A mother has claimed that her baby is becoming ill due to the withdrawal of breast milk after the child was taken into care by the Child and Family Agency. The mother says the baby has rejected formula milk, is vomiting after feeds, and has not met weight markers. She is seeking a High Court order to allow breastfeeding to resume for the baby's health. The court heard that the mother had tested negative for opiates and that the prescribed medication was safe for breastfeeding. The judge described the application as unusual and noted that the case would require further affidavits before a decision could be made. The mother expressed concern over the lack of response from the CFA and the impact on the baby's wellbeing.
A Limerick man, Jeremiah O'Brien (55), who is wanted in Europe on a human trafficking charge, has been remanded in custody with consent to bail. He is alleged to have facilitated the transportation of 66 people from an unknown desert place near Nafplio, Greece, to Italy without life jackets. The boat was found stranded on a rocky shore near Gyalia beach. The State opposed his bail application at the High Court, citing concerns that he might abscond. O'Brien's defence counsel, Simon Matthews BL, stated that his client is a member of the travelling community who sells tools and generators across Europe and that the addresses provided were those of family and friends. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted the seriousness of the allegations but emphasized O'Brien's right to be presumed innocent. She granted bail on his own bond of €500 and an independent surety of €15,000, with conditions including surrendering travel documents, living at his Rathkeale address, and maintaining a curfew. O'Brien must also attend all court dates and not apply for travel documents.
A teenager has been awarded €700,000 by the High Court following the HSE's admission of liability for failures in ante-natal care at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar during 2009. The girl, now aged sixteen, sued the health authority through her mother over circumstances surrounding her birth. The court heard that a cardiotocography monitor remained unconnected between 2am and 6am on the morning of delivery on November 14th, 2009. The infant was born in poor condition and subsequently transferred to Temple Street Children's Hospital, where an MRI scan revealed diffuse abnormalities consistent with hypoxia ischaemia, a condition involving oxygen deprivation and reduced blood flow. The plaintiff's legal team submitted that midwives failed to commence continuous heart-rate monitoring and did not seek assistance from senior staff when concerning signs emerged. The child was referred to Early Intervention Services and later exhibited a range of neuropsychological difficulties, including fine motor and spatial skill deficits. Mr Justice Paul Coffey approved the settlement, noting the girl's progress in both academic and sporting pursuits.
A veteran Irish executive, Caroline O'Connell, described the stress of discovering she was being demoted from her role as managing director at a multinational company through a company newsletter. She spent 24 years with the firm, which is part of the international translation and localisation group Lionbridge. O'Connell raised concerns about being expected to sit on the dole for a year due to a non-compete clause after being unfairly dismissed from her high-earning position. Her former employer has conceded the unfair dismissal claim, and the Workplace Relations Commission is considering redress, with over half a million euro in dispute. O'Connell's barrister, Stephen Moran BL, argued that she was "unceremoniously ousted" in a "sham redundancy" in November 2024. She claimed she was informed of the job change in a newsletter in July 2024, which was particularly stressful after her long tenure. O'Connell also mentioned that she was given notice of the risk to her role just two days after a grievance process.
A High Court judge has expressed concerns about children's unsupervised access to the internet while sentencing a 16-year-old boy for orally raping his six-year-old sister and distributing images of the abuse. The boy had unsupervised access to the internet from a young age and was exposed to pornography. The judge highlighted the damage caused by unchecked internet use and called for action from the tech world and lawmakers. The boy pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including oral rape and distribution of child pornography. The court heard that the victim was taken into care and is now doing well with her foster family. The judge imposed a four-and-a-half-year detention sentence, suspended on the condition that the boy engage with the Probation Service. The judge emphasized the importance of rehabilitation and the need for strict supervision to ensure public safety.
Elon Musk and X Holdings Corp, acting as appellants, were granted permission by the High Court to challenge a formal investigation by Comisiún na Meán into whether the X platform contravened Article 20 of the EU Digital Services Act regarding internal complaint-handling systems. Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty also granted a stay on the investigation until the matter is heard next year. The appellants, based in the US, submitted that they are not the provider of the X service in the EU, arguing that X Internet Unlimited Company (XIUC) is the designated provider. They claimed the commission acted beyond its powers by investigating them without determining their status as intermediary service providers. XIUC, which also sought leave for judicial review, argued the commission unlawfully varied the investigation's scope and that the notice lacked legal certainty and specific particulars of suspected contraventions. Ms Justice Gearty granted both applications for leave to seek judicial review and ordered a stay on the investigation pending the hearing scheduled for January. The matter remains at the procedural stage of an appeal, with the investigation suspended rather than concluded.
A family of five living in a caravan on the side of a busy road in Limerick has been granted High Court leave to challenge a decision by Limerick County Council that they are not homeless. The family, who have no running water or a toilet, were told they were not homeless because they have a roof over their head. They previously refused offers of temporary accommodation due to safety concerns and criminal threats against the father. The family is seeking a court declaration that they are in need of emergency accommodation and a quashing of the council's decision. The court heard that the family has a history of housing applications and has faced discrimination and anti-social behaviour in previous accommodations. The case was adjourned to January for further proceedings.
A bride who fell from a second-storey hotel window on her wedding night, suffering serious injuries, has resolved her personal injury claim at the High Court. Jackie Sexton (nee Tyrrell) brought a case against Deebert House Hotel Ltd, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, following the incident that occurred in the early hours after her February 29, 2020, wedding. The hotel denied liability, claiming that windows had been properly fitted with restrictors in 2014 and were in compliance with building standards. Ms Sexton alleged negligence and breach of duty, arguing that the hotel failed to ensure her safety. She told the court that she and her husband returned to the hotel around 3:30am and went to room 217. She said she was smoking a cigarette at the window when she fell, and the next thing she remembered was waking up in hospital the following day. Her husband found her missing from the bedroom and heard her moaning from below the window. Ms Sexton suffered multiple fractures, a collapsed lung, and other injuries, which significantly impacted her life and career.
Olayiwola Saheed Akande, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, has lost a High Court judicial review challenging the Minister for Justice's refusal to grant him citizenship. The refusal was based on his failure to satisfy the 'good character' test under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, primarily due to a serious drug conviction. Akande, who arrived in Ireland as a minor in 2000, was charged in 2010 with possession of drugs for sale or supply. He pleaded guilty in 2011 before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. He was released after serving two years and 27 days, completing the Community Return Scheme in June 2014. Akande argued that the Minister attached undue weight to his single conviction, which he attributed to financial pressures following his father's death, and that his subsequent exemplary conduct and integration into Irish society should have outweighed the offence. However, Mr Justice Cian Ferriter upheld the refusal, ruling that the Minister properly considered all relevant factors. The judge noted that the decision was not based on a risk of re-offending but on the seriousness of the conviction outweighing the passage of time. The court declined to substitute its own judgment on the merits, affirming that it is for the Minister to determine whether good character is established.
A convicted murderer, Derek Wade, has been granted leave to challenge the Minister for Justice over a separate conviction in Portugal, which is affecting his ability to transfer to an open prison. Wade is serving a life sentence for the murder of Zhi Song and a five-year sentence for attempted robbery. He also received a seven-year sentence for the murder of William Cahill. A European Arrest Warrant issued by Portuguese authorities seeks his surrender to serve a two-year and four-month sentence for thefts committed in 2005. Wade's lawyers argue that the outstanding warrant has caused him prejudice in his efforts to progress within the prison system, particularly in moving to an open prison. The High Court has granted leave for a judicial review, and the case is adjourned to February. Wade's next parole hearing is in December 2026, and his legal team is seeking a decision from the Minister for Justice on transferring the Portuguese sentence to Ireland.
A detective, Det Garda Eamonn Cunnane, successfully applied to the High Court to argue that an investigation into the incident where he loaned an unclaimed bicycle to a vulnerable elderly neighbour caused his mental and physical deterioration, amounting to an 'injury while on duty'. The detective loaned the bicycle during the Covid pandemic to give it to an elderly, vulnerable man. He was suspended and faced disciplinary action. After being cleared of any wrongdoing, he returned to full-time duty. However, he seeks to overturn a decision by Garda superiors refusing the restoration of full pay for the six-month period of March to September 2024. The court granted the application for leave for judicial review and adjourned the matter to February.
A Tibetan Buddhist monk is in a legal limbo as the Irish State refuses to grant him an extension to appeal his asylum rejection. The monk, who cannot be named, claims he fled China for political reasons and fears persecution. His legal team argues that extraordinary circumstances, including a bombing in Sudan that delayed his appeal, should be considered. The monk has been in Ireland since 2024 and was denied asylum in January. His legal team is challenging the International Protection Appeals Tribunal's decision, claiming the delay was beyond his control. The High Court has adjourned the matter for further consideration. The monk's legal team submitted that a family member of his legal secretary was killed in the bombing, causing a delay in filing the appeal. The tribunal previously refused an extension, stating it had no jurisdiction to reconsider the case. The monk's situation remains unresolved as the court continues to review his appeal.
A mother of three received an apology from St James' Hospital for the under-reporting of a cervical smear test in 2004, which may have led to her later diagnosis of cervical cancer. The woman claimed that the hospital failed to correctly report abnormal cells in the 2004 test, which could have triggered early intervention. The case was consolidated against the hospital and the HSE, with the hospital admitting a breach of duty in a letter of apology. The apology acknowledged that had the 2004 test been correctly reported, the woman may have been referred for colposcopy and the pre-cancerous cells could have been treated. The court was informed that the matter had been resolved to the woman's satisfaction, and the judge wished her and her husband all the best for the future.
XTX Markets Technologies Ltd, a company owned by billionaire Dr Alexander Gerko, won an appeal against a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that it had no standing to bring a racial discrimination claim. The High Court ruled that corporate entities may have standing under the Equal Status Act 2000. The company alleged that Aviva Investors Liquidity Funds PLC discriminated against it by refusing to do business due to its association with Gerko, a Russian-born individual. The court found that the term 'person' in the legislation could include corporate entities and referred the matter back to the WRC for a full hearing. The ruling was based on the interpretation of the European directive on racial equality, which includes protections for corporate entities.
A mother who killed her three children while suffering from a mental disorder is challenging a coroner's decision to limit medical evidence in the inquests into their deaths. Deirdre Morley, a paediatric nurse, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the 2020 killings of her children. Her lawyers are seeking a judicial review of the coroner's decision to exclude medical professionals who treated her before the incident from giving evidence. The coroner instead plans to rely on expert testimony from psychiatrists who gave evidence at Morley's trial. Morley's legal team argues that the inquest would be inadequate without assessing her mental state at the time of the killings. The High Court granted an application to expedite the matter, with the case adjourned to December 8.
A Limerick man is wanted in Europe for allegedly attempting to traffic 66 people from Greece to Italy by speedboat. Jeremiah O'Brien (55) was arrested on an SIS alert related to a European warrant. Detective Garda Tony Keane testified that O'Brien, along with two others, rented a car and a 12m speedboat to transport the individuals, who paid between $4,000 and $6,000 each. The boat was discovered stranded on a rocky shore near Gylalia beach, with the 66 people including 30 adult men, 14 adult women, and 22 children from Iraq, Syria, and Iran. O'Brien denied being in Greece and claimed he had no knowledge of the incident. The court remanded him in custody to appear again on December 9.
Edward Bradbury, a solicitor, has been granted permission to challenge an order that he pay €500 to the District Court 'poor box' after he was unable to attend a hearing. Bradbury was acting for a bailed defendant in a criminal case when he was required to attend another court in Dublin on the same day. He asked a colleague to represent the client, but the case was adjourned because the defendant wished for Bradbury's office to be present. Later, Bradbury received an email from the court stating that he had been fined €500 to be paid to the poor box. Bradbury's solicitors argued that the judge did not have jurisdiction to impose such a penalty and that the fine was issued without formal notification. Bradbury submitted that the poor box is a common law creation and has no place in the supervision of a member of a regulated profession. The High Court granted leave to pursue the challenge, and the matter was adjourned to the New Year.
Conor McGregor has been granted permission to serve legal papers on Sky News for alleged defamation following his civil trial last year, where he was found liable for the rape of Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel. At the High Court, Paul O'Higgins SC, representing McGregor, successfully applied to Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty to serve plenary summons papers on Sky News UK, Sky News Ltd, and Sky News Ireland. The application was made due to the one-year time limit for defamation cases, which is set to expire on November 22, 2025. O'Higgins stated that a Sky News reporter allegedly called McGregor a rapist during a media scrum outside the Four Courts in Dublin. McGregor was ordered to pay nearly €1.5M in legal costs after the jury awarded Hand almost €250K in damages. McGregor denied the assault and lost his appeal, with new witness evidence withdrawn on the first day of the appeal. He is now awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court on whether to hear his appeal.
The full cost of the damage to James 'Mago' Gately's Dublin home, which was seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), has yet to be calculated, the High Court has been told. Gately's house, which he renovated at a cost of €440K, was sold at auction for €308K. The court heard that the property was severely damaged after the CAB seized it, and repairs were made before the sale. David Dodd BL, for CAB, requested an adjournment to calculate the repair costs. The court previously ruled that Gately and his former partner, Charlene Lam, had funded their lavish lifestyle with proceeds of crime. Lam, who vacated the property before the damage occurred, is entitled to €11K from the sale. The case continues with the matter adjourned for mention next month. Gately, who has never been convicted of serious offenses, has been linked to organized crime but has survived multiple attempts on his life.
