Opinion

About three hours before the First Dáil Éireann sat in Mansion House at 3.30pm on the 21 January 1919, the first shots of the Irish War of Independence were fired. Irish Volunteers from the Third Tipperary Brigade had received intelligence before Christmas in 1918 that a large qu

The speed and frequency of how businesses communicate has evolved significantly over the last 20 years. Multiple emails, SMS and WhatsApp messages have replaced the traditional letter. This has had a considerable impact on the costs and resources now involved in complying with a discovery request in

Beale & Co partner Sarah Conroy and trainee solicitor Cian O'Gorman consider whether a proposed bill represents a constructive step towards the refurbishment of Ireland's planning and building processes. In a move to respond to some of the shortfalls in the planning process, the Vacant Housing R

After the Easter Rising, many of the volunteers focused on political activity rather than another rebellion. At Sinn Féin’s Ard Fheis on 25 and 26 October 1917, Arthur Griffith pledged: “we are remaking this organisation of Sinn Féin for the real purpose and object to

Dr Conor Hanly, lecturer at NUI Galway School of Law and author of the 2009 book Rape and Justice in Ireland, writes for Irish Legal News today on the issue of anonymity for rape defendants. The trial in Belfast of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding for rape brought the issue of defendant anonymity int

Professor Colin Harvey, professor of human rights law at QUB School of Law, reflects on the impact of Brexit on the discussion of Irish unity as the UK's exit from the European Union looms. The discussion of Irish unity is gaining momentum; Brexit has altered the nature of this conversation, as more

Rosemary Ioannou, managing director at Vannin Capital, and Gavin Smith, partner at Walkers Global, examine the future of litigation funding in Ireland. As matters stand, third party professional litigation funding (PLF) is prohibited under Irish law.

Máiréad Enright, senior lecturer at Birmingham Law School and co-director of the Northern/Irish Feminist Judgments Project, sets out options for reform. The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (HRPTA) makes no provision for exclusion zones to prevent protests at lo

The commencement of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 brings significant changes to Ireland’s law on domestic violence, including the introduction of offences under the heading of coercive control, the court’s express consideration of the victim’s psychological and emotional welfare,

Employment law solicitor Richard Grogan of Richard Grogan & Associates examines cases where the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 appears to be misapplied. In the case ADJ-15102, an employee brought a claim against their employer for public holiday pay. The Adjudication Officer in this case

Michelle Cronin, solicitor at Comyn Kelleher Tobin (CKT), sets out the significance of the newly-commenced Domestic Violence Act 2018. The Domestic Violence Act 2018 came into effect on 1st January 2019 and has been welcomed by those who assist victims of domestic violence.

Fergal Mullins, solicitor in the healthcare team at Hayes solicitors, writes on recent cases where solicitors sent their clients for medical assessments. The practice of solicitors sending their clients for specialist assessment by medical personnel without a GP referral has been the subject of rece

Minister Josepha Madigan, a qualified solicitor and family mediator, writes on the case for divorce reform in the State. The courtroom is a barbaric venue in which to pick over the carcass of a failed marriage, said Fiona Shackleton, Paul McCartney's divorce lawyer.

This year marked the launch of our weekly Irish Legal Heritage feature, in which Seosamh Gráinséir looks at the people, events, laws and cases that have shaped Irish legal history. Here, we link back to all of this year's instalments. Irish Legal Heritage: The first Irish witch and her

Barry Kelleher, solicitor at Comyn Kelleher Tobin, analyses a recent High Court judgment proposing greater personal responsibility and common sense in personal injuries claims. In the personal injuries proceeding of Vincent O’Mahoney v Nicola McCarthy Hanlon and Waterford and Wexford Training