A US‑based Irish dancing teacher and adjudicator, Vinny O'Connor, obtained a temporary injunction from the High Court in Dublin that allows him to act as an examiner at an Irish dancing event in Boston this weekend. The injunction was sought because the governing body, An Coimisiún Le Rincí Galeacha, is based in Dublin and could prevent his participation. Mr O'Connor had earlier received a written warning from the body for breaching its code of conduct and social media guidelines, which bars him from adjudicating at major events for the sanction period. He argues that the warning does not prohibit him from serving as an examiner, a separate role. The judge, with some reluctance, granted the interim order after noting that exclusion would damage his reputation and that the body had not clarified the sanction's effect on his examiner duties. The order was granted ex‑parte and the case will return next week.
Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, lost an appeal against a disciplinary sanction imposed by the Governor of the Midlands Prison for throwing a bible at Judge Karen O'Connor during a sentencing hearing in July 2021. The sanction, which removed ordinary privileges for 40 days, was upheld by the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal agreed with the lower court that the Governor was lawfully entitled to discipline Murray under the 2007 Prison Rules Act, even though the incident occurred while he was in court custody. The Court of Appeal dismissed all but one of Murray's arguments, finding that the Governor's action was within jurisdiction. The Court also allowed an appeal concerning the High Court's refusal to recommend payment to legal representatives under the Legal Aid Custody Issue Scheme. Murray, aged 51, had previously been sentenced to 16 years for threats and harassment, and had earlier convictions for rape and sexual assault.
In a High Court hearing on 21 February 2024, Michael Flatley, the 65‑year‑old dancer, claimed that Hiscox Societe Anonyme's Irish branch had refused to pay his monthly relocation expenses of up to €80,000 and intended to cancel the insurance policy covering his Castlehyde Manor property from 8 March. Flatley, represented by Ronnie Hudson BL and solicitor Max Mooney, obtained an ex‑parte order to restrain Hiscox from cancelling the policy and to prevent denial of coverage for the Fermoy property until the proceedings concluded. He argued that the insurer had been aware of the property's unsafe chemical residue and had renewed the policy in November, yet now sought cancellation on the basis of changed occupancy. Flatley said the insurer had not compensated him for vacating the home, and he feared difficulty in securing alternative coverage if the policy were cancelled. The case will return to court later that week.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for assaulting his former partner and breaching a protection order. The court heard that the woman had obtained a live protection order two months earlier. On the night of the assault, the man, who had been watching their son, became agitated, appeared intoxicated and violently struck the woman, banging her head against a wall three or four times, throwing her to the ground, pulling her by the hair, shouting and stamping on her head. She blacked out, managed to escape, called the Gardaí and was taken to Beaumont Hospital for head injuries. The man had previously been granted High Court bail with a condition to stay away from the woman's home and not contact her or their son. He breached this bail and the protection order by returning to the house, where he also struck a babysitter. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing, Hitianland Limited, trading as 'Xi'an Street Food', claimed that IR Entertainment Limited's planned restaurant 'Meet Xi'an' would breach its registered trademark. Hitianland operates eight authentic Chinese restaurants in Ireland, including two near the proposed Dublin 7 location. The plaintiff argued that the name 'Meet Xi'an' and a logo featuring similar Chinese characters would cause confusion and damage its goodwill. IR Entertainment denied wrongdoing. Hitianland, represented by Imogen McGrath SC, highlighted its 2017‑established brand, awards, social media presence, and significant investment. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, granted Hitianland permission to serve short‑notice injunction proceedings, with the case set to return next week. The injunction seeks to restrain infringement and damages. The matter remains pending.
A High Court judge has ruled that Gemma O'Doherty must appear before the court to answer alleged contempt of an existing injunction. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was satisfied that Ms O'Doherty had breached an order restraining her from harassing Edel Campbell of Kingscourt, County Cavan, whose son died by suicide. The injunction, granted in June, followed Ms Campbell's claim that Ms O'Doherty unlawfully published an image of her late son in connection with Covid-19 vaccination claims. The judge found that Ms O'Doherty had made statements in video posts across multiple months in apparent disregard of the order and noted she was absent from Wednesday's hearing. Mr Justice Sanfey stated that journalism cannot excuse such conduct and that intimidation of the plaintiff had demonstrably continued after the injunction was granted. Ms O'Doherty denies all allegations against her. She is required to appear before the High Court on Friday morning.
The 19‑year‑old accused of assaulting a male in a 2020 incident now seeks to halt his criminal trial in the High Court, arguing that the prosecution has been delayed by 43 months. He was 15 when the alleged altercation near a railway station occurred, and was arrested, fingerprinted and interviewed by Gardai shortly thereafter. Despite this, he was not charged until September 2023, when he was 18 and no longer protected by the Children's Act. He claims the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to secure an expeditious trial, and that the delay is "inexcusable" and "unexplained". Represented by James Dwyer SC and Sarah Connolly BL, he has brought judicial review proceedings to restrain further prosecution. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to proceed on an ex‑parte basis, with the matter to be returned to a date next month.
