Case Reports

Northern Ireland’s High Court has sentenced John Brian Stelfox, a former practising solicitor, to six months' imprisonment for contempt following his failure to abide by a court maintenance order. Mr and Mrs Stelfox were married for more than 20 years and have four children. When they divorced

The High Court has refused to make an order for costs for a man who sought clarification on certain aspects of his uncle’s will. The deceased had gifted certain shares in Kerry Co-Operative to his nephew, but it was unclear if shares in Kerry Group plc were also gifted to the nephew. Ms Justic

The High Court has quashed a conviction for drink driving after the trial judge had relied on a previous conviction for the offence when determining guilt in the matter. The man did not have any previous convictions but had been arrested on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a vehicle. In the cir

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal brought by a Disability Appeals Officer and the HSE against a decision stating that the Officer had jurisdiction to amend a service statement for a child seeking disability services. The child had certain special needs but his service statement only provided

The High Court has refused an application to come off record which was brought by the solicitors acting for an elderly woman in a dispute regarding a will. The woman claimed that she was entitled to benefit from a deceased’s estate as they had co-habited for more than 30 years. However, concer

The High Court has dismissed a plaintiff’s medical negligence action against the HSE for alleged failures in diagnosing breast cancer. The plaintiff had originally felt two lumps in her breast but this was diagnosed as a simple cyst in May 2017. However, by October 2017, she maintained that th

The High Court has ruled that the State failed to comply with its legal obligations to meet the basic needs of an Afghan refugee on his arrival to Ireland. The boy was under 18 years old when he came to Ireland but he had no documentation and was refused accommodation. Delivering judgment in the cas

Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal has dismissed all grounds of appeal brought by a 62-year-old veteran involved in making and distributing indecent images of children. The man had been sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment in relation to 37 criminal counts following an investigation involving over 1

The Court of Appeal has overturned a decision by the High Court which measured a solicitor’s costs at €53,000. The solicitor had sued the defendants for fees for acting in litigation contesting a family member’s will. Delivering judgment in the case, Mr Justice Senan Allen held that

The Court of Appeal has upheld an award of €47,000 for a woman who injured her face while attempting to step over seats at a GAA pitch. The woman had been found 50 per cent liable for the injury, but the defendants argued that they should have no liability whatsoever based on the Byrne v. Arden

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by a Sergeant assigned to the Air Corps against a refusal to consider him for a promotion to Flight Sergeant. He had been refused the promotion because he had not completed a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer course. Delivering judgment in the case, Mr

The Court of Appeal has quashed a conviction for sexual assault against a seven-year-old boy on the basis that the trial judge erred in failing to direct an acquittal. The complaint in the case was that the accused touched the boy’s penis and rubbed their bodies together. However, the court he

Northern Ireland’s High Court has determined that a decision to quash a 2008 conviction for indecent assault in light of a legislative error and subsequently re-prosecute the case was unlawful. Mr Justice O'Hara ruled that the original conviction should not have been quashed in 2020 after it e

Northern Ireland’s High Court has quashed a decision by Belfast City Council to subject a consignment of Halloween costumes to a detention. The court found that the products could not be classified as children’s toys and the respondent therefore acted ultra vires.

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has increased a child murderer's sentence from 13 to 16 years, despite fears of double jeopardy and failures by the prosecution, as the interests of justice demanded it. This was a reference brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland