A High Court judge has granted An Bord Pleanála permission to appeal a decision quashing planning permission for a 24-turbine wind farm near Lanesborough, County Longford. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys had upheld a challenge by environmentalist Peter Sweetman against the proposed development at Mountdillon Peat Production Bog, finding that the application lacked sufficient detail to justify the granting of permission. The turbines, which would reach a tip height of 185 metres, would constitute one of Ireland's tallest structures if constructed to maximum dimensions. In his ruling on the appeal application, the judge rejected An Bord Pleanála's contention that his judgment carried extremely wide-ranging implications, describing such concerns as "overblown". He stated that certain questions arising from the case would benefit from clarification by the Court of Appeal or potentially the Supreme Court. Mr Sweetman was afforded opportunity to consider a cross-appeal before the order is finalised.
A 43-year-old man from Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, appeared before the High Court on 26 October 2021 to contest his extradition to Northern Ireland on six alleged terrorism offences. The defendant, represented by counsel John Berry, challenges two of the charges, contending they have no equivalent under Irish law. These charges relate to attending a place used for terrorist training and receiving training in explosives manufacture. The State's counsel Karen Nolan argued both offences fall within the scope of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. The alleged conduct dates from August to November 2014 and centres on discussions about pipe bombs, potential targets, and recruitment strategy, based on covert police recordings. Justice Caroline Biggs indicated she would rule on the legal correspondence issue on 10 November before addressing remaining matters. The defendant was remanded on continuing bail pending that date.
IEGP Management Company, which runs the Ivy Exchange complex on Parnell Street, Dublin, has filed a claim in the fast‑track Commercial Court seeking over €800,000 in unpaid service charges from JOM Investments Unlimited Company, a firm linked to the Cosgrave family of builders. IEGP alleges it raised charges to cover remedial work for alleged fire‑safety defects in the development, work it says is necessary to keep the properties insurable and to mitigate danger to life and property. The company says it has received only 5 % of the amount it claims is owed. JOM denies the allegations, stating that all charges have been paid in full and on time, and argues the claim is an attempt by IEGP to fund the legal costs of separate 2018 proceedings.
In a High Court hearing on 22 October 2021, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) expressed scepticism that about 1,100 documents seized from former FAI CEO John Delaney are protected by Legal Professional Privilege (LPP). The ODCE, which seized 280,000 documents from the FAI in February 2020, seeks to use the material in its ongoing criminal investigation but argues that many documents may not be privileged because some were sent to non‑lawyers. Delaney, represented by Paul McGarry SC, contends that the documents contain legal advice given to him during litigation while he was with the Association and therefore should be privileged. The ODCE has requested details of any outstanding litigation involving Delaney and has asked the court to order him to provide this information within two weeks. Justice Leonie Reynolds directed that Delaney's lawyers be granted five days' access to the seized material so he can comply with the order.
Two men arrested in County Mayo have lodged objections to their extradition at the High Court in Dublin in connection with a fatal stabbing in Carlisle, UK. Kane Hull, aged 28, and Liam Porter, aged 32, both from Carlisle addresses, are sought in relation to the death of Ryan Kirkpatrick on 18 September. They were arrested by gardaí in late September following international arrest warrants. Liam Porter faces an additional charge of assisting an offender. The High Court adjourned proceedings today to allow consideration of the legal grounds of objection filed by each man's legal team. The case was adjourned for mention on 1 November. Both men previously appeared before the High Court on 29 September. In the UK jurisdiction, murder and manslaughter carry maximum sentences of life imprisonment, whilst assisting an offender carries a maximum of ten years.
In a High Court hearing on 21 October 2021, the court considered the ongoing dispute between residents of O'Reilly Avenue, Ceannt Fort and Mount Brown in Dublin 8 and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board together with builders BAM Civil Ltd and BAM Civil Engineering Ltd. The residents alleged that the construction of the €1bn National Children's Hospital had caused significant damage to their homes. The defendants denied these claims. The case, which had previously been resolved and then re‑entered, was adjourned to allow mediation led by retired judge Paul Gilligan. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey reported that "very significant progress" was being made in the mediation, though no details were disclosed. The court also heard that an application to add eight further residents as plaintiffs was granted, as all parties consented. The matter was adjourned to a date next month.
Two men arrested in County Mayo have appeared before the High Court in Dublin in connection with a fatal stabbing in Carlisle, United Kingdom. Kane Hull, aged 28, and Liam Porter, aged 32, both of Carlisle addresses, face charges relating to the death of a 24-year-old man on September 18th. The accused are wanted on suspicion of murder or manslaughter, with Porter also facing an additional allegation of assisting an offender. Gardaí arrested both men in the Carracastle area of County Mayo following their alleged departure from the UK on September 22nd. Evidence was provided by officers from Castlebar Garda Station confirming their identities. At today's hearing before Justice Paul McDermott, legal representation sought additional time to prepare objections to the extradition proceedings. The court adjourned the matter to October 22nd, 2021, for further hearing.