The Registrar of Companies has filed High Court actions to annul District Court orders that granted two companies, Kitchen Innovations Limited and Greenay Ltd, additional time to file their annual returns. The Registrar argues that the courts lacked jurisdiction to issue a second extension beyond the single 28‑day period normally allowed. The proceedings, represented by Brian Conroy SC and John Freeman BL, seek to set aside the orders and declare any returns filed under them as not lawfully registered. Justice Niamh Hyland granted the Registrar permission to proceed ex‑parte, with the case scheduled for a hearing next month. The Registrar also requests declarations that the returns were not delivered within the statutory periods and should be removed from the register. The action follows the lifting of a pandemic‑era suspension on enforcement of non‑filing penalties, which will resume shortly.
Lucy Ewins, a Kenyan‑born resident of Ireland for over 30 years, has brought an injunction application against Promontoria Scariff Designated Activity Company and receiver Mr David O'Connor, alleging unlawful conduct in the sale of her four‑bedroom home in Knocknacarra, Galway. She claims the defendants' agents changed the locks, attempted to market the property for auction, and that a representative once stayed overnight in the sitting room, constituting trespass and a breach of her privacy rights. Ewins also alleges intimidation and harassment over several years. She seeks to restrain the defendants from selling or trespassing on the property. The High Court granted her permission to file the injunction, and the case was adjourned for two weeks to allow the defendants to reply. The defendants deny all allegations in the "strongest possible terms" and have offered undertakings not to sell or attend the property until the matter returns to court.
Lucy Ewins, a businesswoman who has lived in Ireland for over 30 years, has applied to the High Court for injunctions to stop a financial fund and its receiver from trespassing on or selling her Galway City home at The Rise, Knocknacarra. She alleges that the defendants' agents entered her residence, changed the locks, and are attempting to market the property for auction. Ewins also claims that a representative of the defendants stayed overnight in the sitting room and that the defendants have harassed her for years. She says the property has been her principal private residence since 2014 and that she lives there permanently after her marriage ended. Ewins seeks orders restraining the defendants from selling the property and from any further trespass or interference. The case was adjourned to a later court sitting after the judge allowed her to serve short‑notice proceedings on the defendants.
High Court proceedings brought by Garret Lawn, a driver from Portmarnock, against the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman have been resolved. Mr Lawn, represented by HG Carpendale Solicitors, challenged the Ombudsman's refusal to investigate a complaint regarding Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank. The complaint alleged that the bank wrongfully commenced possession proceedings against his family home in 2018, causing distress and adversely affecting his credit rating. Although the bank withdrew the action in 2019 and offered compensation, the Ombudsman declined to investigate in April of last year, citing a lack of jurisdiction due to prior court involvement. Mr Lawn argued this was an error, contending the dispute had never been before a court and that the Ombudsman acted unreasonably and outside its powers. Following discussions, the matter was resolved before Ms Justice Niamh Hyland. The Ombudsman consented to an order quashing its decision not to investigate the complaint. The court accepted that the proceedings were resolved on these terms, effectively overturning the initial refusal to probe the alleged wrongful bid to seize the property.
In a High Court hearing on 14 February 2024, the liquidators of PFS Card Services Ireland Ltd (PCSIL) confirmed that the company, owned by the Australian fintech group EML, had been receiving about 20,000 daily calls from customers who could not redeem money from prepaid cards. The creditors, Creacard SA and Klopercom Limited (trading as Veritas), claimed they were owed €15 million and expressed concerns over customers' inability to activate funds and over a purported sale of the company's secure online portal to its shareholder Prepaid Financial Services (Ireland Limited) two days before liquidation. The liquidators, Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary, were appointed provisional liquidators in March and confirmed as official liquidators by Justice Liam Kennedy. They acknowledged the creditors' concerns, began addressing them, and will seek independent advice on the asset sale.
Brian Fitzpatrick, a senior Vice President at Bocomm Aviation Leasing Ireland, has filed High Court proceedings against his employer after it demanded he work several days a week from its Dublin office instead of working remotely from his home in Danganbrack, Quin, Co Clare. Fitzpatrick says the company had no prior issue with his remote work and that the demand arose several months ago. He claims the company initiated a disciplinary process in August over his refusal to work from Dublin, labeling it "completely out of the blue." Fitzpatrick also alleges the company wrongfully withheld his annual bonus, generally over €200,000, and has been investigating him over an alleged historical expenses claim. He seeks an injunction to prevent sanctions, to halt the investigation, and to compel payment of salary, benefits, and the bonus. Mr Justice Rory Mulchay granted Fitzpatrick permission to serve short‑notice injunction proceedings, with the case set to return later this week.
