In a High Court hearing on 17 June 2022, Xilinx Ireland, part of AMD, reported that up to 30 caravans had been illegally parked on its Dublin campus at Logic Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Saggart. The company alleged the occupants had trespassed, brought refuse, animals and quad‑bikes, and interfered with a fire‑safety water pump. Xilinx had commenced proceedings on 8 June, seeking an injunction to compel the occupants to vacate. The court granted Xilinx permission to serve notice. On 15 June, counsel informed Justice Siobhan Stack that the occupants had left the premises between 7 pm and 10 pm on Wednesday, after earlier failed promises to depart. Xilinx no longer needed the injunction but remained concerned about remaining material and potential return. The judge adjourned the action, allowing re‑entry if necessary. Xilinx thanked the court and Gardai for their assistance.
The High Court deferred judgment on a bail application for Brendan Treanor until June 24. Treanor is charged with participating in a robbery at the Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. His counsel argued that refusing bail while his trial was delayed from October to January next year offended his client's dignity, particularly given his limited contact with his newborn son. The Director of Public Prosecutions objected to bail under Section 2(a) of the Bail Act, citing fears of further serious offences. The court ordered that details of the application not be published. Separately, Aaron Brady was found guilty of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe by an 11-to-1 majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on August 11, 2020. Brady was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 40 years, as the victim was a garda acting in the course of duty. He was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery of €7,000 at the Lordship Credit Union, a sentence to run concurrently with the life term. James Flynn, also charged with the robbery, is awaiting an appeal against his extradition from the UK to Ireland.
The High Court has permitted the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to serve papers on Daniel Kinahan by registered post. Acting for the CAB, Shelley Horan BL informed Mr Justice Michael MacGrath that the US Treasury Department's April press release identified residential and business addresses for Kinahan in Dubai. Due to security concerns at gated communities, personal service was deemed difficult. Kinahan has 35 days to indicate if he intends to defend the proceedings, which aim to seize property in Dublin linked to him and Jim Mansfield Jnr. It is alleged that Kinahan and Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh gave Mansfield €4.5 million for property investment, a deal that collapsed before Mansfield allegedly agreed to repay the cartel with a house at Coldwater Lakes, Saggart. The CAB claims Kinahan has effectively owned the property since 2014. Mansfield and his brother, Patrick Joseph Mansfield, have consented to an order waiving any claim over the property. Kavanagh was previously served in a UK prison. In an unrelated matter, the Special Criminal Court jailed Mansfield Jnr for 18 months last February after he was found to have ordered the destruction of CCTV footage showing him with former employee Martin Byrne on the morning Byrne was kidnapped by Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. The court described Mansfield Jnr's actions as "foolish and selfish criminality" intended to hide his association with the kidnappers.
The High Court heard a challenge brought by Tracey Tully, mother of murdered boxer Kevin Sheehy, against the State's decision to allow the man convicted of killing her son to transfer to a UK prison. The 20-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle in Limerick in July 2019. Logan Jackson, from Coventry, England, was convicted of murder at the Central Criminal Court in December last year and sentenced to life imprisonment. He subsequently obtained approval from the Minister for Justice to serve his sentence in the UK. Ms Tully seeks to quash the transfer decision, contending it breaches her rights under the Victim of Crime Act and represents an unconstitutional abdication of State responsibility regarding parole determination. She fears losing input into any future parole application heard by UK authorities. The Minister for Justice is fully contesting the application for judicial review. Mr Justice Charles Meenan scheduled the hearing for July 15th.
Xilinx Ireland, a semiconductor manufacturer based at Citywest Business Campus in Saggart, Dublin 24, brought High Court proceedings against persons unknown, including Mr Aaron McDonagh, alleging illegal trespass. The company claims that between 25 and 30 caravans were towed onto its campus without authorization. Xilinx alleges the occupants have interfered with the site's fire sprinkler water pump, posing a serious safety risk, and have engaged in quad-bike joyriding, dumped refuse, and brought animals onto the premises. The company stated that despite Garda involvement and negotiations, the occupants refused to leave, though they promised to vacate by 9pm on Wednesday, June 15. Counsel for Xilinx, Stephen Byrne BL, indicated the company was prepared to wait until this deadline expired before seeking an interim injunction to avoid inflaming the situation. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore heard the matter on an ex-parte basis. He granted permission to serve short notice of the proceedings on Mr McDonagh and the other persons unknown, directing that service occur only if the defendants failed to leave as promised. The judge described the proposed course of action as sensible and adjourned the matter to Friday's sitting of the court.
Two groups of parents whose children were denied enrolment at a primary school have lodged High Court challenges centred on the school's admission policy, specifically the definition of a parish boundary. The parents argue that the policy, approved by the school's patron—a Roman Catholic Bishop outside Dublin—and published online, fails to specify the boundary, making it unclear who qualifies for priority. They claim they were told their children would not be offered a place due to oversubscription, and that the appeals to a three‑person committee under Section 29 of the 1998 Education Act were dismissed without addressing their concerns. Represented by Derek Shortall SC, the parents seek judicial review orders to quash the committee decisions, declare the respondents acted irrationally, and hold the patron accountable for not publishing an effective admission policy.
In a High Court decision on 3 June 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan dismissed a judicial review brought by Bridget Delaney of Dungarvan against the State and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). Delaney had challenged the 2021 adoption of new personal injury guidelines by the Judicial Council, arguing they were unconstitutional, breached her rights, and unfairly reduced awards by up to 40%. The judge rejected all of her claims, finding that the guidelines were made in accordance with the 2019 Judicial Council Act, that PIAB acted within its statutory powers, and that the guidelines did not infringe judicial independence. He noted that the guidelines were based on established legal principles and economic conditions, and that courts may depart from them only with rational, cogent reasons. The case will return for final orders on costs.
The High Court heard that the State has agreed to allow the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) to temporarily join the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) for public sector pay talks. RACO had previously been denied consent to join ICTU, unlike the Defence Forces rank‑and‑file body PDFORRA, which had been granted permission. RACO and its Secretary General, Commandant Conor King, sued the Minister for Defence and the Attorney General, claiming the refusal breached RACO's right to collective bargaining and violated the European Convention on Human Rights. After out‑of‑court discussions, the parties settled. The court will order that RACO may become a temporary associate member of ICTU until 30 June 2024 or until related legislation is introduced. RACO agreed not to call for or support industrial action, to refrain from encouraging protests or media commentary against government policy, and to maintain officers' unconditional availability to the State.
Ronnie Delany Jnr, an Irish businessman, has filed a damages claim in the High Court against Maybourne Hotels Ltd, its CEO Marc Socker, and two Qatari royals, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabber Al Thani. He alleges that letters published by the hotel group and Socker, purportedly as agents of the Qatari defendants, were sent to Irish recipients, including Paddy McKillen, and contained defamatory content that harmed his reputation. Delany claims the publication was part of a conspiracy to damage him and seeks exemplary and punitive damages, declarations that the letters defamed him and were conspiratorial, and an injunction to prevent further republication. The court granted permission to serve notice on the defendants, who reside outside Ireland, with potential service in the UK or Qatar. This case follows earlier disputes involving Delany's associate Paddy McKillen and the hotel group's ownership changes involving Qatari investors.
Patrick Flynn, 33, from Cork, is wanted in France for alleged involvement in a gang that sold poor‑quality driveways to homeowners in south‑west France. The men reportedly misrepresented the material as tarmacadam while actually using gravel and concrete, and they began work immediately after payment, bypassing the 14‑day cooling‑off period required by French law. Customers claim they could not locate the men after paying and that the companies used for payments were fictitious, with invoices not complying with regulations. French prosecutors have issued a European Arrest Warrant charging Flynn with money laundering, fraud and membership of a criminal organisation. If extradited and convicted, he faces up to 10 years' imprisonment. The High Court heard the warrant details and adjourned the case to 30 June.
Youcef Madani, an Algerian national, was remanded on continuing bail today until his extradition hearing scheduled for June 24 at the High Court. Madani, 53, is wanted in France to serve a six-year prison sentence following a 2001 conviction in his absence for making false documents relating to facilitating terrorism and weapons trafficking. He was arrested in Dublin last September after being stopped while driving under the alias Abderrahmane Yahiaoui, a name linked to him via the Schengen Information System. Detective Garda Robert Comerford of the Extradition Unit opposed bail, citing Madani as a flight risk who fled France during his legal proceedings and possessed skills in creating false paperwork. Despite these objections, Mr Justice Paul Burns granted bail with reluctance. Madani's counsel, Maria Brosnan BL, argued he was not a flight risk, noting his family ties in Ireland, his surrender of his passport, and his receipt of medical disability benefits for partial blindness. The court noted that Madani had been in the process of becoming an Irish citizen. The matter was adjourned to June 24, when legal submissions are expected to be ready for a half-day hearing before Mr Justice David Keane.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of an unnamed 71-year-old convicted child sex offender, allowing two separate circuit court trials to proceed. The appellant, who faces 270 counts of historic abuse against six minors alleged to have occurred between December 1978 and March 1993, had previously sought a High Court judicial review to halt the proceedings. He argued that the death of potential witnesses, the delay in bringing charges, and media publicity prejudiced his right to a fair trial. Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan rejected these claims in a January 2021 High Court judgment. In the subsequent appeal, Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, upheld the lower court's decision. The three-judge panel noted that the appellant's prior imprisonment for the sexual abuse of other minors was of central significance. Mr Justice Birmingham dismissed the appellant's suggestion that Gardaí inaction in 1987, when one alleged victim initially complained but did not follow up, as speculative. The court concluded that the issues raised were matters for the trial judge to address, stating it was not appropriate to halt the forthcoming trials. The appellant remains a convicted and sentenced person, and the matter is now set for trial.
The High Court heard that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is still trying to serve papers on Daniel Kinahan, who remains in Dubai, in its attempt to seize a luxury property in Dublin linked to Kinahan and jailed businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr. CAB's solicitor, Shelley Horan BL, said she will update the court on June 21 as the bureau continues its inquiries. She also reported that Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh, a senior Kinahan cartel associate currently in Belmarsh Prison, was served papers by pushing them under his cell door; Kavanagh declined to participate in the proceedings. Horan noted that the bureau has not yet found an appropriate address for Kinahan and may seek a substitute on the next hearing. The case remains at the stage of attempting to serve papers before any property seizure order can be made. The proceedings were adjourned to June 21.
A man in his 30s, diagnosed with schizophrenia, has obtained High Court permission to challenge the HSE's alleged refusal to provide community-based mental health services. The applicant, who has a history of homelessness, addiction, and convictions for assault and criminal damage, claims his condition deteriorated after release from prison, where he received effective psychiatric support. He alleges the HSE rejected referrals from medical experts, citing him as a "forensic risk," and has not offered appointments or waiting-list acknowledgement. Represented by Michael O'Higgins SC and Brendan Hennessy BL, instructed by solicitor Eileen McCabe, the man and his partner seek judicial review to quash the refusal or compel the HSE to consider his application. They also seek declarations that the HSE erred in law, breached his Constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights, and that he possesses a Constitutional right to the specific community care required given his lifelong mental health issues. Counsel argued that without these services, the man risks becoming a danger to himself and others. The application for permission came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted it on an ex-parte basis. Noting the urgency of the action, the judge made the matter returnable to a date in June. The parties cannot be named for legal reasons.
At the High Court on Friday, Mannok Cement Limited and Mannok Build Ltd sought an injunction to prevent Sean Quinn from trespassing on lands in Co Cavan, including Swanlinbar Quarry. The companies allege that Mr Quinn has repeatedly entered their properties without entitlement since late 2019, most recently on 8 May while driving a vehicle. They contend his presence poses health and safety risks given active industrial operations on site. Mr Quinn did not attend the hearing due to short notice but submitted a letter to the court. He offered an undertaking not to visit Mannok-owned properties provided he retained access to a roadway linking Swanlinbar Quarry to a cement factory, which he states he constructed two decades ago and requires for business interests and windfarm development discussions. Mr Justice Alexander Owens adjourned the application to the following week. The companies dispute Mr Quinn has any legitimate claim to road access or legal interest in the lands.
Two Mannok companies have initiated High Court proceedings against Sean Quinn, alleging trespass on Swanlinbar Quarry in County Cavan. Mannok Cement Limited and Mannok Build Ltd seek an injunction to restrain Mr Quinn from entering the site, which they claim he has accessed without entitlement on several occasions since late 2019. The firms allege the most recent alleged trespass occurred on 8 May when Mr Quinn was reportedly seen driving on the lands. The companies argue that as active industrial sites with operating heavy machinery, Mr Quinn's presence creates significant health and safety risks and that only authorised personnel may be present. The firms state they are uncertain of Mr Quinn's purpose but believe his actions constitute defiance towards management. The companies note that Mr Quinn previously gave an undertaking before Belfast Court in 2021 not to trespass on lands at Doon, County Fermanagh. On Wednesday, Ms Justice Siobhan Stack granted permission to serve short notice of the proceedings at Mr Quinn's address in Ballyconnell, County Cavan, on an ex-parte basis.
A judge ordered the arrest of Sandra O'Brien, a mother of four, for allegedly failing to remove her caravan from the Church Hill estate in Tullamore, Co Offaly. O'Brien had previously promised to vacate the estate by 10 am on 17 May, but the court found her caravan had moved within the estate. Mr Justice Alexander Owens directed Gardaí to arrest her and bring her before the High Court at a later date for contempt of court. The estate is managed by NAMA‑appointed receiver Aiden Murphy, who had obtained earlier injunctions requiring trespassing caravans to leave. O'Brien had been served with proceedings in February and had refused to vacate, citing lack of housing and safety concerns for her children. The receiver had considered prison but was left with no alternative after her refusal to comply.
A High Court judge, Mr Justice Charles Meenan, ruled that a challenge brought by former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly, which seeks to prevent a new inquest from potentially finding unlawful killing, is not yet ready for hearing. The judge noted that pre‑trial exchanges of legal documents and submissions have not yet taken place, and that once these are completed a hearing date will be set. Butterly, who owned the Artane nightclub that burned on 13/14 February 1981, causing 48 deaths and 128 injuries, has applied for judicial review against the coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane, and the Minister for Justice. He seeks orders to prohibit the coroner from considering an unlawful‑killing verdict, to quash the coroner's refusal to rule it out, and to declare that such a verdict is not permissible under the Coroners Acts. The coroner and the families of the deceased oppose the application, arguing it is premature.