An Irish father who claims the Polish State stole his child has been given a court date for a hearing regarding his case against the Irish State for not assisting in the child's return. The father, who cannot be identified to protect the child's identity, accused Polish authorities of 'severe corruption' and said they had 'declared war' on him. He is seeking court orders directing the Irish State to take immediate action at the highest EU levels to help return his child, who is an Irish citizen. The child was taken to Poland by her mother in February 2024 without the father's consent. Despite a Polish court order for the child's return, the father has been unable to locate her. The Polish order is being appealed for the second time by the children's ombudsman in Poland.
Conor Meyler, a Tyrone senior inter‑county footballer and 2021 All‑Ireland winner, has filed a defamation claim against the Irish Post and its parent company, The Color Company (TM) Ltd. The High Court heard that the Irish Post published an article in January 2025 containing untrue details about Meyler. He alleges the article caused him loss, damage, inconvenience, expense, distress, embarrassment, annoyance and anxiety. The court allowed the Color Company to join as a co‑defendant and adjourned the case for a later hearing.
A jury deadlocked in a High Court case brought by former Garda John Bowe, aged 41, who alleged he was wrongfully struck by a 6'8″ Garda with a baton after a high‑speed pursuit outside Bunclody, Co. Wexford, on 5 December 2014. Bowe, who had been convicted of dangerous driving following the chase, claimed the baton strike by Superintendent Rory Sheriff caused injuries and a diagnosis of functional neurological disorder. Sheriff maintained the strike was proportionate and justified, citing a 25‑minute chase at speeds over 140 kph and an alleged attempt by Bowe to attack him with a metallic object that turned out to be keys with bottle openers. The case also named the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General and Ireland.
The High Court has upheld a disciplinary tribunal finding against suspended Roscommon solicitor Declan O'Callaghan regarding professional misconduct over a 2006 land transfer in Mayo. Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins dismissed three of the four complaints brought by Nirvanna Property Holdings Ltd, run by Tom Fleming, but upheld the finding that O'Callaghan acted for both the vendor and purchaser in a conflict of interest. The judge stated that acting for both sides in this transaction represented a serious falling short of professional standards, though he was not minded to conclude O'Callaghan was guilty of dishonesty. The court found it was not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the vendor was owed €250,000, nor that O'Callaghan provided inadequate services or improperly continued acting for the purchaser. O'Callaghan, who has been suspended since 2018 over a separate matter involving alleged client account deficits, had argued he was not given a fair hearing. The tribunal's original recommendation to strike him off the roll remains on hold. The matter was adjourned to the New Year for submissions on costs and the appropriate sanction.
In a High Court hearing on 13 November 2025, former Garda John Bowe (41) alleged that he was wrongfully and violently struck by Superintendent Rory Sheriff, a 6'8″ former rugby player, during a high‑speed chase that took place outside Bunclody, County Wexford, on 5 December 2014. Bowe, who had been driving at speeds over 140 kph for 25 minutes, was pursued through a field and, according to Bowe, turned back at Sheriff with a metallic object that turned out to be keys with bottle openers. Sheriff claimed he used his baton in proportionate force after Bowe lunged at him. Bowe was later convicted of dangerous driving offences arising from the chase. He now seeks compensation for alleged injuries, claiming a functional neurological disorder, and has denied that the baton strike was justified. The case is pending jury deliberation.
In a High Court hearing on 12 November 2025, Garda Superintendent Rory Sheriff, 6'8", defended his use of a retractable baton against former Garda John Bowe, 41, during a 25‑minute, high‑speed chase outside Bunclody, Co. Wexford. Sheriff claimed the chase involved speeds over 140 kph and that Bowe, who was driving an Audi, had a metallic object that turned out to be keys with bottle openers. Sheriff said Bowe lunged at him with the object, prompting the superintendent to strike Bowe's head with full force, aiming for the torso, after being informed by a colleague that Bowe had a knife. Bowe was arrested, later diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder, and sued Sheriff, the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General and Ireland for alleged injuries. Sheriff maintains his actions were proportionate and justified, and he has no regrets. The case is set for jury deliberation before Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins.
A UK‑resident trans woman, who holds Irish citizenship, has been granted leave to bring a High Court challenge against the State's refusal to register her child on the Foreign Births Register. The child was conceived via IVF using the woman's frozen sperm and delivered by her wife, who is not an Irish citizen. The State's position is that only the biological mother, i.e., the birth‑giving wife, can confer Irish citizenship through the Foreign Births Register. The woman argues that being denied registration because she is not the biological mother constitutes an offensive, discriminatory and unjust attack on her gender identity, legal status and same‑sex marriage. She seeks a declaration that she is a legal and genetic parent, an order to register the child, and citizenship for the child under Section 7(1) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956. Ms Justice Sara Phelan granted leave for judicial review and adjourned the case to January.