In an appeal-stage hearing, Mr Justice Paul Burns addressed the extradition of Farah Damji, a 54-year-old woman with a previous address at Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 2. Ms Damji was convicted in her absence at Southwark Crown Court for breaking a restraining order and sentenced to consecutive jail terms of 18 months and nine months, though an appeal court has since ruled they may run concurrently. The judge dismissed the respondent's objections to extradition, finding that UK prison medical care would not breach her human rights. He rejected arguments that she requires long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy unavailable in UK prisons, stating that treatment must be cruel and indecent to prevent extradition. However, the judge could not deliver a full ruling due to legal ambiguities regarding the European Arrest Warrant system post-Brexit, noting that the Court of Justice of the European Union is expected to return judgment next month. He confirmed sufficient correspondence in Irish law to allow extradition for at least one of the crimes. The matter was adjourned to December 6, and Ms Damji was remanded on continuing bail.
Youcef Madani, a 53-year-old Algerian national, was granted bail by the High Court before Mr Justice Paul Burns, despite objections from the respondent, Detective Garda Robert Comerford of the Extradition Unit. Madani is wanted by French authorities following a 2001 conviction in his absence for making false documents to facilitate terrorism involving weapons trafficking. During the hearing, Comerford alleged that Madani, who resided in Tallaght, Dublin 24, was an expert in false paperwork and specialized in fake passports. He stated that Madani had fled France during the investigation or court process and posed a flight risk, noting that Madani had been sentenced to six years in 2001. Madani's counsel, Maria Brosnan BL, argued that Madani was entitled to a retrial, had significant family ties in Ireland, and was receiving medical disability for partial blindness. She noted that Madani had surrendered his passport and that his son would act as an independent surety. Mr Justice Burns granted bail with reluctance, citing Madani's health and family circumstances. Conditions include signing on daily at Tallaght Garda Station, surrendering his passport, providing a €2,000 personal bond, and keeping the peace. Madani's son provided a €10,000 surety. The matter was adjourned, with Madani remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear before the court again on October 11.
Abderrahmane Yahiaoui, an Algerian man in his 50s who has lived in Ireland for about 22 years, was unable to attend a High Court hearing on 15 September 2021 because of medical reasons. He will appear again on 23 September to apply for bail. Mr Justice Paul Burns received a letter explaining the medical reasons and adjourned the hearing. Yahiaoui had been convicted of terror‑related offences involving weapons trafficking and was sentenced in his absence to six years in prison. Gardaí, working with the Extradition Unit, arrested him following an alert from the Garda PULSE and Schengen Information Systems.
Caroline Teltsch, a UK businesswoman, has taken the High Court to claim she was defrauded by former business partner James Buckley and his wife Paula. She alleges that between 2010 and 2018 the Buckleys engaged in confidence trickery, emotional manipulation and financial exploitation, causing her to advance over €2 million in loans that were never repaid. Teltsch says the money was used for a range of ventures, including the purchase of Jessbrook Stables (now Emerald Stables) for just under €450 000, refurbishment of stables in Co. Carlow, and personal expenses such as cars, medical bills and flights to New York. She seeks a judgment of just over €1 million, damages for breach of contract, and a declaration that the partnership with the Buckleys has been dissolved. Teltsch also applied for a Mareva injunction to prevent the Buckleys from reducing their assets below €1 million, but the court dismissed the application, noting that the defendants had not yet moved overseas.
A deaf primary‑school boy, represented by his father, has taken the High Court to compel the Minister for Education and his school to give him a full‑time qualified Irish Sign Language (ISL) teacher. The boy, who has been deaf since birth, is said to need an ISL teacher to receive an adequate education. His parents claim they have sought this support for years but have not received it. The school had at one time employed an ISL‑qualified teacher, but that teacher's contract lacked benefits such as paid leave. More recently, Special Needs Assistants have been hired, some of whom lack proper qualifications, and a qualified candidate declined the role because of low pay.
Kealan Harrington, a marketing executive from Ballintemple, Co Cork, has brought a High Court challenge against his discharge from the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF). The applicant claims the decision, made effective on May 17, was unlawful and breached natural and constitutional justice. He alleges he was denied a fair hearing and that his dismissal is linked to his role as public spokesperson for the family of Aaron Brady, who was convicted and jailed for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donoghue. Harrington asserts that the RDF cited a security risk, stemming from an incident at Collins Barracks, Cork, where he was allegedly accused of impersonating an officer. He maintains this was a misunderstanding and that he was never provided with specific reasons for the discharge. In judicial review proceedings against the Minister for Defence, Ireland, and the Attorney General, Harrington seeks an order quashing the discharge decision and remitting it to the Minister for determination in accordance with regulations. The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who directed that the application for permission to bring the challenge be made on notice to the respondents. The case was adjourned and will return before the Court in November.
In a High Court challenge, 19 people from across Ireland have sued the State over the Minister for Health's decision on 28 June not to launch a public inquiry into Covid‑19 deaths in care homes. The applicants, many of whom lost relatives to the virus while in care homes, allege that the refusal to investigate is contrary to the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. They argue that an inquiry would establish facts, enable learning, provide accountability, rebuild confidence in the sector and prevent future incidents. The applicants seek an order quashing the June decision, damages, and declarations that the refusal is unlawful, unconstitutional and breaches their rights. The case was briefly considered ex‑parte by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who noted the lack of medical evidence supporting claims of inadequate care and adjourned the matter for further review. The court will consider the documents later this week.
In a pretrial motion before Mr Justice Tony O'Connor, RTE has asked the High Court to strike out a damages claim brought by Labour politician Joe Costello. The action arises from RTE's defence in a 2018 defamation case brought by Sinn Fein activist Nicky Kehoe over comments made on a Claire Byrne radio broadcast in October 2015. In that prior trial, a jury found the broadcast implied Mr Kehoe was unfit for the democratic process, awarding him €3,500. The jury apportioned liability, finding Mr Costello 65% at fault and RTE 35% liable, though no judgment was entered against Mr Costello as he was not a party. Mr Costello now seeks damages from RTE and the State, alleging he was denied fair procedures and that RTE breached the 2009 Broadcasting Act. He also seeks declarations that a section of the 1961 Civil Liability Act is unconstitutional. RTE argues the claim is unstateable and bound to fail, noting Mr Costello did not pay the award. Counsel for Mr Costello rejected the suggestion the case lacks merit, arguing his reputation was damaged and he was excluded from the proceedings. Both parties deny the claims. The hearing of the pretrial motion was adjourned and continues next week.
In July 2021, reporters Allison Morris and Aoife Moore sued Twitter and former columnist Eoghan Harris for defamation. They seek damages and an injunction to stop further defamatory statements. Their case includes a 'Norwich Pharmacal' order demanding Twitter disclose identities, IP addresses, phone numbers, e‑mail addresses, and other contact details of those who controlled, used, or contributed to the named accounts, notably @barbarapym2. Harris, represented by Hugh McDowell, admits authorship of the account but denies the posts are defamatory. The reporters also want Harris to reveal the group of people who managed the accounts. The High Court, presided over by Justice Senan Allen, postponed the hearing to October after Twitter and the lawyers could not agree on the wording of the orders. The court ordered all parties to submit legal documents and sworn statements before the hearing date.
A High Court judge has reserved judgement on whether 1,120 documents seized from the FAI by the ODCE can be used in an ongoing criminal investigation. The ODCE seeks court orders to examine the material, arguing it is not covered by Legal Professional Privilege (LPP). John Delaney, former FAI CEO and notice party to the directions action, opposes the request, claiming the documents are protected by LPP and should not be disclosed. The ODCE's application follows a larger seizure of 283,000 documents covering 17 years. After extensive submissions, Justice Leonie Reynolds noted the ODCE's urgency and that there is no dispute between the FAI and ODCE over LPP coverage. She reserved her decision, stating she would decide as soon as possible. The case remains pending.
A High Court dispute concerning the use of the name 'Limerick Whiskey' has been resolved. The action was brought by Mr Nicholas Ryan and Limerick Spirits Company Ltd against Mssrs Anthony Foote, Liam McInerney, and Michael Fitzgerald, along with Limerick Distillery Company Ltd. The plaintiffs sought injunctions to prevent the defendants from using the 'Limerick Whiskey' name, restraining them from using allegedly confidential information, and prohibiting them from representing that their products were approved by the plaintiffs. Additionally, the plaintiffs sought orders to delete or surrender social media channels, web domains, and trademarks referring to the brand. The defendants denied any wrongdoing, arguing the claims were baseless and that no sensitive information was disclosed during 2019 discussions. Mr Justice Senan Allen had previously granted permission for the proceedings. On Tuesday, the matter returned before the judge, where counsel for the defendants, Paul Coughlan BL, informed the court that the dispute had been resolved and the proceedings could be struck out. No details of the settlement arrangement were disclosed in open court. The court accepted the resolution, effectively concluding the litigation without a final judgment on the merits.
Three security firms – Top Security Ltd, Morbury Ltd and Las Security Ltd – have lodged a High Court challenge to a Ministerial order that would introduce a new Employment Regulation Order for the security industry, set to take effect on 1 September. The firms argue that the process that produced the order was flawed, favouring large employers, creating an anti‑competitive outcome and potentially reducing employment. They contend that the market should determine pay rates for security operatives, allowing different rates for varying qualifications and employment situations. The order, approved by the Minister after a recommendation from the Labour Court, was based on proposals from the Security Industry Joint Labour Committee, which includes union representatives and large security firms. The applicants claim the process lacked transparency, that they were not represented on the Committee, and that no reasons were given for rejecting their submissions.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor aged 43, has filed a High Court challenge against the jurisdiction of the Special Criminal Court (SCC) over his murder trial. He is charged with the killing of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions, citing the 1939 Offences Against the State Act, has directed that Dowdall be tried before the non‑jury SCC. Dowdall argues that the SCC's existence is based on temporary emergency legislation from 1972 and that the Oireachtas has not enacted permanent law to justify it. He claims this breaches his constitutional rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, including the presumption of innocence. His lawyers seek an order to prohibit the SCC trial, declare it unlawful, and highlight the State's failure to secure permanent legislation. Judge Anthony Barr granted Dowdall permission to proceed, made the case returnable for November, and stayed the trial pending the High Court's decision.
Charity Bothar seeks to add the estate of its late founder Peter Ireton as a co‑defendant in High Court proceedings against former CEO David Moloney. Bothar alleges Moloney misappropriated charity funds for personal use, admitting he spent the money on family holidays and friends, never depositing it in a bank. He also claims some misappropriated money was paid to others, including the deceased Ireton. Bothar has secured a freezing order preventing Moloney from reducing his assets below €1.1 million. The court has scheduled a hearing on the motion to add Ireton's estate for October, after the summer recess, and has deferred a decision on whether Moloney's wife Olive should be named a notice party. Moloney, who resigned as CEO in February, has expressed remorse for the damage caused. Bothar's board has suspended fundraising activities following the discovery of the misappropriations.
In a High Court hearing on 13 July 2021, Mr. Ryan Moran, a Dundalk resident, sought information about a forcible search of his home by over a dozen Gardaí accompanied by sniffer dogs on 21 April. He was not questioned or charged, and the search, lasting about 25 minutes, damaged his property and led to the theft of €5,500 worth of items, including a laptop, TV and guitar. Moran claims the raid may have been a case of mistaken identity and that the search left him distraught, feeling unsafe and damaging his reputation. He has repeatedly requested a copy of the warrant and the grounds for the search, but has received no response. In judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Attorney General, he seeks an order to obtain the warrant, declarations that the refusal breaches his constitutional and ECHR rights, and damages for the breach.
Ms Bridget Delaney, aged 25, fell on a public footpath in Dungarvan on 12 April 2019, fracturing a bone in her right ankle. She received medical treatment, physiotherapy and a walker boot for about four weeks. Ms Delaney sued Waterford City and County Council, claiming negligence. In June 2019 she filed a claim with the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). PIAB assessed her entitlement to €3,000 in general damages, citing new personal injury guidelines that came into force in April 2020. Ms Delaney rejected the assessment, arguing it was insufficient, delayed, and breached fair procedures. She alleges PIAB acted outside its powers and that the Judicial Council's adoption of the guidelines violated her constitutional rights. In March 2021 the Judicial Council voted to adopt the new guidelines.
A contempt of court hearing concerning two witnesses in the trial of an unnamed 16-year-old defendant was adjourned until Friday. Darragh O'Connor and Craig O'Donoghue, both 20, are alleged to have left the jurisdiction for Ayia Napa to avoid giving evidence at the juvenile's trial. The 16-year-old, who pleaded not guilty to producing a knife, had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a house on Bandon Road in Cork city where college student Cameron Blair was murdered. The DPP discontinued the knife charge. During the out-of-hours High Court sitting, defence counsel reported that prison authorities could not facilitate consultations due to a harsh regime and one witness's reported Covid-19 symptoms. Mr Justice Keane ordered the two alleged contemptors to be produced before him on Friday at 10.30am. The 16-year-old defendant was remanded on continuing bail until Friday, when the case will be mentioned to finalise a date for sentence. The alleged offence of contempt of court is punishable by imprisonment, fine, or both.
Gemma O'Doherty was ordered by a High Court judge to remove three videos she posted online that were deemed defamatory. The videos alleged that staff at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital were forced to receive experimental Covid‑19 injections, that the hospital had killed thousands, harassed unvaccinated staff, and employed "psychopaths" who had committed crimes against humanity. The judge found no reasonable defence for O'Doherty and ruled that the statements were devoid of substance. He emphasised that while journalists have a duty to report on matters of public interest, they must not recklessly impugn others' good names. The court did not prohibit O'Doherty from publishing about the hospital or its director, but the injunctions to remove the videos remain pending the full hearing of the defamation action. The case was brought by the hospital and its director of nursing, represented by Eoin McCullough SC and Michael Binchy BL.
More than 270 High Court cases involving investor losses from the collapsed UK property investment scheme "Belfry Funds" were settled on confidential terms. The settlement was announced before the High Court on Thursday morning. The lead case, brought by 83‑year‑old investor Ms Bernadette Goodwin, had been adjourned to allow out‑of‑court settlement talks. When the matter returned before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, counsel John O Donnell SC for Ms Goodwin said the parties had used the time productively and that all cases had been resolved. The court could strike out all actions, vacate previous cost orders, and, on consent, withdraw allegations of fraudulent concealment. The investors had claimed damages for alleged negligence in the operation of the funds, which the defendants denied. Mr Justice O'Moore praised the parties' extraordinary work and noted that the cases had been pending for a long time.
In a High Court case, Janvier Tumusabeyezu, a Rwandan security guard, was injured when the car he rode in, driven by Daniel Muresan, crashed near Mullingar. Tumusabeyezu suffered soft tissue injuries, a bowel perforation, shoulder and back injuries, and later had abdominal surgery. He sued Muresan, who admitted negligence, and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). The High Court ruled that MIBI was not liable for damages awarded to Tumusabeyezu. Muresan had no insurance, licence, NCT or tax on the Mitsubishi Colt. He claimed he had informed passengers of the lack of insurance, but Tumusabeyezu and two other passengers denied this. The High Court accepted Muresan's account, supported by a garda sergeant's testimony. Tumusabeyezu appealed, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the High Court's decision and ruling that the claim against MIBI must fail. The case remains at the appeal stage.
A 36‑year‑old Londoner, Mark Nolan, appeared before the High Court in Dublin, escorted by riot‑gear prison officers, to face an extradition hearing. He is wanted by UK authorities on eight terrorism charges under the Terrorism Act 2000 and four child‑pornography charges, alleged to involve 250,000 indecent images stored on a seized laptop. The warrant, issued by Westminster Magistrates Court on 16 June 2021, also notes Nazi‑related materials found during searches of Nolan's London home in 2018 and 2020. Nolan was arrested by Gardaí on 16 June 2021, did not attend his trial, and was issued a bench warrant on 21 April 2021. The court adjourned the matter to 20 July 2021 for a possible bail application. The case is being processed under the EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Extradition Act. The hearing was brief, with Nolan remaining in handcuffs and no bail application submitted yet.
The High Court has opened a hearing to decide the amount of losses owed to four publicans who won test actions against FBD for failing to pay business‑disruption claims caused by Covid‑19. The plaintiffs are Aberken (Sinnott's Bar), Hyper Trust Ltd (The Leopardstown Inn), Inn on Hibernian Way Ltd (Lemon & Duke) and Leinster Overview Concepts Ltd (Sean's Bar). Mr Justice Denis McDonald earlier ruled that FBD's policy covered losses from closures due to the pandemic and that the term 'closure' includes partial shutdowns. The current hearing, also before Mr Justice McDonald, will last about two weeks and will consider issues such as partial closure, staff costs, late payments, trends, under‑insurance and capital expenses. The court will hear evidence on how each issue applies to each pub, noting that Sean's Bar was closed from March 2020 to June 2021 and that partial closure was not relevant to it. The hearing continues.
A male secondary school teacher has lodged a High Court challenge against the Garda Vetting Bureau's decision to disclose allegations of sexual impropriety to the Teaching Council. The teacher, who denies any wrongdoing, argues that the bureau's decision was flawed because it relied on documents that he and his lawyers were not given access to. The allegations, made to the Gardai in 2013, claim that he had inappropriately massaged the backs of two female children who were not his students. The teacher's counsel notes that the Garda Vetting Bureau had previously cleared him in 2006 and 2016, but the 2013 allegations were apparently omitted from consideration. The teacher seeks declarations that the bureau's procedures violated his ECHR and constitutional rights, and the court has granted a stay on the disclosure process pending the case's determination. The teacher's record is described as exemplary, and he fears the disclosure would have a devastating effect on his career.
Convicted murderer Freddie Thompson has brought a High Court action challenging the Legal Aid Board's refusal to pay his legal costs for a 2019 case regarding his detention conditions. Thompson, serving a life sentence in Portlaoise Prison for the 2018 murder of David Douglas, previously sought judicial review over conditions in the prison's A4-wing. That 2019 action was withdrawn in November 2019 after he was moved to the mainstream population, a move the respondents attributed to security concerns rather than the legal action. Following the withdrawal, a High Court judge recommended Thompson's fees be covered under the Legal Aid (Custody Issue) Scheme. However, the Legal Aid Board refused this in August 2020, a decision repeated in March 2021, citing that Thompson did not qualify because he had already been convicted, sentenced, and lost his liberty. Thompson claims this refusal is an error in law and unreasonable, arguing the Board failed to interpret the scheme consistently with High Court judges. Represented by Micheal O'Higgins SC and Keith Spencer BL, Thompson seeks to quash the Board's refusal and obtain declarations that the decision breached fair procedures, constitutional rights, and the ECHR. He further claims the scheme is constitutionally deficient. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to bring the action on an ex-parte basis on Monday, with the matter made returnable to a date in October.