A community group and a Catholic priest have resolved High Court proceedings concerning public access to Castlegoland beach in County Donegal. Save our Beach at Castlegoland CLG and Fr John Moore had challenged works at the Lake House Hotel and Portnoo Golf Club, claiming they obstructed established rights of way to the shore and lacked planning permission. The applicants argued the developments had damaged the scenic amenity and local ecology. The respondents, including businessmen Liam and Paul McDevitt of Knather Acquisitions Unlimited, and hotel owner Midge Holdings Limited, denied wrongdoing. Before Ms Justice Siobhan Phelan, the parties reached an agreed settlement. Public access to the beach has been restored. The respondents agreed to remove electric fencing and monitoring equipment within weeks and to expedite a planning appeal with An Bord Pleanála. Removal of screen berms and a water storage tank is stayed for one year to allow regularisation of their planning status. The hotel has agreed not to open to the public during this period. The applicants recovered their legal costs.
An application seeking Gemma O'Doherty's possible committal to prison for alleged contempt of court has been adjourned for one week by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey in the High Court. The motion, brought by Edel Campbell from Kingscourt, County Cavan, alleges that Ms O'Doherty breached court orders by harassing Ms Campbell and using images of her late son Diego without consent. Ms O'Doherty was absent from proceedings on Monday, with the court informed she is currently out of the jurisdiction. The judge noted she had been made aware of the application through email service of court documents. Ms Campbell's counsel argued there could be no doubt of Ms O'Doherty's knowledge of the proceedings. The adjournment was granted to allow Ms Campbell's legal team to make submissions on whether email service suffices for a motion that could result in committal for contempt. Ms O'Doherty denies the allegations. The case also involves Ms Campbell's underlying claim that Ms O'Doherty unlawfully published her son's image in connection with Covid-19 vaccination claims.
In a High Court decision, Mr Justice Rory Mulchay ruled that ESB employee Kieran Sharkey need not answer the company's questions about alleged payments from builders while a criminal investigation into him is ongoing. The court held that the right to silence, which applies to state inquiries, protects Sharkey from self‑incrimination and that the ESB cannot enforce disciplinary action until the investigation ends or the ESB can prove that its contractual interests outweigh the constitutional right. Sharkey, an electrician employed since 2017, had been asked by the ESB to disclose whether he accepted payments for preferential treatment, the amounts, sources and work performed. He declined, citing legal advice and the Garda investigation. The judge declined to grant the ESB a declaration allowing dismissal and said the matter would return to court later in the month. The decision emphasises that the right to silence is not absolute and that the ESB must consider competing interests before penalising the employee.
McSorley Investments Limited, holding about 20% of Walls Construction Holding Limited (WCHL), has applied to the High Court for an injunction to stop WCHL and several board members from approving a proposed Growth Share Scheme at the next board meeting. The claim argues that the scheme would dilute and oppress McSorley's interests and that it contravenes the 2015 Subscription and Shareholders Agreement, which requires all parties' consent for new share issues. McSorley also seeks an order preventing any other share‑issuing scheme without its approval and, if necessary, the cancellation of any scheme implemented without consent. The court, hearing the case ex‑parte, granted McSorley permission to serve short notice of the injunctions and adjourned the matter for a week. The dispute centres on the proposed allocation of a large volume of shares to new management, raising concerns about fairness, tax implications and potential dilution of existing shareholders' stakes.
In the High Court, Ryanair unreservedly apologised to Eoin Michael Cahill, a quantity surveyor, after incorrectly banning him from flying and writing to his employer identifying him as a disruptive passenger. Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy was informed that the airline accepted Mr Cahill was mistakenly identified as a passenger involved in an altercation with staff on January 2nd. Ryanair, represented by Martin Hayden SC, stated the ban has been withdrawn and offered to correct the record with Mr Cahill's employer, the Jones Engineering Group. The airline proposed paying €10,000 in compensation plus legal costs. Mr Cahill, represented by Paul O'Higgins SC and solicitor CW Ashe, had sought an injunction to lift the ban and correct the defamation, along with damages. He claimed the false allegations threatened his professional reputation, particularly as he travels between Ireland and Denmark for work. Ryanair had previously argued Mr Cahill did not allow sufficient time for an investigation, but the court found the airline had known of the complaint for some time. Mr Justice Mulcahy ordered Ryanair to pay Mr Cahill's legal costs for the injunction proceedings. The matter was effectively resolved through the airline's apology and offer of amends, with the court addressing the costs of the pretrial application.
In a High Court case on 1 February 2024, the directors of NCS Autoparts Limited, Paul and Brenda Lanigan, alleged that chartered accountant Gerard Young, trading as Mara Young & Company, had hired convicted criminal Martin 'The Viper' Foley to collect an approximate €19,000 debt. The plaintiffs claim Foley's visits to their home, including leaving a business card, constituted intimidation. They seek an injunction preventing Young from instructing Foley or his debt‑recovery business to contact them. The court noted the alleged intimidation as "very intimidating" and granted the plaintiffs permission to serve short‑notice injunction proceedings on the defendant. The matter was set to return next week, with the judge expressing confidence that Foley would not call the plaintiffs' property until the next hearing. No orders were made at this stage. The case remains pending.
