Case Reports

The High Court has determined that applicants taking environmental challenges are not liable to pay for the costs of unsuccessful applications for the special costs regime. The ruling came after An Taisce brought proceedings against the State seeking to clarify that it was not required to pay for un

The High Court has refused an application by J & E Davy for particulars of allegations of fraud made against the company. It was held by the court that a prima facie case of fraud had already been particularised in the statement of claim and that, accordingly, Davy had a “reasonable pictur

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has rejected a challenge to the decision to refuse to set aside a subpoena ad testificandum issued by the High Court pursuant to section 67(1) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, in the context of an ongoing coroner inquest. The court found that th

The High Court has refused an application by Cabot Financial Ireland (Limited) to execute a judgment obtained in 2010 against a debtor. In so ruling, the court was required to consider the provisions of Order 42 Rule 24 RSC which relates to the execution of judgments that are outstanding for more th

The High Court has awarded €8,500 for injuries sustained to a child after he was cut by a ceiling fan after his father lifted him up. The child received a small but permanent scar behind his ear. The father claimed that he had twice complained to hotel staff about the low ceiling fan but was no

Northern Ireland’s High Court has dismissed an application for judicial review of the Covid-Status certification scheme, finding that the regulations introduced had been a legal, legitimate, necessary and proportionate response to the pandemic emergency. This decision was one of a series surro

Northern Ireland’s High Court has dismissed an application for judicial review arguing that so-called "vaccine passports" breached GDPR and data protection laws, finding that the unvaccinated applicant had insufficient standing for such a claim. This decision was one of a series surrounding re

The High Court has rejected a submission that judges who voted on the new Personal Injuries Guidelines should be recused from hearing a legal challenge to those Guidelines. The applicant brought judicial review proceedings seeking to challenge the adoption by the Judicial Council of the Guidelines o

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal brought by An Taisce against the grant of permission for a major cheese factory in Slieverue, Co Kilkenny. It was argued by the appellant that the new factory would consume 450 million litres of milk per year, and that the environmental impact of this consum

The High Court has accepted a proposed settlement of €32,500 for a boy who lost the tip of his little finger while ice skating. In so ruling, the court held that the offer was appropriate in circumstances where there was a “real likelihood that the personal injuries claim would be dismiss

The High Court has refused a judicial review application by two accused to prohibit their trial in the Special Criminal Court. The applicants argued that the SCC was a temporary and emergency mechanism but had become a de facto permanent court in the Irish system. As such, it was argued that the con

The Supreme Court has allowed an appeal against the surrender of a man to Poland to serve a sentence for minor drugs offences due to delay. The man had a suspended sentence for offences dating back to 1999, which he was ordered to serve in 2006. However, a European Arrest Warrant was not issued unti

Northern Ireland’s High Court has dismissed two applications for judicial review challenging The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021. The court found that the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement had not impacted human rights laws involving abortion on the grounds of severe foetal impairment, a

The High Court has refused an application for judicial review seeking to prohibit the Director of Public Prosecutions from pursuing charges against the applicant on the grounds of delay. The applicant was 15 years old at the time of the alleged offending but was not returned for trial until after hi

Northern Ireland’s High Court has dismissed a judicial review application where the original proceedings were still ongoing, and where the applicant failed to mount a case for early release or mercy. This was an application for leave to apply for judicial review where the applicant was seeking