Craig O'Donoghue, 20, was remanded in custody until July 12 at 10.30am by Mr Justice David Keane in the High Court following an out-of-hours sitting. O'Donoghue faces a trial for contempt of court after allegedly travelling to Ayia Napa, Cyprus, to avoid giving evidence in the trial of a 16-year-old accused. The State believes O'Donoghue and a co-accused left the jurisdiction to evade their witness orders. O'Donoghue was arrested at Dublin Airport on a bench warrant. The underlying trial involved a 16-year-old accused of producing a knife at a house party on Bandon Road, Cork city, where college student Cameron Blair was murdered. The juvenile pleaded not guilty to producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury, a charge the DPP discontinued via nolle prosequi. However, the juvenile pleaded guilty to committing violent disorder with two other persons present, using or threatening unlawful violence, causing fear for safety. Another juvenile has already pleaded guilty to Blair's murder. O'Donoghue was granted legal aid for senior and junior counsel for the July 12 hearing, where he is expected to attend electronically after a seven-day isolation period. The defence did not pursue a bail application. The alleged contempt offence is punishable by imprisonment, fine, or both.
In a High Court case, Portakabin Ltd and Portakabin (Ireland) Ltd obtained a Norwich Pharmacal order from Mr Justice Senan Allen, directing Google to disclose details of the Gmail account irishpeople2021@gmail.com. The order requires Google to provide the account holder's address, telephone number, any other email address, credit card information, IP address and timestamps. Portakabin seeks this information to identify the sender of alleged defamatory messages sent in March and April, which they claim caused serious damage to their business. The judge noted that the author, who identified themselves as a whistle‑blower, had deleted the account and requested the court not to enforce the order. The judge rejected the claim of anonymity under the 2014 Protected Disclosures Act, concluding that no legal right to anonymous letters exists. The order was granted to enable Portakabin to pursue legal or disciplinary action against the author. The case remains at the order stage.
Rose Wall, Chief Executive of Community Law & Mediation, confirmed that a High Court judicial review has been settled after the Department of Justice changed legal aid criteria. The applicant, an unnamed mother of two reliant on social welfare payments, challenged the Legal Aid Board's refusal to fund her family law proceedings against her allegedly violent former partner. The Board had classified her Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) as income, placing her above the financial threshold for aid. The applicant argued this decision was erroneous, noting that HAP is paid directly to landlords and constitutes social housing support rather than personal income. She claimed the Board failed to consider her lack of means and the nature of the payment. The internal appeal was rejected in October 2021, but the applicant secured permission to bring the challenge in January. The matter was resolved following out-of-court talks after the Department announced that HAP and other social housing supports, including Rental Accommodation Scheme and Rent Supplement, are now excluded from legal aid entitlement calculations. Ms. Wall welcomed the settlement and the immediate policy change, encouraging previously refused applicants to reapply. She also noted the Department's plans to review the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, hoping for further reforms to improve access to justice for disadvantaged individuals.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has initiated High Court proceedings to challenge a Special Criminal Court determination that a man's conviction for IRA membership constituted a miscarriage of justice. Michael Connolly, aged 47, from County Louth, was originally convicted in 2017 and sentenced to three years imprisonment following his observation by gardaí in convoy near Convoy, County Donegal, in December 2014 alongside another man found carrying two improvised explosive devices. The Court of Appeal overturned his conviction in 2018, and he was subsequently acquitted following retrial in 2019. The Special Criminal Court found in June that the original conviction resulted from a grave defect in the administration of justice, determining that an Assistant Commissioner's belief evidence breached the "double-counting" rule by relying on material also contained in the book of evidence. The DPP contends the miscarriage finding is flawed and unsustainable, arguing evidence properly established Mr Connolly's involvement in transporting the devices. Mr Justice Meenan granted a stay on the decision, with the matter to return before the High Court in October.
In a High Court judicial review, company director Nicola Byrne challenges Fingal County Council's decision to pedestrianise New Street in Malahide Village. The council's plan, which took effect over the June Bank Holiday weekend, was intended to support open‑air dining but Byrne argues it lacks legal authority, as it is not included in the Fingal County Council Development Plan or the Malahide Public Realm Strategy. She contends the pedestrianisation will divert traffic onto narrow streets unsuitable for cycling and walking, and that the council failed to conduct an appropriate environmental screening. Byrne also cites complaints of anti‑social behaviour, loss of business, and the council's claim that the 2020 pedestrianisation was a failure. She seeks orders to quash the decision and declarations of its invalidity. Permission to bring the challenge was granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, with the case set for a hearing in October and discussions underway regarding a stay of the decision.
In a High Court hearing on 25 June 2021, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor considered the HSE's claim that confidential patient data stolen in a cyber‑attack was downloaded 23 times from the malware‑analysis service VirusTotal, run by Chronicle Security Ireland Ltd and its US parent Chronicle LLC, a Google‑owned firm. The HSE said the 27 stolen files were uploaded to VirusTotal in late May, deleted on 25 May, but had already been downloaded by 23 subscribers. The HSE seeks a Norwich Pharmacal order compelling the two companies to disclose the identities of those who uploaded or downloaded the material, including email addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses or physical addresses. The HSE obtained a High Court order on 20 May restraining any sharing, processing, selling or publishing of the stolen data.