In a High Court murder trial, Mr Justice Paul McDermott addressed jurors after Thomas Lorigan was found guilty of killing his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, by stamping him to death outside his home in Lisdoonvarna. Lorigan, aged 34 and without a fixed abode, had denied the murder. The jury had seen graphic CCTV footage of the assault, which caused one juror to become very emotional. Mr Justice McDermott explained that the courts could not provide any "time out post‑verdict" or additional support beyond what is already available through the Courts Service, which offers debriefing for jurors and support for court staff. He thanked the 12 jurors for their dedication and noted that they would be exempt from jury service for the next ten years. The judge also acknowledged the increasing impact of traumatic digital evidence on all involved parties.
The High Court struck out a High Court action brought by Aaron Rodericks, co-lead of Threat Disruption at X, against Twitter International Unlimited Company. Mr. Rodericks, who resides in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, alleged he was subjected to a "sham" disciplinary process and suspended for allegedly liking tweets critical of X, its owner Elon Musk, and CEO Linda Yaccarino. He claimed the process breached fair procedures and his contract, while the company denied wrongdoing. Counsel for both parties informed Mr. Justice Mark Sanfey that the matter had been resolved, and the judge ordered the proceedings struck out. Settlement terms were not disclosed. Separately, the court granted an ex-parte application allowing Mr. Rodericks to serve defamation proceedings on Mr. Musk in San Francisco. Mr. Rodericks alleges a tweet by Mr. Musk, which stated the "Election Integrity team" was "gone," defamed him by implying he undermined election integrity and was incompetent. He seeks damages, including exemplary and aggravated damages, from Mr. Musk and X Corp's Irish subsidiary. The court noted that Mr. Musk had not responded to requests to remove the tweet or make amends.
Ms Li Sun, a Dublin-based Chinese businesswoman, has launched High Court proceedings against Clonmannon House Retirement Village Limited. Ms Sun claims she invested €1m in 2019 through the Irish Immigrant Investor Programme, expecting to secure an Irish Visa and receive €1.3m, including interest, after five years. She alleges she has only received €100,000 and that the defendant has refused to provide quarterly management accounts or allow inspection of its books. Ms Sun expresses concern that the company may dissipate assets to avoid payment. The defendant's solicitors have denied any wrongdoing and stated Ms Sun has no reason for complaint. Ms Sun, represented by Sean O'Sullivan BL, secured a temporary High Court injunction on an ex-parte basis from Mr Justice Mark Sanfey. The order restrains the defendant from disbursing, dissipating, or disposing of any monies received from the sale or disposal of its assets or shares. The judge noted the need for caution in granting freezing orders after hearing only one side but was satisfied to grant the temporary order. The matter was adjourned to a date later this week. Ms Sun also seeks judgment for €1.3m, damages for breach of contract, and orders directing the defendant to provide accounts and freeze assets below a certain level pending the determination of the proceedings.
Occupli Limited has brought a High Court action alleging that its former CEO, Chris Mee, and others unlawfully accessed and used the company's private, confidential and commercially sensitive information. The plaintiff claims that Mee, his daughter Catherine Mee, former employees Julie Twomey and Leah Murphy, and a firm allegedly owned by Mee, EHS International Ventures Ltd, have solicited Occupli's employees and clients, thereby damaging the company's economic interests and reputation. Occupli seeks temporary injunctions to prevent the defendants from interfering with, deleting, or using its information and to preserve any data on their IT systems. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey granted an interim injunction on an ex‑parte basis, noting that the defendants have strongly denied wrongdoing. The case remains adjourned, with the court allowing parties to return before the scheduled date. The action is based on alleged breaches of a prior settlement that included non‑compete and non‑solicitation provisions.
Eoin Michael Cahill, a quantity surveyor, has filed a High Court claim against Ryanair, alleging defamation and an unjust travel ban. Cahill asserts that Ryanair accused him of disruptive behaviour on a flight he did not take and that an email sent to his employer on January 3, 2024, falsely claimed he was disruptive on a Dublin Airport journey. He says the airline's ban prevents him from travelling to Denmark for work and threatens his professional reputation. Cahill has requested details of the alleged behaviour, a correction to the employer, and lifting of the ban. Ryanair initially considered reversing the ban but later asked for time to investigate. Cahill's lawyers seek damages, injunctions against further defamation, and an order preventing Ryanair from maintaining the ban during the trial. The case is set to return to court in early February.
The families of five special‑needs children have brought a High Court judicial review to investigate allegations made by a former staff member that the children were mentally and physically abused at their primary school. The whistle‑blower claims that two staff members—another teacher and a Special Needs Assistant—pulled and dragged the children, shouted at them, grabbed them by the neck and chin, forced them into sensory rooms, and made them complete work while distressed. She also alleges that the teacher rubbed soap over a child's mouth to stop "blowing bubbles with saliva", and that the SNA left a child in wet, soiled underwear, calling the child "dirty" and telling her to "leave some for Mammy." The whistle‑blower says the teacher and SNA told her to shout more at the children, and that they planned to make classroom changes to upset the children.