In a High Court action, Dr Johnny Ryan, a senior fellow of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, has sought to have Google Ireland Ltd joined as a notice party. Ryan alleges that the Data Protection Commission (DPC) failed to investigate his 2018 complaint about the processing of personal data by Google and the Internet Advertising Bureau Europe. He claims the DPC's delay breaches the 2018 Data Protection Act and the GDPR, particularly regarding the Real Time Bidding (RTB) system used for targeted online advertising. The DPC denies any delay and has been instructed to file an opposition statement. The judge adjourned the case to late June, allowing parties to apply to the court if needed, and noted that any commercially sensitive material could be redacted. The case remains a judicial review of the DPC's investigative conduct.
A High Court judicial review action brought by Dominic 'Og' McGlinchey against the Coroner for Co Louth, Ronan McGuire, was adjourned to a date in July. The applicant, son of the late INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey, sought documents preserved by the coroner regarding the 1996 inquest into his father's 1994 murder in Drogheda. Mr. McGlinchey alleged that the coroner failed to furnish these records, including depositions from the late State Pathologist Dr. John Harbison and the applicant himself, despite requests made under the 1962 Coroner's Act. Counsel for the applicant, Ronan Munroe SC, stated that the coroner had indicated in correspondence that he would provide all material in his possession, which may resolve the matter. However, it remained unclear how much of the sought material the coroner actually held. Mr. Justice Charles Meenan stated he was not prepared to grant permission for the judicial review challenge given the coroner's position. Instead, the judge said he was prepared to put the coroner on notice of the application. The proceedings were adjourned to a date in July. The applicant had sought declarations that the coroner failed to comply with statutory obligations to furnish documents and provide reasons for any non-compliance, as well as orders directing the coroner to comply or explain the failure. The underlying murder of Dominic McGlinchey Snr remains unsolved.
The High Court heard that work on converting Lefroy House, a former homeless shelter on Eden Quay, into accommodation for Ukrainian refugees has stopped because the building was allegedly broken into and occupied on 1 May by a group calling itself the Revolutionary Workers Union. The Salvation Army, which holds a long leasehold interest and had been renovating the property, cannot access the premises or continue repairs. Lawyers for the Salvation Army presented evidence that the occupiers refuse to vacate, have renamed the building James Connolly House, and display flags such as the Starry Plough. The occupiers claim the building was seized under a 'People's Acquisition Order' and that they are protecting it from being retaken. The Salvation Army seeks an injunction to stop trespassing and to allow its agents to take possession.
Michael Lynn, a 53‑year‑old former solicitor, is on trial for the alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks between 2006 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft. In court he defended his decision not to disclose alleged secret deals with senior bankers, claiming he had been prevented from meeting Gardaí in Portugal in 2008 and that translation issues delayed his extradition from Brazil, where he lived from 2011 to 2018. Lynn said he had given senior bankers "spending money" or bonuses of €5,000–€10,000 while travelling abroad, and that he had paid for flights and hotels for bankers such as Michael Fingleton and Maurice Ahern. He maintains he repaid banks monthly from 1997 and that he and his wife now rely on welfare and family support. The trial will resume next week before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a High Court decision on a teenage boy's adoption application, Mr Justice Max Barrett criticised the use of the word "abandonment" in adoption law for causing unnecessary hurt. He noted that the boy, who has lived with a foster family since infancy, wished to be adopted by that family, which the Adoption Authority supported. The boy's birth parents had limited contact, and his natural mother neither objected nor consented, fearing the boy would feel abandoned. Barrett argued that terms such as "non‑performance of parental duties," "disavowal," or "relinquishment of parental rights" would be less hurtful. He emphasized that the judge's remarks were made in the context of the boy's best interests and that the adoption should proceed with the foster parents' agreement to facilitate access to the birth parents if desired. The decision highlighted the impact of language in family law statutes.
In a High Court decision, 59‑year‑old James Molloy, a glass factory worker from Nenagh, was awarded a six‑figure sum for injuries sustained on 16 March 2018 when sheets of glass fell from a trolley. The court found Tipperary Glass Limited negligent for failing to secure the glass, which weighed 100 kg and was estimated to number 10–20 sheets. Molloy suffered compression injuries to his lower limbs and back, lacerations, and permanent scarring, and was confined to bed for four to six weeks. The judge awarded €75,000 in general damages, €38,000 for loss of earnings to date, and a future earnings loss equivalent to four years of wages, with the exact amount to be finalised later. An additional €7,000 for special damages was also granted. The case will return to court to resolve remaining matters later this month.