Sean Dunne and an Isle of Man trust have applied to the High Court to set aside freezing orders that were obtained by his children. The orders, granted last month, prevent the defendants from selling or dissipating the proceeds of sale of two valuable properties at Churchfields, Straffon, Co Kildare, and from dealing with the proceeds of one of those sales, which was sold for about €1 million. Traviata Ltd, a company registered in the Isle of Man and fully owned by the SD Trust, and Bessilton Holdings Ltd, the registered owner of the properties, are the parties subject to the injunctions. Mr Dunne, who now lives in the UK, argues that the injunctions are fraudulent and that the assets belong to the trust, not to him.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed a High Court challenge against a circuit court judge's direction to send a hard drive, allegedly containing thousands of child abuse images, abroad for expert analysis. The DPP argues that once the drive leaves Ireland, Gardaí would lose effective control over the images, potentially allowing further circulation beyond what is strictly necessary. The accused, who denies the charges and claims the images are not his, has requested forensic examination of the seized drive by an expert. The judge had previously allowed the defence to provide the expert with a copy of the drive, to be couriered to the UK, but the DPP contends that the judge lacked jurisdiction to order such disclosure. The High Court case seeks to quash the judge's direction and declare that Gardaí and the DPP cannot be directed to disclose a copy of the drive in a manner that would allow the material to leave the country.
The High Court has adjourned the extradition appeal of Imre Arakas (62) to Lithuania. Arakas, currently serving a six-year sentence in Portlaoise Prison for conspiring to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland in 2017, is challenging a European Arrest Warrant. Lithuanian authorities allege he conspired to murder Deimantas Bugavicius in 2015, alongside firearms and criminal damage charges. Arakas pleaded guilty to the Gately conspiracy in December 2018. During the hearing, defense counsel cited an eyewitness who identified Arakas as not present at the Bugavicius scene, arguing no decision to prosecute had been made. The Minister for Justice's counsel countered that the warrant was issued for criminal prosecution. Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned the matter, directing counsel to draft questions regarding the Lithuanian authorities' intention to try Arakas at the time the warrant was issued. The resumed hearing is fixed for July 15, with a mention scheduled for July 12. Arakas was remanded in custody until next month. His current sentence expires in October 2029.
Jonathan Collopy, a 34‑year‑old Limerick resident and father of six, was ordered by the High Court to be extradited to Bulgaria to serve an 18‑month sentence for a 2016 drink‑driving conviction. Collopy had previously been arrested in France on a European Arrest Warrant but was refused surrender. He contested surrender on the basis that Bulgarian prisons were substandard and that he suffered from severe back and disc problems, arguing that extradition would expose him to inadequate medical care and potential inhuman treatment. The court, after receiving assurances from Bulgarian authorities that prisons were not overcrowded, had adequate health facilities, and that Collopy would be covered by the National Health Insurance Fund, found no real risk of inhuman treatment. Mr Justice Paul Burns therefore ordered his surrender, giving Collopy 15 days to consider the judgment. The case was remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
In a High Court hearing on 21 June 2021, two members of the Irish Traveller Community, Ellen Delaney and Mary O'Reilly, brought a judicial review against Waterford City and County Council. The council's elected members had voted 16‑2 in March 2020 to refuse to build a seven‑bay halting site on Carrickpherish Road. The applicants argue the decision was flawed, lacking proper reasons, and was made after the council's Chief Executive had recommended construction in February 2021. They claim the council relied on erroneous assertions, such as the site being a Covid‑19 assistance measure, and ignored the overcrowding of a nearby Traveller group housing scheme. The applicants seek an order quashing the decision, declarations that no reasons were given, that the decision was irrational and unreasonable, and that it breached local housing obligations, human rights legislation, Traveller Accommodation laws and the 2014 Human Rights and Equality Commission Act.
A building contractor, Sepam Solutions Limited, secured High Court orders against subcontractors MDLR Ltd and Titin Ltd, claiming their actions delayed a new vaccine plant at the IDA Science and Technology Park in Dundalk. Sepam, contracted to provide plumbing, mechanical and electrical works, alleges MDLR has retained essential equipment and Titin has withheld a six‑figure down‑payment. The court granted injunctions requiring the defendants to return the equipment and the down‑payment, and to prevent them from reducing assets below €500,000 or dealing with the payment. The orders were issued by Mr Justice Senan Allen after the defendants failed to appear. Sepam says the delays of 12 to 16 weeks damage its reputation and threaten its contract to build the plant for WuXi Vaccines Ireland Ltd, which will employ about 200 people and produce Dengue vaccines for Merck, Sharp and Dohme. The plant is part of a biopharmaceutical facility in Mullagharlin, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Gemma O'Doherty opposed a High Court injunction sought by Dublin's Beaumont Hospital to remove videos she posted online. The hospital, represented by Director of Nursing Ms Marie Murray, claimed the videos alleged staff were forced to receive experimental Covid‑19 injections that killed thousands, and that O'Doherty described the hospital as a "death camp" and made other defamatory statements. O'Doherty argued the injunction was "spurious and outrageous", a waste of public money, and that her videos were based on scientific facts and whistle‑blower testimony. She maintained she was a journalist reporting on staff experiences and would not be silenced. The court heard submissions from both sides and reserved judgment, with the judge to deliver a decision soon. The case remains at the injunction stage, with no outcome yet announced.
