protection has released its Code of Practice on Determining Emplo

Legal academic Dr Dafni Lima responds to a new crackdown on surrogacy by Italy's far-right government. The Italian Senate recently passed a law making surrogacy a “universal crime”. In a country where surrogacy is already illegal, and has been since 2004, this decision takes restric

With Donald Trump taking legal advice on how to retain a US base on the Chagos Islands, Tom Marshall reviews a new book by Philippe Sands KC which reveals Britain’s duplicity in its dealings with the islanders of its last colony. The Chagos Archipelago, a small group of islands in the Indian O

Kevin Healy, solicitor at CKT, reviews a recent decision by Judge John O'Connor in the Circuit Court. An application was made under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 by the children of AB, who had previously been appointed as decision-making representatives (DMRs), for a deed of trans