Our Legal Heritage

"Take that, sir. By God, sir, you shall more of this yet!,” cried Scottish banker George Morgan as he struck a merchant on the head with his umbrella. The incensed victim, David Landale, replied through the crisp Kirkcaldy air in measured breaths: "You are a coward, sir, a poor, silly coward."

From Dublin to Dundee and Belfast to Birmingham, the labouring poor of 19th century Britain and Ireland had to contend with the widespread scourge of child-stripping – the theft of their children’s clothing by heartless thieves who faced the full rigour of the law when apprehended. Local

In October of 1739 an Irish merchant vessel, the William, slipped out of Donaghadee harbour near Belfast and sailed into infamy. Its stated goal of collecting Norwegian timber shrouded the dark mission of its master William Davidson — to kidnap Scottish crofters and sell them into slavery in t

Perhaps Ireland's most famous — and unlikeliest — human rights activist, Seán MacBride was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 50 years ago this week. Born in 1904 to Maud Gonne, the actress, Irish republican icon and long-time muse of WB Yeats, and Major John MacBride, who was executed

Graham Ogilvy tells the story of a remarkable Scottish lawyer who became a reforming lord chancellor, developed the French Riveira and narrowly avoided a damaging sex scandal. The next time you are promenading along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, spare a thought for Henry Peter Brougham, the bri

In spring 1928, the Ballina Circuit Court awarded damages of £200 with costs and expenses to Mr Patrick Joseph Cunningham for the loss of services of his daughter, Bridie, who had been seduced by Mr John Horan at a farewell party for a local girl who was leaving for America. That case from les

A new display at Kilmainham Gaol Museum marks 100 years since the last prisoners were held in Kilmainham Gaol.

To mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Tom O’Connor considers the courageous conduct of two German judges who remained true to their principles and stood up to the Nazis. The shameful conduct of German judges under the Hitler regime was symbolised by the appalling behaviour of the fa

A successful University of Galway graduate once said that a great, but simultaneously annoying, part of being interested in tort law is that one thinks about their liability and that of others in everyday situations. The memorable Supreme Court judgment in the case of Weir Rodgers v The SF Trust Ltd

This has been a historic week for football with Morocco becoming the first African team to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final. However, the significance of this week in football history was already guaranteed in 1995 when the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) gave judgment in the case of

The late Supreme Court judge, Séamus Henchy, was born in County Clare 105 years ago this week to Patrick and Margaret Henchy who ran a shop in Corofin.

The first women were admitted to the barristers’ representative body 101 years ago today. Both Frances Kyle and Averil Deverell became students at the King’s Inns in 1920 after the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 and a resolution of the King’s Inns Benchers enabled women to

The Constitution of the Irish Free State was adopted by Act of Dáil Éireann 100 years ago yesterday. The 1922 Constitution officially came into effect just over a month later in early December after receiving royal assent. It was Ireland’s first Constitution and contained 83 Arti

The Supreme Court delivered its judgment in O'Shea v Tilman Anhold & Horse Holiday Farm Ltd on the 23rd of October 24 years ago. The case related to a night-time collision between the plaintiff’s car and a horse owned by the second-named defendant holiday farm. The incident caused signific

The High Court gave judgment in the momentous case of Foy v An t-Ard Chláraitheoir 15 years ago today. Dr Lydia Foy is a trans woman who had sex reassignment surgery in 1992. She was the first person in Ireland to issue legal proceedings seeking legal recognition and a new birth certificate r