A farmer from Dunmore, County Galway, has obtained High Court permission to challenge the residential zoning of his lands under the Residential Zoned Land Tax. Michael Knightly is seeking to quash the zoning decision imposed by Galway County Council and is pursuing proceedings against the Council, the Revenue Commissioners, Ireland, and the Attorney General. Mr Knightly contends that the zoning decision failed to consider reasonable matters, constituted disproportionate interference, and breached fair procedures, EU directives, climate policy, and Constitutional justice. He submits that the tax imposed as a result could necessitate the sale of his lands, interfering with his livelihood. Mr Knightly has actively farmed the land for two decades and receives agricultural payments and participates in environmental protection schemes. Galway County Council stated the lands occupy a strategic location suitable for immediate development to support housing needs and compact urban growth. The Council noted that rezoning to agriculture would conflict with its development plan. Mr Knightly's legal team, instructed by Ballyhaunis-based solicitors, argue the decision conflicts with EU farm sustainability regulations and climate obligations.
The High Court has granted Ducalla Limited, trading as Bunsen Burger, leave to challenge a decision that classified its outlets as a fast‑food establishment, a classification that led to the refusal of a visa permit for a non‑national chef de partie. Ducalla argues that Bunsen is a full‑service restaurant, with over 75% of customers receiving table service, and that the food is cooked to order rather than pre‑cooked or quickly prepared. The company contends that the department's review decision, which upheld the earlier refusal, was unreasonable and irrational, citing a lack of evidence that the food met the fast‑food definition. Ducalla also claims the department breached fair procedures and natural justice by failing to engage adequately with the applicant over the chef role and by not providing sufficient reasons for applying Section 4 of the Employment Permits Regulations 2024. The case is adjourned to January for further proceedings.
The High Court trial of a civil action brought by John Bowe against Supt Rory Sheriff, the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General, and Ireland continues before Mr Justice Micheál Ó Higgins. Sgt Mick Dee, an applicant in the proceedings, testified regarding an incident outside Bunclody, Co Wexford, on December 5, 2014, following a high-speed pursuit. Sgt Dee stated he believed Mr Bowe was carrying a knife and behaving in a threatening manner, prompting him to alert Supt Sheriff. Supt Sheriff subsequently struck Mr Bowe on the head with a baton. Under cross-examination, Sgt Dee accepted that Mr Bowe did not have a knife, attributing his initial belief to a gut reaction. Mr Bowe claims wrongful and violent assault, alleging he was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder, claims which are denied by the defendants. Witness Det Sgt Noel McSweeney testified that he observed the officers and Mr Bowe walking together without dragging, and noted a cut on Mr Bowe's head. Mr Bowe was previously convicted of dangerous driving arising from the chase but acquitted of a cannabis possession charge. The matter is at the trial stage and has not been finalised; the proceedings continue.
In a tragic incident at Kildare Chilling Company on 14 May 2020, 54‑year‑old Binak Cokaj, an Albanian national, was inspecting a vacuum‑packing machine when it crushed his head, causing fatal skull fractures and brain injuries. His wife, Shkurte Cokaj, filed a personal injury claim under the Civil Liability Act on behalf of herself and their two 11‑year‑old twin children. The claim alleged negligence, breach of duty and breach of contract by Kildare Chilling Company, Momentum Capital Projects Ltd and Sealed Air Limited, the machine supplier. After mediation, the parties agreed to a €700 000 settlement, including €17.5 k earmarked for each child. The High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, approved the settlement without admitting liability and approved costs incurred by the plaintiff. The judge described the case as "very tragic.".
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has been granted permission by the High Court to pursue a judicial review of a May 2025 decision by Killarney District Court Judge David Waters, who made no order in a case involving three men accused of injuring or disturbing spawning grounds by removing gravel from the bed of the Gaddagh River in Whitefield, Beaufort, Killarney. IFI contends that the summonses issued against the men were properly authorised, arguing that the agency or an authorised representative may apply for summonses on behalf of the Attorney General, the DPP, Garda Síochána or any statutory authorised person. The district judge had ruled that the solicitor who made the applications was not authorised to do so, leading to the dismissal of the prosecutions and costs awarded to IFI. IFI's legal team, led by Remy Farrell SC, maintains that the summonses were valid and that the judge exceeded his jurisdiction by questioning their validity.
A senior veterinarian, Annie Baltz, has been awarded €43,500 by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) after being unfairly dismissed from her clinical director position with CVS (Ireland) Veterinary Service No. 2 Ltd in March 2024. The tribunal found that her dismissal was procedurally flawed under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, but the company argued it should not be required to compensate her fully for her losses. Ms Baltz, who had 12 years of experience, was dismissed following an internal investigation into a bullying complaint. She claimed the investigation was an attempt to remove her from the company and that she faced stress and a two-week absence from work in July 2023. After being suspended in September 2023, she was eventually awarded three-quarters of her assessed losses of €58,000.
