Families and individuals in dire need of emergency homeless accommodation are being refused access by some local authorities, masking the real extent of homelessness in the population, according to the Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC). In its latest annual report, published today, the independent la
Mercy Law Resource Centre
A new report published by Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) highlights the impact of family homelessness on minority ethnic families and children in Ireland. The report, authored by South East Technological University (SETU) lecturer Dr Méabh Savage, was formally launched by human rights lawye
Mercy Law Resource Centre has welcomed Erika Hayes to its team as a solicitor. Ms Hayes previously worked as a legal officer with Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) on corporate accountability for human rights abuses.
Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC), which provides free legal advice and representation to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, has welcomed Kate Heffernan as a solicitor. Ms Heffernan was previously an associate in Arthur Cox's litigation, dispute resolution and investigations dep
Law firms across Ireland have been asked to consider donating the last billable hour of the year to support Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) to continue its work in 2023. The charity today launched its second "Final Hour" campaign aimed at supporting its work providing free legal advice and represen
Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) saw a 10 per cent increase in requests for legal assistance and a dramatic 250 per cent increase in clients seeking to access emergency homelessness accommodation last year, according to its latest annual report. The independent law centre, which provides free legal
Victims of domestic violence who cannot return home should be recognised in law as homeless, the Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) has said in a new report. The Social Housing, Domestic Violence and the Public Sector Duty report was launched by Labour leader and legal academic Ivana Bacik at a multid
Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) will next month host a conference on social housing, domestic violence and the public sector duty. The multi-disciplinary conference in Dublin's Wisdom Centre on Tuesday 5 September, 9.30am–1pm, will see academic and legal experts as well as civil society voice
A&L Goodbody LLP has provided pro bono housing law support to more than 500 people since the launch of a unique partnership with Mercy Law Resource Centre and Focus Ireland five years ago. Established in 2018 with the help of the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA), a project of legal rights gro
The political row over extending Ireland's eviction ban shows why a constitutional referendum on housing is "urgently needed", a senior housing lawyer has said. Aoife Kelly-Desmond, managing solicitor at Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC), said the controversy "highlights the challenge faced by govern
Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) has called for changes to law and practice to tackle barriers that people with mental health difficulties face in accessing social housing and emergency accommodation. Mary Butler, the minister of state for mental health and older people, formally launched the law ce
Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) has announced the launch of its first-ever Final Hour Campaign, a donation programme to support the charity’s work providing free legal advice and representation to those at risk of homelessness. The 2022 Final Hour Campaign will ask law firms from across Irela
Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) has expanded its legal team with the appointment of Adam Boyle as a solicitor. Mr Boyle qualified as a solicitor in summer 2022 after training with McCann FitzGerald, where he worked in the litigation and dispute resolution department on matters involved fraud, defam
In legal circles it’s a rare occurrence when a rising young lawyer moves from a corporate law firm that advises multinational companies, financial institutions and government to one which provides free legal advice to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This, though, was the de
Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) has reported an increase of more than 180 per cent in queries from people who have been refused access to emergency homeless accommodation. The independent law centre received over 2,000 phone calls in 2021 and assisted 503 individuals and families at risk of homeles