In a High Court hearing on 25 January 2024, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey set aside a subpoena that had been issued by Paul Coyle to compel Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, to give evidence in a property dispute brought by Ken Fennell, James Anderson and Start Mortgages. The judge found the subpoena to be flawed, lacking a clear statement of the party requesting the evidence and the documents to be produced, and concluded it was an abuse of process. The Central Bank is not a party to the case, which seeks an injunction to vacate a property in Mullingar. The subpoena was described as a "fishing expedition" and a nullity. The application to set it aside was made by Shelly Horan BL for the bank, and Mr Coyle was not present at the hearing, being in the United States. The defendants did not object to the application.
A financial fund, Mars Capital Finance Ireland Designated Activity Company, has applied to the High Court for an injunction to order several alleged trespassers to vacate a property at Rosehill Avenue, Firies, Co Kerry. The fund claims that in September last year attempts to take possession of the property were thwarted by the presence of several known and unknown individuals, including defendants Martina Moriarty, Sinead O'Connor, Brian McCarthy, Colman McCarthy, Donal O'Sullivan and others. Ms O'Connor, the only defendant to appear, maintains she has a valid tenancy and disputes all claims. Mars seeks a swift determination, arguing that Ms O'Connor's separate proceedings are intended to delay the injunction. The judge has set a timetable for document exchange and will hear the case again early next month. The property was subject to a 2007 mortgage, possession proceedings were initiated in 2016, and a possession order was granted in 2018.
In a High Court case, Judith Dixon and Liam McLoughlin of The Station House, Curraghbeg, Adare, Co Limerick, challenged a notice from Limerick City and County Council that the council intended to acquire part of their property at Blackabbey, Adare, under the 2007 Water Services Act. The couple argued that the council's action was unconstitutional because the Minister for Housing had not commenced the section of the Act that would allow an appeal against such acquisitions, thereby denying them a constitutional right to appeal. They sought orders to quash the council's notice and declarations that the notice breached their constitutional rights. The case was settled, with the council agreeing to quash the notice and pay the couple's legal costs. The settlement was confirmed by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, and the case was struck out.
A contempt of court application against Gemma O'Doherty has been adjourned to February 12th following a hearing in the High Court. The motion, brought by Edel Campbell from Kingscourt, County Cavan, seeks Ms O'Doherty's attachment and possible committal to prison for alleged breach of court orders restraining her from harassing Ms Campbell and from publishing images of Ms Campbell's late son. Ms O'Doherty was not present at Monday's hearing, having reportedly left the jurisdiction. Her solicitors formally withdrew from representing her in the proceedings. The underlying dispute concerns the alleged unauthorised publication of an image of Ms Campbell's son in media controlled by Ms O'Doherty, which the plaintiff claims caused her emotional harm. Ms O'Doherty denies all allegations and intends to contest the contempt claim fully.
The liquidator of Edenmore Meats Limited has applied to the High Court seeking orders to hold three former directors personally liable for company debts of approximately €2.7m. The application was heard before Mr Justice Oisin Quinn in the High Court on Tuesday. Official liquidator John Healy claims that directors Donal Gallagher and Richard Burke, along with Robert Daly who departed in 2017 but remained as company secretary, operated the meat processing facility in Lifford, County Donegal recklessly whilst it was insolvent. Email correspondence presented to the court referenced the firm's financial difficulties. The company ceased trading in 2016. Over one hundred farmers and businesses, owed approximately €1.5m collectively, are among creditors. The defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing, contending they acted responsibly and honourably throughout, and claim the business was already troubled upon their involvement. They also allege the facility's unlawful occupation in October 2016 prevented rescue efforts. The hearing is expected to continue for several weeks.
A High Court judge has granted permission for an anonymous abuse survivor to challenge his exclusion from the State's compensation scheme for historical child sexual abuse. The applicant, represented by James O'Reilly SC, was sexually abused by Christian Brother James Tracey, a teacher at a primary school in the 1970s. Tracey was convicted by juries at the Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to three and a half years in prison in 2017. The applicant sued the Christian Brothers order for damages but did not sue the State, citing Irish court rulings in the case of Louise O'Keeffe, who was abused by teacher Leo Hickey. Although O'Keeffe lost in the High and Supreme Courts, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in her favour in 2014, leading to the establishment of the compensation scheme. The applicant's 2023 application was refused because he had not brought civil proceedings against the State prior to July 2021, a requirement introduced in the scheme's 2021 revision. He argues this condition is discriminatory, unconstitutional, and breaches the European Convention on Human Rights. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted the ex-parte application for judicial review against the Minister for Education and the State. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court later this year.