In a High Court action, Dana Kavanagh (47) from Finglas, Dublin, sued Rihanna (Robyn Fenty) for alleged malicious falsehoods in an email sent on 11 July 2013 and a phone call to Kavanagh's sister‑in‑law. Kavanagh claims the email, which named her partner Geoffrey Keating – Rihanna's head of security in 2012‑2013 – caused her mental distress and destroyed a business she had built with Keating, called Geoff Keating Media. Rihanna denies the allegations. Two pre‑trial motions, including one about the discovery of certain materials, were resolved and could be struck out on consent. The case remains pending, with no hearing date set. Earlier, Rihanna's lawyers sought to set aside service of the proceedings at her New York home, but a 2018 judgment by Justice Miriam O'Regan found the service was valid under New York and U.S. federal law, though it noted "just grounds" for declaring the service affected by local court rules.
In a High Court hearing on 10 May 2022, Sandra O'Brien, mother of four, was warned that she could be jailed for contempt if she failed to remove her caravan from the Church Hill estate in Tullamore, Co Offaly. The estate is managed by a NAMA‑appointed receiver, Aiden Murphy, who had obtained orders in 2016 requiring trespassers to vacate. O'Brien had previously complied but her caravan had returned, prompting attachment and committal proceedings. She pledged to vacate by 17 May, citing that her family had no alternative accommodation and feared for their safety if forced to live on the road. Judge Nuala Butler reminded her that the receiver had no duty to provide housing and that any housing issues were the responsibility of the local County Council. The matter was adjourned for a week.
In a High Court decision, Justice Siobhan Phelan ruled that Arderin Distillery Ltd, which had purchased alcohol to produce hand sanitiser for hospitals during the Covid‑19 emergency, had not yet received a formal decision from Revenue on its application for excise duty relief. The judge found the distillery's challenge premature because no decision had been made, but acknowledged that the distillery had a legitimate expectation of relief based on assurances from a Revenue official. The court held that, in the absence of a refusal or acceptance, the distillery could not obtain the declarations it sought. The judge noted the health emergency's urgency and the lack of pre‑litigation correspondence, which had hindered clarity and increased legal costs. No interim relief was granted. The case remains at the stage of an unmade decision by Revenue.
John Moreharte, owner of Bellamont Castle and Dromore Lake in Cootehill, Co Cavan, has brought a High Court judicial review challenging An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant planning permission to Abbott Ireland. The applicant seeks to quash the board's March 14 decision, which allowed Abbott to extend its Dromore, Co Monaghan facility by 2,661m2 to increase laboratory, office, car park, and warehouse space for infant milk products. Mr Moreharte, represented by Evan O'Donnell BL, alleges the board failed to consider its obligations under the EU Environmental Impact Assessment, arguing an EIA was required given the facility processes over 100 tonnes of raw material daily. He further claims the board acted contrary to the EU Directive on Habitats. Monaghan County Council originally granted the permission, which was appealed by both Mr Moreharte and An Taisce. Abbott Ireland and Monaghan County Council are notice parties to the proceedings. The matter was mentioned before Mr Justice Charles Meenan at the High Court on Monday, who adjourned the matter to a date later this month.
Martin Cunningham, 27, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for assault causing harm and producing a machete. He pleaded guilty to these charges after the DPP dropped an initial attempted murder allegation. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to four years, citing Cunningham's remorse and early plea. The final 12 months were suspended for two years, with conditions including regular urinalysis and attendance at Probation Services programs. Cunningham, who has been in custody since April 2019, has already served more than three years. The court heard the attack on Kenneth Fitzsimons occurred near Finglas Garda Station and was part of a broader feud between rival gangs. Fitzsimons, who is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a firearm, suffered severe injuries requiring four litres of blood. The judge noted Cunningham remains at risk of violent reoffending and must address anger management issues. Cunningham was on bail at the time of the offence and was subsequently fined for driving offences while on remand. He also has previous convictions for driving without insurance, possession of drugs, assault, and making threats while in custody.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor aged 44, and Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, aged 58, have each filed a two‑pronged appeal against the High Court's refusal to overturn the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to try them for the murder of David Byrne, 33, at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall, Dublin, on 5 February 2016. Both men are charged with Byrne's murder and are scheduled to stand trial before the Special Criminal Court, a non‑jury court. In separate judicial review proceedings, they argued that a trial before the SCC would be unlawful and a breach of their fundamental rights, claiming the court was a permanent institution despite being established on a temporary basis half a century ago. Judge Anthony Barr dismissed these challenges, ruling that the legislation was neither temporary nor limited in time. The appellants have now sought leave to appeal Judge Barr's decision directly to the Supreme Court.