In a High Court case, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Aidan Duffy, 44, of Gort, for a sexual assault of a 16‑year‑old girl and for engaging in a sexual act with a child under 17. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years for the latter charge, noting it might be reviewed elsewhere, and reduced it to five years due to mitigation and Duffy's guilty plea. For the sexual assault count, the headline was eight years, reduced to six years, with the final year suspended for two years; both sentences run concurrently. Duffy was ordered to probation, therapeutic programmes, no contact with the victim or her family, and a five‑year post‑release supervision. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, described the assault, drug use, and subsequent trauma, while Duffy denied the allegations and claimed the contact was consensual. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offences and the impact on the victim.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a three‑year global sentence on an unnamed defendant who had been convicted of assault causing harm and coercive control. The defendant, who had no prior convictions, had abused his wife over a 12‑year period, including a 2010 incident where he pushed a hot plate of food into her face, causing burns. He also engaged in controlling behaviour such as monitoring her spending, threatening suicide, and removing shower fixtures. The judge noted that the defendant's lack of previous convictions might carry less weight in mitigation, but still considered the prolonged abuse. The final sentence was two years suspended for three years on strict conditions, with one year custodial. The judge described the case as "very sad" and highlighted the enduring impact on the victim and children.
The Workplace Relations Commission has suspended hearings into a whistleblower penalisation complaint by a long‑serving Garda while a legal challenge to its jurisdiction over press restrictions is pending. Lawyers for the officer have instructed the tribunal to go to the High Court if necessary to contest a media order imposed last year that barred the press from naming anyone identified during hearings into the complaint. The order was originally justified by State counsel Lorna Lynch SC, who argued that naming senior officers could undermine public perception and trust. The WRC extended the restriction to the claimant's name, citing fairness concerns. At a Dublin hearing, counsel David Byrnes BL highlighted recent legal developments, including a judicial review by a civilian employee of An Garda Síochána challenging the adjudication officer's authority to issue media directions. He urged the adjudicator, Jim Dolan, to consider the review and potentially pause proceedings.
In a High Court personal injury case, the wife of Dr Martin Lawlor, a 49‑year‑old consultant psychiatrist who died after being hit by a taxi on 15 December 2018, secured a settlement. The case was brought against taxi driver Denis McSweeney, who had been convicted of hit‑and‑run and sentenced to four years' imprisonment, later reduced on appeal. McSweeney, now deceased, was replaced by Axa Insurance in the proceedings. Judge Emily Egan ordered the settlement, struck out the case, and awarded costs to the plaintiff. Dr Helen Murphy Lawlor, represented by senior counsel, alleged that McSweeney knowingly collided with her husband, left the scene recklessly, and showed no concern for his condition. The judge described the matter as "very, very sad" and expressed condolences to the Lawlor family. The case was resolved with the settlement and the striking out of the action.
In a High Court hearing, Christopher O'Driscoll, a 39‑year‑old from Camp, Co Kerry, who is tetraplegic and unable to speak, announced that his lawsuit against Global Diagnostics (Ireland) Ltd, trading as Medica, and the HSE had been settled. O'Driscoll had claimed that the company failed to diagnose his stroke after a collapse on New Year's Day 2023, that a CT scan at University Hospital Kerry incorrectly reported no blockage, and that he was denied thrombolysis, leading to his locked‑in syndrome. Global Diagnostics denied these allegations, arguing the stroke's severity would have made thrombolysis ineffective. The case, which had been adjourned multiple times, was brought to mediation and concluded with a confidential agreement. Justice Leonie Reynolds approved the settlement and adjourned the matter to December 18, noting the parties' efforts and O'Driscoll's patience. The settlement terms remain confidential.
In October 2025, Johnson & Johnson appealed a €944,000 award granted to former Limerick hurler Mark Keane by the High Court for injuries sustained in a 2018 workplace incident. Keane, who was injured while freeing a colleague trapped in a machine at the company's Plassey plant, claimed nerve damage to his right hand and injury to his right shoulder. The High Court had awarded compensation for the hand injury and accepted the shoulder injury as caused by the incident. Johnson & Johnson accepted responsibility for the hand injury but denied the shoulder injury, arguing no substantial complaint was made during treatment and that the first mention of the shoulder problem appeared six years later. The company also challenged the pension, health insurance and future earnings awards as excessive. Keane's counsel maintained that the trial judge's findings were based on cogent evidence and were not reviewable.
