News

Ireland is to follow Northern Ireland in introducing a ban on XL Bully dogs. New regulations will prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of XL Bullies from 1 October 2024 and it will become illegal to own an XL Bully without a certificate of exemption after 1 February 2025.

Apple is now legally required to provide rival mobile wallet providers with access to the contactless payment function on iPhones. The European Commission has made commitments offered by Apple legally binding under EU antitrust rules.

A tourist threatened by a blowtorch-wielding "pirate" was unexpectedly rescued by two naked men. Nudists Pete Sferra and Lloyd Fishback were taking a clothes-free stroll through the Castro neighbourhood of San Francisco when they spotted the person they described as a "crazy kind of pirate guy".

An English pupil barrister who swore throughout an ethics exam has been fined £500 (around €600). Jack Henry Sadler told the Bar Standards Board (BSB) that he was unaware — despite being told — that he could be heard and was being recorded during the professional ethics assess

The Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) has welcomed five new trainee solicitors this month.

Northern Ireland's Labour Relations Agency (LRA) is to host a panel discussion on the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ employees experiencing domestic violence and abuse. The 'Safe at Home, Safe at Work' event, taking place during Belfast Pride Festival 2024, will provide employers with insights and str

Equity partners at magic circle firm Linklaters have taken home nearly £2 million this year following record revenue and profit levels at the firm. Linklaters — which operates a small Dublin office advising exclusively on EU law — saw revenues of £2.1 billion in the year endi

Wide-ranging legislation on sexual offences and human trafficking has been approved by the Oireachtas. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 includes measures on sexual offence trials providing for victim and suspect anonymity, a right to legal representation where victi

Psychologists at Trinity College Dublin have launched a new research project exploring the experience of growing up with an imprisoned father. The study, being undertaken by a small team of researchers in the School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, will explore the experience of male children

The centuries-old distinction between "criminal contempt" and "civil contempt" will be scrapped in England under proposals set out by the Law Commission of England and Wales. 'Contempt of court' refers to a wide variety of conduct that may impede or interfere with the administration of justice, for

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has dropped charges against an Irish woman who was facing trial for attempted suicide and alcohol consumption. Tori Towey, 28, will be allowed to return to Ireland after UAE officials confirmed that a travel ban which had been imposed on her has now been lifted.

Patrick Leonard SC has been appointed as a vice-chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Commission on Arbitration and ADR steering committee. Mr Leonard is one of 12 vice-chairs appointed from different jurisdictions in recognition of their status as leading professionals in their respe

Greek authorities have begun issuing €350,000 fines in a major crackdown on unlicensed tourist beaches. Tourist companies have been accused of effectively taking over entire public beaches by installing and renting out deckchairs and parasols at an expensive rate.

Patents of precedence have been granted to 27 barristers and seven solicitors, allowing them to use the title of senior counsel. Just over a third (35 per cent) of the new senior counsel are women, a slight increase on last year but well short of 2022, when more women than men were granted the title

Seán Guerin SC has been elected as the next chairperson of the Bar Council, succeeding Sara Phelan SC in the role from September 2024. A qualified barrister since 1997 and senior counsel since 2013, Mr Guerin practises mainly in public law, including criminal, regulatory and administrative la