Aaron Rodericks, a senior X employee and co‑lead of Threat Disruption, has filed defamation proceedings in the Irish High Court against Elon Musk and X's Irish subsidiary. He alleges Musk's tweet on 27 September, responding to a media story about X cutting half of its Election Integrity team, defamed him by implying he was undermining election integrity, acting unlawfully, and being incompetent. Rodericks claims the tweet, seen by 2.3 million users, damaged his reputation and good name. He seeks exemplary and aggravated damages. The court granted permission for the summons to be served on Musk at X Corp's San Francisco office, as Musk resides outside the jurisdiction. Rodericks also wrote to Musk and the subsidiary asking for the tweet's removal and an offer of amends, but received no response. He is also pursuing a separate case over a disciplinary process he says was a sham, following a temporary injunction that halted further disciplinary steps.
In a High Court case in Co. Tipperary, Mr. Joshua Wilson, owner of Marlfield House, seeks an injunction to remove trespassers from his historic Palladian mansion. Wilson argues the property is a fire‑safety hazard and must be vacated for renovation. He has presented a consultant's report claiming the building is unsafe, but the report's credibility is challenged by defendants Stephen Ghizdavu and Patrick Fogarty, who claim valid tenancy agreements. Mr. Ghizdavu's barrister, John Madden, disputes the safety allegations, and a sworn statement suggests the report's author may be the same person previously convicted for misrepresenting himself as an architect and building surveyor. Judge Brian Cregan adjourned the matter to later this month, ordering a timetable for document exchange and considering involving Tipperary County Council for a new fire‑safety inspection. Wilson, who bought the house in October 2023, maintains that no valid tenancy could exist under the 2007 mortgage clause and has never accepted rent from the occupants.
In a High Court ruling, Smullen Logistic Solutions Ltd lost its application for an injunction against Goldstein Property ICAV regarding a disputed right of access to its Newhall, Co Kildare site. Mr Justice David Nolan refused the request, stating that damages would be an adequate remedy for the neighbourly dispute, which must be resolved at a full hearing. The judge characterised the application as tactical, noting it followed cease-and-desist letters sent by the defendant. Costs were awarded against the plaintiff, with no stay on the order. The court noted the decision may be appealed to the Court of Appeal. Smullen alleged that Goldstein locked a gate essential for its 250 trucks and containers, causing ongoing losses, while claiming exclusive use of the roadway until November 27. Goldstein denied wrongdoing, arguing no such roadway existed and presenting Ordnance Survey maps to support its position. The defendant contended the action was launched after Smullen began bulldozing works on disputed land and that alternative access routes were available. The matter remains subject to potential appeal, with the underlying ownership dispute pending a full hearing.
In a High Court case, Mr Justice Mark Heslin ordered the financial fund Promontoria Oyster Designated Activity Company to pay €53,000 in damages to Elaine Madigan, who claimed her signature on a 2004 mortgage deed was forged. Madigan, a businesswoman and mother of three, had sued the fund and receiver Tim O'Brien over a bungalow she owned in Ballinamorragh, Curracloe, Co. Wexford. She argued that she never signed the mortgage, had no knowledge of any loan, and that the property had been in her family since the 1990s. A handwriting expert retained by Madigan testified that the signatures on the mortgage and related documents were not hers, a finding accepted by the court. The judge dismissed the appeal that the property could be sold, upheld earlier orders preventing sale, and awarded Madigan €43,000 for damages over 43 months of improper maintenance plus exemplary damages of €10,000, totaling €53,000.
In a High Court hearing, Garvagh Homes Limited presented evidence that its agents were assaulted with bricks, rocks, delft and other objects while attempting to secure parts of properties it claims have been illegally occupied for months. The judge, Justice Rory Mulchay, had earlier granted an injunction requiring all alleged trespassers to vacate the properties, including a former carpet showroom, flats over disused commercial units and a garage on the North Circular and Phibsborough Roads in Dublin 7. The injunction applied immediately to the commercial sections, while a stay was placed on the residential part until 8 January. Garvagh's counsel sought to vary the order, arguing that the assault constituted an affray and that the residential area should be vacated immediately. The court accepted that some named defendants were not involved, but others, whose identities remain unknown, were throwing objects from the residential side.
In a High Court case on 20 December 2023, a judge granted a temporary injunction lifting suspensions imposed on four members and officers of the Cabra Racing Pigeon Club. The suspensions were imposed by the Irish Homing Union Southern Region in October after the club's new committee, led by Daniel Boylan, requested documents from former committee members. The club's former members allegedly failed to provide the requested information and were accused of discussing a property developer's sale of the club's leasehold interest in exchange for a new clubhouse and a six‑figure sum. The four plaintiffs – Daniel Boylan, David Boylan, John Aylmer and Robert Timmons – claim the suspensions are wrongful and prevent them from registering or ringing new pigeon chicks, which would risk culling them. The judge, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, issued the injunction ex‑parte, hoping the dispute could be resolved through mediation. The matter will return to the High Court in the New Year.