An environmental campaigner has failed in a High Court challenge to overturn An Bord Pleanala's decision to permit a weather mast at a wind farm in Co Cavan. Val Martin, a farmer and environmental campaigner resident near the Raragh Wind Farm at Corrinshigo, sought judicial review of the board's October 2020 approval for completion of a meteorological mast at an alternative location on the five-turbine site. Mr Martin contended that permission should not have been granted without an Environmental Impact Assessment, given the mast's relocation from its originally specified position. He also argued that two public notices should have been displayed near the proposed mast location. Mr Justice Cian Ferriter rejected these submissions, finding that substantial grounds had not been established to grant leave for judicial review. The judge held that the board and its inspector had not erred in determining that an EIA was unnecessary, stating their findings were unimpeachable in law.
A preliminary hearing at the Workplace Relations Commission in Dublin addressed a complaint lodged by broadcaster Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh against RTÉ. Ms. Ní Chofaigh alleges sexual harassment and victimisation under the Employment Equality Act, claiming she was sidelined after raising concerns in July 2019. RTÉ's legal representatives, including Mairéad McKenna BL, denied all allegations and requested a direction to keep the identities of alleged perpetrators anonymous. The adjudicating officer, Breiffni O'Neill, agreed to this anonymity order, warning that any breach would be viewed dimly. Ms. Ní Chofaigh's counsel, Claire Bruton BL, supported the anonymity instruction but insisted the hearing proceed in public. The adjudicator noted that specific allegations regarding comments made after a photoshoot would be heard in private. The parties also discussed potential duplication with parallel High Court proceedings, with Ms. Bruton citing a Court of Appeal decision allowing such claims to progress simultaneously. The matter was adjourned to allow five weeks for written submissions, with the full hearing scheduled to run for three days in late June.
A High Court challenge has been initiated against An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant planning permission for 227 apartments in Goatstown, South Dublin. The applicant, Mr Ciaran Mulloy from Woodlands Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin, alleges that the decision breaches domestic and European Union laws, including the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan, urban development requirements, open space guidelines, and building height regulations. He further claims that the board failed to assess public transport capacity and that the decision contravenes proper zoning and a protective corridor for the proposed Dublin Eastern by-pass. Additionally, it is alleged that the board's decision breaches the developer's obligations under the EU directive on Environmental Impact Assessments. Mr Mulloy seeks various reliefs, including an order quashing the board's decision. The action is against An Bord Pleanala, Ireland, the Attorney General, and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council, with Knockrabo Investments Ltd DAC as a notice party. The application for permission to bring the proceedings was heard by Mr Justice David Holland, who granted Mr Mulloy leave to proceed and adjourned the matter to a date in May.
A High Court judge dismissed a motion by Atlas GP Limited to set aside a December decision that granted Killiney residents leave to challenge An Bord Pleanála's planning permission for 255 homes on Church Road. The residents, represented by Stephen Dodd SC and Eoin Brady, argue the development fails to meet public space requirements and that the board acted beyond its powers, relying on inadequate environmental surveys and breaching EU directives. Atlas, a notice party, also sought to prevent the residents from amending their challenge grounds and to restrain any disinterested party from intervening. The judge rejected these motions, stating the residents' standing was not delegitimised by their subjective attitudes and that the case may ultimately fail but remains legitimate. Atlas has also pursued separate injunctions and defamation claims against the residents, which the judge noted could be viewed as SLAPP litigation but could not confirm. The residents continue their judicial review against An Bord Pleanála and the Attorney General.
In a High Court settlement, St James Hospital apologised to Barry Comer for misinterpreting two ultrasound scans of his late wife, Lyndsey Comer, who died of cancer in 2017. The hospital admitted the scans in October 2015 and January 2016 were incorrectly read as a possible muscle bleed, leading to a delayed cancer diagnosis. The settlement included a €25,000 payment, coverage of legal costs, and a commitment to review procedures to prevent recurrence. The court heard the CEO's apology and the judge noted the case was "sad" and "difficult." Mr Comer, a businessman and Gaelic footballer, expressed relief that the matter was resolved and emphasised the importance of accurate medical assessment. The hospital denied that earlier diagnosis would have altered the outcome.
In a High Court hearing on 26 April 2022, the landlord of a Dublin premises housing Liffey College, a language school with over 600 students, denied threatening to change the building's locks. Mr Paul Dormer, one of the landlords, represented himself and stated he had never threatened to alter the locks and had offered an undertaking not to do so. He also claimed an email had been sent confirming the locks would remain unchanged. The case arose from a rent dispute, with the school leasing the first floor and attic for four years and ten months at €160,000 per year, and arrears of about €80,000. Mr Haseeb Ahmed, the school's director, had secured a temporary injunction fearing the landlords might lock the premises, but the judge accepted the undertaking and postponed any ruling on legal costs. The landlords also contest the validity of a receivership placed on the property. The matter remains pending.