In a High Court case, Curzon Livestock Limited, a Cork‑registered company that exports livestock to Libya and other North African countries, challenged a government ban on all live animal exports during July and August 2021. The company argued the ban had no legal basis, was irrational, unreasonable, unlawful and beyond the Minister's powers, and that it ignored the safeguards it normally applies. It sought orders to quash the ban and declarations of its illegality. The court had earlier required the application to be made on notice to the respondents. In March, the court heard that the Minister had issued a hot‑weather notification banning all live animal exports to North Africa for the two months, a ban also confirmed in other communications. The case was adjourned to October after the parties reached a confidential compromise, with the court noting the action had been settled on confidential terms. The company's legal team was David Holland SC of Cantillon solicitors.
The trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a 40-year-old man, all accused of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney, is currently at the sentence stage. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges relating to the alleged abduction and assault of Mr. Lunney in September 2019. The court is presently addressing a six-day legal argument concerning the admissibility of mobile phone data evidence. The prosecution, represented by Sean Guerin SC, argues that gardai were entitled to access this data via search warrants to investigate serious crime, citing a lack of clarity in EU law regarding mass retention. Conversely, defence counsel contends that such access interferes with privacy rights under EU law and highlights procedural irregularities in the warrant applications. Mr Justice Tony Hunt expressed frustration at the lack of structured guidance from the Court of Justice of the European Union on accessing phone data for national security purposes. The court, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, has indicated it will deliver its decision on the admissibility of this evidence next week. The prosecution is scheduled to continue presenting CCTV evidence on Thursday. No final verdict or sentencing has been recorded in this report.
A Canadian medical doctor who had flown back to Ireland from Canada to undergo urgent tonsil surgery was released from mandatory hotel quarantine after a High Court hearing. The doctor, who had been working in Irish hospitals for several years, had challenged the legality of his detention under Article 40 of the Constitution, arguing that he was exempt from quarantine because of his medical condition. He had returned to Ireland after a flare‑up of a tonsil problem that required surgery by a Dublin consultant. He had tested negative for Covid‑19 before arrival and was told he would have to stay in a hotel for up to 14 days because Canada is a designated country. His appeal against the quarantine order was dismissed, but the court found the matter moot after his release and adjourned the case for a later hearing. The only remaining issue is the cost of the proceedings.
A retired businessman, who cannot be named for legal reasons and now lives outside Ireland, has filed a High Court challenge against provisional findings made by the Child and Family's Agency/Tusla (CFA/Tusla). The agency had earlier this year concluded that allegations that he sexually abused a younger brother and sister more than 40 years ago were "founded" and that he might pose a risk to children. The man denies the allegations and argues that because he no longer resides in Ireland and has no contact with children, CFA/Tusla lacks jurisdiction to make findings against him or to assess him as a potential risk. He seeks orders to quash the provisional findings, to prevent further determinations that the claims are founded, and to declare that any assessment would be unlawful.
A retired member of a Catholic religious order, now in his eighties, has applied to the High Court for an order to halt his pending trial on four child sexual abuse charges dating from 1966 to 1969. The allegations, made by a secondary school student who was a minor at the time, claim that the accused assaulted her in an Abbey room, at a Convent while she was bringing communion, and once more near the convent, as well as a Christmas‑time incident where he allegedly pushed her against a wall. The accused denies all allegations and argues that the delay between the alleged offences and the charges—spanning more than 50 years—has deprived him of a fair trial. He also cites age‑related dementia and cognitive impairment that would impair his ability to defend himself. Represented by Hugh Hartnett SC, he has initiated judicial review proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions, alleging inordinate prosecutorial delay.
In a High Court hearing on 11 June 2021, Sepam Solutions Limited, contracted to supply plumbing, mechanical and electrical works for a vaccine plant at the IDA Science and Technology Park in Dundalk, claimed that its subcontractors MDLR Ltd and Titin Ltd had breached their agreements. Sepam alleged that MDLR had retained essential equipment supplied by the plaintiff, while Titin had refused to return an €830,000 down payment made for specialised materials. The dispute has caused a delay of 12 to 16 weeks in the plant's construction, which is intended to produce Dengue fever vaccines for Merck, Sharp & Dohme. Sepam seeks an injunction ordering the defendants to return the equipment and the down payment, and to prevent them from reducing the value of their assets below €830,000. Mr Justice Senan Allen granted Sepam permission to serve a short notice of the injunction application, with the case set to return later in the month.