On 23 October 2025, the High Court refused Dr Cora Stack's last‑minute application for a judicial review of the presidential nomination process. The court found her claims to be "entirely baseless" and "unstateable". Dr Stack, a maths lecturer, had alleged that political parties unlawfully blocked independent candidates, including herself, from contesting the election, and had sought a declaration that Tánaiste Simon Harris's instruction to Fine Gael councillors to block independent nominations was unlawful. She also requested an injunction to compel a "fair, lawful and constitutional" nomination process. Mr Justice Mark Heslin rejected all of her submissions, noting that she had failed to provide evidence of any attempt to secure 20 Oireachtas nominations or of any councillor's support. He dismissed her allegations that council meetings were "unprecedentedly clustered" or that she was denied a fair opportunity, calling them baseless.
In a High Court appeal-stage proceeding, an unnamed father who had sought orders directing the State to assist in the return of his daughter from Poland dramatically withdrew his legal proceedings immediately after winning a ruling against the State. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the child's identity, had accused the State of abandoning his rights after the child's mother took her to Poland in February 2024 without his consent. Despite holding a valid Polish return order since May, he claimed he had made 11 unsuccessful attempts to locate his daughter. The State, represented by Gerard Durkan SC, had argued that Irish authorities were bound by Hague and Vienna Conventions to respect Polish sovereignty and that it was up to Polish authorities to execute the return order. Mr Justice Garrett Simons refused the State's motion to strike out the case, stating it involved significant legal issues of public interest that must go to trial. However, immediately following this favorable ruling, the appellant stated he no longer wished to continue, citing a lack of time and a desire to stop filing paperwork. He expressed that he only wanted to know his daughter was safe. Mr Justice Simons acknowledged the situation as a "nightmare" for the man, gave him two weeks to reconsider if he wanted to continue with the case, and then adjourned the matter.
The civil trial concerning alleged negligent mismanagement of the Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) by former managing director Michael Fingleton has concluded at the High Court. The Irish Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC), acting as liquidator, alleged that Fingleton, who led INBS from 1971 to 2009, approved five speculative property loans between 2006 and 2008, resulting in losses. IBRC sought approximately €250 million in damages for these specific loans, despite estimating total related losses at €6 billion. Fingleton, represented by his wife Eileen Fingleton and son Michael Fingleton Jr. under powers of attorney, denied the allegations of negligent mismanagement. Due to ill health following a stroke, Fingleton was unable to give evidence. The trial, which began in May and involved 41 days of evidence and 1.6 million documents, ended with closing submissions. Counsel for IBRC argued that Fingleton exhibited a 'blasé' attitude toward regulatory warnings and gambled with the society's funds. Conversely, defense counsel highlighted significant missing documents and uncalled witnesses as unfairness. Mr Justice Michael Quinn has reserved judgment, indicating he will deliver his ruling as soon as possible. The matter is therefore adjourned pending this decision, and no final determination has been made.
Patrick Lawlor, 59, a convicted bagman for an organised crime gang, has applied to the High Court for additional free legal aid to secure a quantity surveyor's valuation of his home as he contests a Criminal Assets Bureau bid to seize the property. Lawlor was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in October 2022 for his role in a money‑laundering operation that generated almost €12 million in 2019. He and another convicted man were paid monthly by the gang to handle large sums of cash before their arrest. Gardaí seized just under €900 000 at Lawlor's home. In July, the High Court granted the Lawlors free legal aid to challenge the CAB's valuation of their Collins Avenue West house, approving €4 000 for a surveyor's report. At this week's hearing, Andrew McKeown BL requested an increase to €10 000, citing that nine surveyors had been contacted without success. The application was adjourned to November. Patrick Lawlor pleaded guilty.
The Criminal Assets Bureau seized a range of items from Jamie Geoghegan, a 29‑year‑old former footballer who was jailed for six‑and‑a‑half years for a 2023 assault involving dragging a victim into a Jeep, driving him to a caravan, tying him up, beating and stabbing him. At sentencing Geoghegan pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment and had 75 prior convictions, including theft, burglary, firearms and drug offences. He had represented Ireland at under‑age level and at the Homeless World Cup. In a High Court hearing on 15 October 2025, Geoghegan did not contest the CAB's application to seize assets deemed proceeds of crime. The court was told the CAB had identified 23 items – €4,000 cash, £2,000 cash, a VW Golf, a Skoda Superb, a modular home and a watch – seized from his Dublin home and another location.