A Garda inspector stationed in Mullingar has succeeded in his High Court challenge against the Commissioner's refusal to backdate his promotion following a seven-month investigative delay. Inspector Tom Quinn was due for promotion to inspector rank in January 2019 but the advancement was suspended while the Garda Ombudsman investigated allegations arising from a shooting incident at Ferriskill near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. GSOC subsequently determined that all complaints against the inspector were baseless and that he had acted lawfully. Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled that denying the backdating amounted to wrongful penalisation over false accusations and breached constitutional rights to equality. The court quashed the Commissioner's refusal and ordered the promotion be backdated to January 2019, with legal costs awarded to the inspector. The judgment noted that failing to backdate would have allowed a private complainant to effectively determine promotion timelines contrary to established disciplinary procedures.
In April 2022 the High Court heard a proposal for Premier Periclase Ltd, a world‑leading magnesium products manufacturer, to switch from natural gas to renewable energy. The switch would require 18 months of work and would make most of the company's 94 employees redundant, though the court noted that after completion the firm might employ more people. Premier Periclase, which had been granted court protection in December 2021, owes €2.5 million to Bord Gais and €900,000 to electricity supplier Energia. Mr Neil Hughes, appointed examiner, was granted additional time to formulate a scheme that could save the business. The court also heard that a potential investor had withdrawn, but other investors remained interested in a renewable‑energy plan. The matter will return to the court later this month.
Ms Justice Mary Irvine, the first female President of the High Court, announced her retirement during a meeting of High Court judges at the Four Courts on Friday morning. She will remain in the position until the end of July, when the legal year concludes. Irvine began her judicial career in 2007 as a High Court judge handling the Personal Injuries list, later serving on the Court of Appeal after its 2014 establishment, and was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2019 before becoming High Court President in June 2020.
In a High Court hearing on 7 April 2022, Mr Justice Denis McDonald expressed disappointment that a further hearing was required to resolve outstanding issues between publicans and FBD Insurance over the quantum of losses to be paid for business disruption caused by Covid‑19. The judge noted that while some progress had been made, certain matters could not be agreed upon, and that the State might need to be included because one issue concerned government subsidies paid during lockdown. He had previously ruled that FBD's policy covered losses incurred by pubs that had to close due to the pandemic, a decision that affects claims by about 1,000 Irish pubs and restaurants. The judge adjourned the case to May, hoping to determine whether it could be heard before the August recess, and urged the parties to cooperate and provide precise details of the unresolved issues.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, stands trial for 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million taken from seven financial institutions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware that other institutions were also financing those properties. Inspector Patrick Linehan, the lead investigator, reported that Lynn was arrested on the day of 21 warrants and charged at a Garda station, where he made no reply to any of the charges. Lynn has pleaded not guilty. He was remanded and later granted bail. The case is scheduled to resume before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury on Monday. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has been reached.
The family of a two‑year‑old boy with developmental delay and suspected autism has brought a High Court challenge against the HSE's refusal to allow him to access health services outside his designated functional area. The boy is non‑verbal, has poor social skills, and struggles with walking and holding objects. He requires psychological, occupational, speech and language, and physiotherapy as soon as possible. The family was informed in December 2021 that services would not begin until January 2023, a delay they say could have permanent adverse effects. Under the 2021 Disability Regulations, the family applied for services outside the boy's area, arguing that waiting lists elsewhere might be shorter, but the HSE rejected the application in March, citing a lack of exceptional circumstances.
Former Taxing Master James Flynn and his firm, JT Flynn and Co Solicitors, have launched High Court judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, the DPP, and a District Court judge. The applicants seek to quash a warrant that authorised the search and seizure of confidential documents, files, and Mr Flynn's mobile phone from their Dublin City Centre offices. The search relates to a Garda investigation into alleged money laundering, which the applicants claim is a "spurious investigation" linked to a dispute over the exchange of damaged banknotes valued at €4,400. Mr Flynn was arrested and held for questioning for two days. The applicants allege the warrant was unlawful, breached privacy and property rights, and ignored less intrusive methods. They seek the return of seized items, disclosure of information used to obtain the warrant, and a decision by the DPP on whether a criminal offence occurred. The Law Society, Central Bank of Ireland, and European Central Bank are notice parties. The matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Charles Meenan on Monday. Counsel sought an urgent hearing, but the judge did not accept the matter was sufficiently urgent given the raid occurred over a month ago. Consequently, the case was adjourned to a date later this month, after Easter.
