Opinion

"If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out" and if he breaks another's bone, his shall be broken. So states Hammurabi's Code, an ancient exemplar of the precept of lex talionis. Why is revenge so compelling? Benjamin Bestgen explains all. See his last jurisprudential primer h

Brian Hunt, partner at Ronan Daly Jermyn, explores the history of gambling law reform in Ireland. The regulation of betting activities has always been distinct from that which applied to gaming and lotteries. The licensing of bookmakers in Ireland was first provided for by the Betting Act of 1926 (l

"Oh, sinnerman, where you gonna run to? Sinnerman where you gonna run to?" sang Nina Simone of those who flee judgement. But even the ends of the Earth were no safe haven for Adolf Eichmann. Benjamin Bestgen tells the tale this week of the most famous rogue Nazi and his dramatic rendition to th

Donal Dunne, associate at Eugene F Collins, looks at recent decisions with implications for UK-headquartered retail businesses. A number of recent High Court decisions in applications to restructure Irish retail businesses are of potential importance for those retail businesses whose parent company

Geraldine McGahey, chief commission of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, notes the continued importance of the landmark Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Today marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities – a day dedicated to promote full and equal participation of people

Benjamin Bestgen takes a look this week at robotic weapons and the law. See last week's primer here. Killer robots, or “Lethal Autonomous Weapons” (LAWs), have been in our popular conscience for decades. Science fiction fans are familiar with Isaac Asimov’s Laws of Robotics and mos

Dr Sandra Duffy comments on yesterday's English High Court ruling on children's access to puberty blockers. Yesterday the High Court handed down its judgment in the case of Bell v Tavistock NHS Trust, which case concerned a judicial review of the practice of the Tavistock Gender Identity Development

Fergal McGoldrick, associate at Carson McDowell, looks at the latest high-profile defamation case in London and considers how it compares to defamation in Northern Ireland. Amidst the gloom of rapidly darkening November evenings, and the doom of a global pandemic, the London libel court has roared b

Stuart Nevin, associate at A&L Goodbody in Belfast, considers the case law on vacant possession. The recent case of Capitol Park Leeds Plc v Global Radio Services [2020] EWHC 2750 highlights the requirement for tenants to follow the strict conditions set out in a break clause. In deciding whethe

"Usura rusteth the chisel/It rusteth the craft and the craftsman", wrote Ezra Pound. Benjamin Bestgen explains the practice of usury. See last week's primer here. In Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice we encounter two people lending money: the Christian merchant Antonio and the Jewish moneyl

Senator Ivana Bacik, a qualified barrister and legal academic, makes the case for the government to support the Labour Party's Citizenship Bill. Throughout the past year, despite the horrific consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic for so many individuals, families and societies, both in this country

Gearóid Corrigan, senior associate at Kennedys, gives an Irish market update on solicitors' professional indemnity insurance. After years of relative calm and stability in the professional indemnity market and ahead of the traditional 1 December renewal, we look at whether recent developments

William Fry partners Derek Hegarty and Laura Murdock give practical advice on common issues relating to legal advice privilege and jurisdiction. Legal professional privilege recognises a client's right to be honest with their legal adviser, without fear of disclosure of sensitive information to othe

Benjamin Bestgen asks us this week to consider just prices. See last week's jurisprudential primer here. Caricatures of fatcat lawyers and greedy shysters lining their pockets through frivolous claims and overcharging clients have linked the legal profession unflatteringly with money for centur

Barrister and lecturer Ruth Cannon recommends a new book on the funding of the Irish war of independence. There is a saying that money isn't everything, but everything requires money. The new counter-state set up by Sinn Féin in 1919 certainly did, if only to pay judicial salaries in its alte