Helen Lucey, Coroner for North Kerry, has filed a High Court challenge against An Bord Pleanala, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, and the Attorney General over the decision that lands in Tonafoa, Dunmanway, Co. Cork, are eligible for the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT). Lucey inherited the lands from her late father and intended to seek planning permission to build houses or sell the land to a builder. A planning professional advised her that obtaining permission would be futile because Cork County Council is refusing all planning permissions in the Dunmanway area due to the local wastewater treatment plant's limited capacity. In March, the council added the lands to a map of RZLT sites, a decision Lucey appealed to An Bord Pleanala. The board dismissed her appeal and upheld the council's decision. Lucey now seeks judicial review, arguing the decision is unfair, unlawful, and irrational, and that the 2022 RZLT guidelines were issued without proper jurisdiction.
Joshua Wilson, owner of Marlfield House near Clonmel, sued in the High Court to stop about ten alleged trespassers from occupying the historic Palladian house and its 33 acres. Wilson says the defendants, who claim valid tenancies, are blocking renovation work and causing damage by littering, blocking drains and damaging the roof. He purchased the property in October after receivership and has been unable to access parts of the house for repairs, including a collapsed ceiling that he says poses a danger. Wilson alleges the house was divided into 14 units and eight chalets were built without planning permission, and that no valid tenancy agreements exist under the 2007 mortgage clause. The court, hearing the case on Tuesday, granted Wilson permission to serve short‑notice injunction papers and adjourned the matter to January, allowing an earlier return if needed.
In a High Court case, Garvagh Homes Limited, claiming ownership of several Dublin 7 properties, sought vacant possession after alleging unlawful occupation by trespassers who allegedly used the sites for raves, poetry readings, boxing, gigs and as a community centre. The developer, represented by Martin Hayden SC and Paul Fogarty BL, argued that the occupants had no legal right, that alcohol was sold, and that serious fire safety concerns existed, citing a Dublin City Council fire safety notice. Some residents denied the trespassing claims and said they had entitlement to reside there. The court, after hearing submissions, granted Garvagh an order requiring occupants to vacate the premises and cease trespassing, but imposed a stay until 8 January 2024 to allow residents time to find alternative accommodation. The judge also upheld previous prohibitions on commercial activities on the site and ordered a map to delineate commercial and residential areas. The case will return for confirmation of the injunctions.
In a High Court hearing on 14 December 2023, the case concerning a teenage boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder and a moderate intellectual disorder was resolved. The boy, whose identity is protected, had been unable to secure a suitable school placement and had brought judicial review proceedings against the Minister for Education and Skills, the National Council for Special Education and the Attorney General. Mr Michael Lynn SC, representing the boy, informed Ms Justice Niamh Hyland that an interim school place had been obtained following discussions between the parties. The court welcomed the settlement and noted that a more permanent, geographically convenient placement might be found in the future. The boy had previously been placed in a residential setting by the HSE, which had worked well but did not meet his educational needs.
Abdisalan Abdulkadir Yusuf, a 25‑year‑old Somali‑Swedish national, was denied bail by the High Court after he fled Sweden to avoid serving a three‑year prison sentence for violent offences committed during a riot over the burning of the Quran. Yusuf was arrested in Dundalk, Co. Louth, on a European Arrest Warrant issued in April 2022 for gross sabotage of emergency services and attempted gross violence against police. He had travelled to Ireland in August 2023 without a passport, allegedly using a Swedish national identity card, and was found at a petrol station speaking to a sibling. The judge cited his flight risk, the seriousness of the offences, and the length of the sentence left to be served as reasons for refusal. Yusuf remains in custody until a full hearing on his surrender to Sweden on 7 February 2024.
Google agreed to give Tánaiste Micheál Martin the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of accounts linked to defamatory "scam" adverts that used his image. The ads appeared on legitimate sites such as the Irish Times and Irish Independent and promoted a cryptocurrency scheme called "Immediate Edge." Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, had obtained court permission to sue Google Ireland Ltd and its parent Google LLC for the identity of those behind the ads. The High Court, hearing the case on Thursday, ordered Google to provide the requested information within 21 days, including details of any financial accounts or services used to pay for the ads and IP addresses from which the accounts were accessed. Google will notify account owners before disclosing the data and will not be liable for any incorrect information.
During his multi‑million euro theft trial, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, explained that a High Court order on 15 October 2007 froze his accounts and suspended him as a solicitor. He said he was asked to relocate abroad to "batten down the hatches" amid the 2008 financial crisis. Lynn moved first to London, then Portugal, and later to Brazil in 2011, where he taught English and sought opportunities. He denied evading Gardaí between 2008 and 2011, claiming he had followed legal advice and informed authorities of his whereabouts. Lynn was arrested in August 2013 and spent four and a half years in Brazilian prison before returning to Ireland in March 2018. He is on trial for 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven Irish financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
KC Capital Property Group Limited, developing a nine‑storey building on Cuffe Street, Dublin 2, has challenged a planning requirement that it must install certain fire safety measures. The developer argues that the conditions requiring a 120‑minute fire resistance for structural elements and a sprinkler system are only applicable to buildings 30 metres or taller, and that the proposed building is not that height. The developer appealed the Dublin City Council's decision to include these conditions to An Bord Pleanála, which dismissed the appeal and upheld the council's decision. KC Capital has now brought High Court judicial review proceedings, claiming the board's decision is unreasonable, irrational, contrary to fair procedures, and that it incorrectly concluded the building was 30 metres or more. The case was granted permission to proceed by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland on an ex‑parte basis and is scheduled to return to court in February.
