Analysis

Robert Shiels reviews a new book on a man now seen as fascism's first adherent. Antoine de Vallombrosa, Marquis de Morès, was the first late modern politician in the West to emerge politically as a populist, an antisemite, and what might now be called a fascist militiaman.

Pádraig Langsch sets out proposals to improve efficiency in the District Court without sacrificing fairness. In my last opinion published on 26 February in Irish Legal News, I commented on the minister for justice’s proposal to introduce a flat‑fee system in District Court criminal le

Dear Editor, The State, the Judiciary and the legal professions have been most fortunate in having benefitted from the wisdom and professionalism, as well as the courteous and considerate manner, of the past and current incumbents of the Master’s Court.

Catherine Allen, Aoiffe Moran and Lauren McCausland of Mason Hayes & Curran examine developments on the powers of the courts to restrict serial and vexatious litigation. The recent Supreme Court decision of M v M [2026] IESC 2 provides welcome clarity, and reaffirmation of the law concernin

Since its inauguration in 1911, International Women's Day has evolved into much more than a symbolic diary date. It’s now an annual event that not only celebrates the achievements of women, but also sharpens the focus on inequality, calls for the acceleration of progress and challenges organis

Louise Heren reviews a new book on the headline-grabbing trial of Gayle Newland.

Jude Copeland of Northern Ireland firm Cleaver Fulton Rankin highlights two instructive cases on lawyers' use of AI. The Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) has provided a clear warning about AI misuse, use of public AI and false citations.

RDJ LLP's Diarmaid Gavin and Scion Flanagan consider proposed changes to company law. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) is considering responses to a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Companies Act 2014.

Pádraig Langsch outlines the flaws in the government's proposal for criminal legal aid reform in the District Court. The minister for justice’s proposed reform of criminal legal aid in the District Court risks causing serious and lasting damage to the administration of justice, particul

Council of Europe secretary-general Alain Berset reflects on the situation in Ukraine ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion tomorrow. Tomorrow, 24 February, marks four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Strikes on homes, schools, hospitals, and energy infras

Matheson's Joe Beashel, Ian O'Mara and Kevin Burns examine the law on stablecoins across Europe, including in Ireland. Stablecoins have become increasingly central to the crypto-asset ecosystem, serving as a bridge between traditional fiat currencies and digital assets. Initially used primarily for

Irish Legal News presents the latest in a series of articles facilitating dialogue between criminal justice policy, practice and academic research. Dr Orlaith Rice (UL) summarises the findings and policy recommendations from a research review on the needs of young women and girls involved in crimina

William Fry partners Jason Milne and Michelle Martin examine a Supreme Court ruling which clarifies planning bodies' climate duties and limits the decisive impact of s.15 on individual development decisions. The Supreme Court in the Coolglass case upheld the High Court's decision to quash the r

Robert Shiels reviews a new book on the rediscovery of a forgotten Nazi crime. The Einstein murders were listed as number 2,550 of the total of 5,884 incidents in the Atlas of Nazi and Fascist Massacres in Italy. The place of the crimes was the Villa Il Focardo, 15 miles southeast of Florence, in 19

Mahbooba Faiz, an Afghan-born lawyer based in Ireland, uncovers the detail of the Taliban's new diktat on criminal procedure. After nearly four years of legislative opacity and rule by decree, on 4 January 2026, the Taliban issued a new legal document in Pashto language titled the “Criminal Pr