Analysis

Karen Kearney, partner at Cantillons Solicitors, comments on the coming investigation into Aoife Johnston's death at University Hospital Limerick. I listened with interest to an interview on Morning Ireland on 5 January 2024 with Stephen Donnelly, our minister for health. He was asked by Rachel Engl

Is social media truly the silver bullet when it comes to marketing law firms? No, it’s not, writes Glenn Reid. This is not to say you should ignore social media when marketing your practice. It has its place, it's just a little further down the pecking order when it comes to the overall legal

Robert Shiels commends a new biography of the comic genius who fell victim to the USA's post-war red scare. This attractively produced book, with many photographs, is a social, political and cultural history of a crucial period in the life of an influential 20th century figure, an original and indep

Barry Crushell examines the circumstances under which a redundancy payment would ordinarily be payable to an agency worker. The case of Amanda Craddock v Head-Hunt International Limited (ADJ00036831) examines the circumstances under which a redundancy payment would ordinarily be payable to an agency

Keith Walsh SC criticises government plans to expand the jurisdiction of the District Court. The Family Courts Bill 2022 provides for the establishment of a Family High Court, Family Circuit Court and Family District Court as divisions within the existing court structures. The aim is the development

Professor Laurent Pech considers the future of the rule of law in the EU. The history of the rule of law in EU law has been one of gradual process of formal Treaty enshrinement followed by the swift development of the EU’s “rule of law toolbox” in response to unexpected backsliding

Professor Joseph Bristow’s impressive new study, which deserves close attention, shows that the civil libel suit and the criminal trials involving Oscar Wilde were understood to be within the legal procedures of the time, writes Robert Shiels. The significantly wider importance of his book may

Fieldfisher associate Hannah Unger and solicitor Dearbhla Walsh propose reforms to Irish dog breeding legislation. As Christmas draws closer and people across Ireland consider whether a puppy could be the perfect gift, it is important to take a moment and consider whether this is a right decision to

The cost-of-living crisis, a protracted war in Ukraine and a vicious conflict in the Middle East are among the emergencies that have meant a stressful year for many of us. Some upcoming respite over the Christmas and New Year break will be welcome. Sadly, though, that won’t be the case for eve

Clare Daly of Comyn Kelleher Tobin (CKT) offers an overview of a recent Court of Appeal ruling providing clarification on mandated reporting to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency following a disclosure of historic child abuse by an adult to a mandated person. The Children First Act 2015 provides for

Douglas Thomson reviews a new book by Ian O'Donnell, professor of criminology at University College Dublin, examining four very different prison regimes. In this book, Professor Ian O'Donnell visits and investigates four very different prison environments, all considerably unlike those within the ma

In the wake of the Dublin riots, it has been interesting to observe the political responses to the scenes of violence and disorder which befell our nation’s capital. The government has been in damage control while the opposition have been circling like sharks. Everyone knows that the riots ha

Belfast solicitor Brian Speers, chair of the Law Society Mediation Service (LSMS) in Northern Ireland, writes on an important case for those interested in developments regarding mediation. On 29th November 2023, the Court of Appeal in England and Wales issued its judgment in the case of James Church

Northern Ireland barrister James Stitt examines a Scottish case with significance for clinical negligence practitioners. Once more, a Scottish case has provided an opportunity for a substantial development of the law in the field of clinical negligence.

Time is something of a scarce commodity for solicitor Susan Martin. Like the principal of any independent law firm, she has been dealing with the inescapable practicalities of life that kick in at this time of year — a list of demands that were somewhat reduced when she recently completed her