During the fifth day of Michael Lynn's multi‑million euro theft trial, solicitor Fiona McAleenan, who worked for Lynn's firm, denied that Lynn had paid her €50,000 toward the purchase of her family home. She said she did not recall any such contribution and was "completely taken aback" by the allegation. McAleenan confirmed she had received a bonus from Lynn but could not recall the €50,000 figure. She also denied being a partner in the firm, although documents were presented showing an email from Lynn announcing her appointment as partner and a memo she sent requesting the use of the title. The defence cross‑examined her on weekly reports, mortgage applications, and the alleged profit‑share agreement. Lynn, aged 53, remains on trial for 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions, with the case proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a High Court hearing, Garda Orlaith Fahy, who had successfully challenged her dismissal in 2021, remains without duty. Fahy, a probationary Garda from Finglas and Blanchardstown, failed a fitness test after an injury and was dismissed by the Garda Commissioner in February 2020. Mr Justice Max Barrett ruled the dismissal unlawful, but Fahy has not been reinstated. Her counsel, Mark Harty SC, informed Mr Justice Charles Meenan that despite the July ruling, the Commissioner has not acted, and that the only response received is a letter stating the matter is "with the legal department". Fahy has been out of work for two years and seeks fresh judicial review to order immediate reinstatement, salary, allowances, pension contributions, arrears and other benefits, and declarations that the Commissioner unlawfully interfered with her career and breached her employment and constitutional rights. Mr Justice Meenan agreed to allow new proceedings and noted Fahy's situation as "left in limbo.".
In a High Court hearing on 1 April 2022, Collen Construction Limited sought an injunction against residents of Castleforbes Square and Liffey Trust/North Bank Apartments who had blocked access to its new 270‑bed hotel and office development at Castleforbes Business Park, Dublin 1. Collen claimed the blockade had caused it to lose €350,000 per week, citing 16 lost working days and ongoing financial harm. The company offered €75,000 to community projects, which was rejected, and the protest resumed on 23 March. The court, hearing a sworn statement from Collen's counsel, granted an ex‑parte injunction preventing five named residents and unknown persons from obstructing entry or exit of the site. The judge noted the protest was peaceful, allowed for talks, and warned residents that they could pursue their own legal action if they had concerns about dust, noise or nuisance. The injunction was adjourned for a week.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor aged 44, was granted bail by the High Court ahead of his trial for the alleged murder of 33‑year‑old David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall, Dublin, on 5 February 2016. The trial is scheduled for 3 October before the Special Criminal Court, a three‑judge, non‑jury court. Two independent sureties—one €20,000, the other €10,000—were entered on Dowdall's behalf, with conditions that their bank accounts remain above those amounts and that Dowdall appear in court. Dowdall remains in custody awaiting the trial.
An appeal by Ms Bridget Delaney of Dungarvan, Co Waterford, has been lodged before the High Court to challenge new personal injury guidelines introduced in April 2022. The case, heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, seeks to set aside the guidelines adopted by the judicial council in March 2021, arguing they unfairly reduce awards by 40% and are unconstitutional. Ms Delaney claims the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) delayed her assessment until the guidelines were in force, breached fair procedures, and acted outside its powers. She alleges a fractured ankle from a fall on a public footpath in April 2019, sustained while Waterford City and Council were negligent, and that the PIAB's €3,000 award is insufficient. The action requests quashing of the PIAB assessment, declaration of unlawful guideline adoption, and other declarations, while the State and PIAB seek dismissal. The hearing is ongoing.
In a High Court judicial review, Mr Justice Barr ruled that Charlotte Mulhall is entitled to a majority of her legal costs in proceedings against the Irish Prison Service and the Governor of Limerick Prison. Mulhall, who was convicted of murder in 2006 for the killing of Farah Swaleh Noor, challenged her transfer to Limerick Prison, alleging it disproportionately interfered with her family visitation rights. Although the judge struck out the proceedings, noting that Mulhall was not entirely successful as permission to challenge the 2018 transfer was denied due to time limits, he awarded her 50% of the costs for the leave application and 66% for the full hearing. The judge stated it was just and equitable for Mulhall to receive some costs because she secured a change in the visitation regime, allowing family visits at neutral venues. The respondents, who opposed the costs claim, argued they had made bona fide efforts to treat Mulhall fairly. The judge placed a 28-day stay on the costs order pending any appeal. Background details note that Mulhall's sister, Linda Mulhall, was found guilty of manslaughter in the same case and sentenced to 15 years in prison, a sentence she has since completed.
Charlotte Mulhall, known as the 'Scissor sister', ended a High Court judicial review that she had brought against the Irish Prison Service, the Governor of Limerick Prison, the Minister for Justice & Equality and the Attorney General. The action, launched two years earlier, claimed that her transfer to Limerick had prevented close family in Dublin from visiting her and sought a mandatory order to transfer her back to a Dublin facility. Mulhall's lawyers informed Mr Justice Anthony Barr that she had since received several visits at neutral venues and that the court's intervention had achieved the desired outcome. The court therefore dismissed the action, and the matter was adjourned to decide on costs. The case highlighted the difficulties of prison visitation during the Covid‑19 pandemic and the limits of judicial intervention in prison management. The proceedings did not address any criminal convictions or sentencing of Mulhall, who was previously convicted of murder in 2006.