Teacher Enoch Burke, the applicant, was ordered to remain in Mountjoy prison for the festive period after refusing to provide an undertaking to comply with a High Court order to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School. During a fraught appeal-stage hearing, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey directed Mr Burke and his family to leave the courtroom for interrupting proceedings. Mr Burke alleged that his imprisonment resulted from judicial decisions and claimed the school was covering up evidence, while criticizing several judges, including Mr Justice George Birmingham, Ms Justice Marie Whelan, and Mr Justice Brian O'Moore. Counsel for the school board, Rosemary Mallon BL, stated the board was reluctantly seeking to maintain the status quo. The judge ruled that Mr Burke must remain incarcerated until he purges his contempt, noting he could secure release by providing undertakings at any time. The judge described the conduct as an orchestrated campaign to disrupt proceedings and a flagrant breach of court orders. The matter was adjourned to a date in February for a further review. Mr Burke was previously jailed in September for deliberately failing to comply with a permanent injunction granted by Mr Justice Owens in July, which restrained him from attending the school. The school board alleges his presence caused severe disruption, a claim he denies. He is separately appealing his dismissal from his post as a German and History teacher.
The National Association of Regional Game Councils, represented by chairman John Butler, has filed a High Court challenge against the State's ban on hunting four migratory duck species – Scaup, Pochard, Goldeneye and Pintail – introduced by a statutory instrument under the 1976 Wildlife Act on 1 September. The association argues that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage made the decision without adequate evidence, failing to establish a reliable system for collecting and analysing bird population data. They claim the ban is irrational, disproportionate, and breaches legitimate expectations, and that it ignores economic, recreational, and conservation considerations. The applicants seek an order quashing the ban, a declaration that the State has not met data collection and conservation obligations, and reimbursement of legal costs. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission for the action on an ex‑parte basis; the case will return to the High Court in February.
The High Court heard arguments on Friday regarding a possession claim by Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank against the estate of the late Bridget Cunningham, who died in July 2008. Mrs Teresa Gillespie, acting as executrix, argued that the bank's action is statute barred under the 1961 Civil Liability Act because it was not brought within two years of her mother's death. The bank, which claims approximately €150,000 in debt, commenced proceedings in 2019 against the property in Ballinfull, Co Sligo, valued at €180,000. The loan, a €60,000 'Life Loan' taken in 2006/07, became due upon the borrower's death. Ms Gillespie, represented by Martin Hayden SC and Eoin O'Shea BL for McDermott, Creed and Martyn Solicitors, contended that the bank is not entitled to the interest charged and rejected allegations that she has been living in the vacant property. The bank, represented by Brian McGuckian BL, asserted that Ms Gillespie has no defence. Mr Justice David Nolan reserved his decision and will deliver judgement at a later date.
The AGM of the Retired Civil and Public Servants Association will take place on 12 December after a High Court case brought by trustees Mary Farrell, Frank O'Dwyer and Matthew Ryan was resolved. The trustees had claimed the governing council had refused to allow them to raise several motions on financial and corporate management, including travel expenses and audit matters, and said they were being "gagged". The council denied the claims. The court heard that after extensive out‑of‑court discussions the parties reached an agreement. The settlement allows the trustees' motions and a report to be re‑worded and presented at the AGM, and the order of business will be amended accordingly. The matter was adjourned for two weeks to implement the settlement, and the judge welcomed the outcome. The association, founded in 1945, has over 8,000 members from organisations such as An Post, Coillte and Teagasc.
The Duddy Hospitality Group has applied to the High Court for an injunction to stop the sale of the IBIS hotel at Red Cow, Dublin, which is central to a dispute with the UK‑based Propiteer Group over alleged breaches of a 2020 settlement that divided joint venture assets. The Duddy group claims that receivers appointed by Propiteer issued a 30‑day notice to sell the hotel, a notice that would expire on 8 December, and that any sale before the overall action is resolved would damage the Duddy group's claims. The group also seeks orders preventing the receivers, Ken Fennell and Andrew O'Leary of Interpath Ireland, from acting over the hotel. The Duddy group alleges that Propiteer breached the settlement, attempted to remove directors from related companies, and acquired the hotel's debt, thereby preventing the Duddy group from taking ownership. Propiteer denies all wrongdoing. The application will return before the court on Thursday.