Coronavirus

An advocacy group for families with loved ones in nursing homes has accused the government of failing to meet its human rights obligations with its investigation into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on nursing homes. Professor Anne Scott was appointed by the government in November 2024 to carry

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of two women who were charged with offences introduced by the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 when they refused to enter mandatory quarantine upon the return from the UAE in 2021. Delivering judgment for the Supreme Court, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly determined

The High Court has determined that the Marlin Hotel’s insurance policy was triggered by Covid-19 at its premises, which despite being unknown to the government, was instrumental in causing the subsequent level 5 lockdown measures imposed in December 2020. Delivering judgment for the High Court

Ryanair has lost an EU court challenge against the European Commission's approval of a €10 billion solvency support fund launched by the Spanish government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Spain notified the Commission in July 2020, at the height of the pandemic, of the aid scheme to set u

The High Court has upheld the constitutionality of emergency measures introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 which imposed criminal sanctions for certain gatherings and leaving home without reasonable excuse. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice David Nolan stated: &ld

Temporary legislation allowing companies to hold their AGMs remotely has been extended for a further year. The interim period of the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Act 2020 related to the holding of virtual meetings, including AGMs, has now been extended to 31 December 2024.

A PSNI decision to discipline two junior officers following a controversial arrest at a wreath-laying event during the pandemic was unlawful, Northern Ireland's High Court has ruled. Mr Justice Scoffield said he was persuaded that the decision was taken because of a fear, "whether real or perceived"

Medical evidence shows "no connection" between the Covid vaccination administered to a 14-year-old boy and his death 24 days later, a coroner has found. Patrick O'Connor, coroner for the district of Mayo, returned an open verdict after a three-day inquest into the death of Joseph McGinty in Septembe

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal alleging that the Department of Health breached data privacy and GDPR requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic. The court upheld the decision of the trial court in the Williams case [2022] NIQB 12, delivered by Mr Justice Adrian Colto

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has rescinded two orders rejecting the right to trial by jury in defamation cases between Sir Van Morrison and former health minister Robin Swann. The court found that the trial judge erred in considering the facts and issues in the two cases together to deny

Law firms Arthur Cox and McCann FitzGerald have been recognised for their volunteer work with legal rights group FLAC during the Covid-19 pandemic. FLAC honoured its "Covid Clinic Champions" at its annual justice lecture, which was delivered by Professor Philippe Sands KC.

Weekly prison visits have been reinstated from today for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Physical visits were suspended in March 2020 after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. They were partly reinstated in May 2022, but limited to one physical visit every two weeks.

Legislation is set to be drafted to bring the regulation of nursing homes in line with the recommendations of the Covid-19 nursing home expert panel report. The Health (Amendment) Bill will make a number of amendments to the Health Act 2007, which provides for the regulation of designated centres fo

The High Court has dismissed an appeal from an insurance provider against a decision of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) that it acted unreasonably by declining to cover losses to a business arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Hiscox SA had brought a statutory appeal claiming tha

A group representing Northern Ireland families who lost loved ones during the pandemic has been granted core participant status in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors is representing NI Covid Bereaved Families for Justice (NICBFJ), which is one of just 28 groups to successfully s