Opinion

The UK Supreme Court will soon have the opportunity to settle the law relating to the proximity issue of plaintiffs as secondary victims in claims arising from clinical negligence, writes Belfast barrister James Stitt. On 13th January 2022 the Court of Appeal of England and Wales handed down judgeme

Eoghan O'Sullivan of KOD Lyons considers the circumstances in which players can cross the line on the pitch and end up before the criminal courts. This year's season of GAA games saw some exciting and amazing displays of athleticism from the best that our counties have to offer in both hurling and f

Hannah Boyd of Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast examines how 'green leases' can be used to tackle the climate crisis. As businesses and corporations explore ways in which they can do their part to tackle the climate crisis, the role of commercial real estate cannot be understated. It’s estimate

The new legal year is fast approaching and that means a new cohort of devils will begin their careers at the Bar. While acknowledging that everyone will have slightly different experiences in their first year, I have put together some advice for new practitioners based on my own experience of devill

Bill Holohan SC considers the take-up of mediation by solicitors since landmark legislation was introduced more than four years ago. The Mediation Act 2017 commenced on 1 January 2018. Court rules for the District Court, Circuit Court and the High Court were introduced very shortly thereafter. In Ja

Jason O'Sullivan, principal and founder of J.O.S Solicitors, urges the government to take action in the wake of scrutiny of RTÉ's employment practices. The national broadcaster Raidió Teilfís Éireann (RTÉ) continues to face ongoing scrutiny and criticism of its wel

Ray Lambe, partner at OSM Partners LLP, dismisses the notion that lawyers are opposed to court reform. In a recent editorial, The Irish Times called for reform of the Irish court system and curiously linked the slow pace of reform to “entrenched opposition” within the legal profession.

Dr Conor McCormick of Queen's University Belfast examines recent developments concerning the office of Attorney General and its equivalents. This month marks the publication of my book on The Constitutional Legitimacy of Law Officers in the United Kingdom, which contains a detailed analysis of the f

Dr Phil Anderson, consultant in child, adolescent and forensic psychiatry, makes the case for an increase in Northern Ireland's minimum age of criminal responsibility. The minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) is the lowest age at which a child is deemed to have the capacity to commit a crim

Kevin Bell BL examines the future of the gig economy in Ireland. The significant judgment of the High Court in Karshan v. Revenue Commissioners has been overturned by the Court of Appeal. The ruling has granted companies in the Irish gig economy significant leeway, in that delivery drivers will cont

Teachers, like councillors, exercise what little power they have to what little ends they can. While few school pupils nowadays will actively be stopped from using the bathroom when nature calls, many of us have felt the disfavour of a teacher when attempting to do so. Perhaps the law should assist

None of us expect to be harmed as a patient in healthcare, yet, in Ireland, as many as 1 in 8 patients suffer harm while using using healthcare services. Johan Verbruggen addresses queries he has received about the Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019, which is currently be

Barrister Paul Marshall details why the UK government’s failure to reform the rules around computer evidence means the Post Office Horizon scandal could be the tip of a miscarriages of justice iceberg. James Cartlidge MP’s statement on behalf of the government – “We have no p

Matthew Howse, partner at Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast, considers the impact of the Electronic Communications Code on landowners in Northern Ireland. Despite significant reforms and changes in 2017, the Electronic Communications Code is set to be amended once more when the Product Security and Te

Employment law solicitor Richard Grogan considers the need for new legislation to address the gig economy. By structuring a contract in a particular way, a business can avoid giving an employee any employment law rights.