James 'Mago' Gately, a Hutch gang member, will have his Coolock house auctioned by the Criminal Assets Bureau after he spent €440,000 on refurbishments while not working since 2015. The High Court, with counsel David Dodd BL for the CAB, confirmed the sale on November 12, with a guide price of €295,000, and the case will return to court on November 19. Gately's former partner, Charlene Lam, a self‑employed beautician, is also a respondent; both denied wrongdoing. The property was seized in April, repaired after a court order, and the High Court found the home's equity largely derived from crime proceeds. Gately purchased the house in 2013 for €125,000, and the CAB alleges links to armed robberies, gangland murders and drug dealing, though he has never been convicted of serious offences. The sale will determine the distribution of the property's proceeds.
A Ukrainian lawyer, Oleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 42, who fled Ukraine and sought refuge in Ireland, lost his appeal against a High Court order to extradite him to the United States. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit computer‑related fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, linked to a ransomware campaign that targeted a government entity and two businesses in Tennessee between 2020 and 2022. Two victims paid a combined $634,000 in cryptocurrency. Lytvynenko had been in custody for two years and had applied for temporary protection in Ireland in September 2022. He argued that the extradition breached his right to a fair trial and his human rights, citing loss of access to evidence and the lack of equivalent protection in the US. The Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Tara Burns, dismissed the appeal, upholding the extradition order. The court granted Lytvynenko a week to consider the judgment before implementation.
Online news outlet Gript Media Limited has been granted permission by the High Court to challenge the Press Council's decision to uphold a June 2025 ruling that an article titled "Inside the DCU SPHE Course – Fisting, writing sex scenes, porn terms examined" breached journalistic codes. Gript seeks to quash the Press Council's decision and obtain a re‑hearing, arguing that the Council applied the wrong standard of review and denied Gript a fair oral hearing. The article, published on 4 October 2024, described a viral video and the responses of Minister for Education Norma Foley and the funding context for the DCU SPHE/RSE graduate diploma. The Press Ombudsman found that Gript had no evidence that DCU had instructed teachers to replicate sexually explicit exercises in classrooms. DCU's complaint was upheld, and the High Court adjourned the matter to November. The case involves the Press Council, the Press Ombudsman and Dublin City University as notice parties.
A Tibetan monk, whose identity is protected, appeared before the High Court to challenge the State's refusal to grant him asylum in Ireland. He claims he fled China in April 2016 for political reasons, lived in Nepal until September 2024, and arrived in Ireland in October 2024 where he applied for international protection. His asylum application was rejected in January 2025, and he sought to appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). He alleges that extraordinary circumstances—specifically the bombing of a Sudanese legal secretary's home and the death of a close family friend—caused a delay in filing his appeal within the 15‑day deadline. IPAT denied an extension and later refused to reconsider the appeal, stating it lacked jurisdiction. The monk's legal team argues that significant extenuating circumstances warrant reconsideration, and the case was adjourned to next week for an update.
An unnamed father, acting as the appellant, appeared before the High Court to seek orders compelling the State to assist in the return of his three-year-old daughter from Poland. The man alleged that his wife took the child to her homeland without his consent, despite a Polish court order for her return. He accused the Irish government of abandoning his rights and failing to act, describing the situation as one of "direct incompetency." The case is currently at the appeal stage, with the Polish children's ombudsman appealing the return order. The father stated he has been separated from his daughter for 586 days and has made 11 attempts to locate her. He brought the action against the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty described the matter as "extremely sensitive" and an "appalling situation." Counsel for the State, Clare O'Shea BL, noted the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs had been involved in various engagements. The court did not conclude the matter; instead, Ms Justice Gearty adjourned the case, fixing October 21 for a full hearing.
In a High Court hearing on 6 October 2025, a man in his 40s, whose name is protected by a Circuit Court anonymity order, applied to have a 43‑page report read by the court. The report, compiled with an artificial‑intelligence tool, was part of his attempt to halt prosecution for harassing his ex‑wife and her parents. Judge Mary Rose Gearty expressed concern that the AI tool could reveal the identity of alleged victims, potentially breaching the anonymity order. The man claimed he had been coerced into pleading guilty and that his former legal team had pressured him. The DPP's counsel opposed the inclusion of the report in the judicial review, arguing it was inappropriate to reopen the case. Judge Gearty agreed to read the report and would decide later in the month whether a new hearing is needed. The case remains at the judicial‑review stage.
Billionaire John Magnier lost a High Court case over a failed bid to buy the Barne Estate in Tipperary. He had claimed a €15‑million handshake deal with Richard Thomson‑Moore, an heir to the 751‑acre estate, but the court found no binding agreement existed. The defendants argued that no consent from the estate trustees had been obtained and that the parties had not reached consensus on essential terms. The court noted that the parties understood that a formal written contract was required and that no one present had authority to bind the estate. The judge refused all reliefs sought by Magnier, concluding that the case failed on all grounds. Legal costs, expected to run in the millions, will be decided later. The case lasted 19 days in the Commercial Court.