Patrick Duff, 49, was stopped by gardaí after firing a sawn‑off shotgun in a local park. He claimed he had taken the gun because he was suicidal, saying he had been depressed and wanted to commit suicide. Duff, wearing white latex gloves and wearing a hood, had the gun hidden in his jeans. He was aggressive towards officers, struggled with them and head‑butted one officer. He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm on Ballyfermot Parade on 5 February 2015. The case was adjourned to 31 May after evidence was heard. Duff said he had been notified of a threat to his life in August 2014 but could not recall it. He admitted he was probably drunk at the time. The court noted the circumstances were not consistent with a credible suicide attempt and adjourned to allow further evidence and an updated probation report.
Judgement has been reserved in a pre-trial application brought by RTÉ to dismiss the action of businessman Sean Gallagher, which arose from the 'Tweetgate' incident during the 2011 presidential election. RTÉ argued that the case should be halted because Gallagher allegedly failed to comply with discovery orders, specifically regarding emails and documents generated during his campaign. Alternatively, the broadcaster sought an order compelling full compliance. Gallagher opposed the application, with his counsel, Niall Buckley BL, stating that he had largely complied with discovery obligations and that the remaining material was unavailable, irrelevant, or peripheral. RTÉ's counsel, Douglas Clarke BL, countered that the discovery was essential to their defence and that Gallagher's failure was manifestly prejudicial. Mr Justice David Keane reserved his decision, noting he would carefully study the submissions, without indicating when the judgement would be delivered. In his underlying action, Gallagher seeks a declaration that the October 2011 RTÉ Frontline debate was deliberately and unfairly edited to damage his electoral prospects. He claims damages for alleged breach of statutory duty, negligence, and misfeasance in public office, including exemplary damages for comments allegedly made by Pat Kenny. RTÉ denies these claims, asserting that Gallagher damaged his own prospects through his responses to specific assertions. The matter remains at the hearing or decision stage, with no final determination yet issued.
In a High Court hearing on 28 April 2016, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan heard that a dispute between Lynams Hotel's operator, Theresa Andreucetti, and a receiver appointed by NAMA over the hotel's landlords had been settled. Andreucetti, who has run the hotel since 2008 under a lease, had obtained a temporary injunction to retain possession after the receiver's agents entered the premises, claiming she owed €528,000 in rent arrears. She denied the arrears and counter‑claimed that the landlords should pay for roof repairs and damages caused by water‑damaged bedrooms. The parties agreed that the hotel would be handed over to the receiver on 1 August, with Andreucetti continuing to operate it for three months. She will give vacant possession at midnight on that date, pay the receiver rent, rates and arrears, and the 21 staff will be made redundant. The receiver intends to sell the property quickly, and the case will be revisited in July.
Longford County Council sought a High Court injunction to remove a family of seven from a council house at Casey Court, Kenagh, which they had occupied without permission. The council told the court it has no suitable accommodation available for John Paul Doyle, his wife Frances, and their five children, noting that a three-bedroom property is not deemed appropriate for a family of that size. The council's housing list contains over 1,200 applicants, and the family had been waiting two years for housing. The Doyles acknowledged entering the property wrongfully but stated they had exhausted other options after their previous landlord reclaimed a rented home. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan expressed concern about the family being rendered homeless and adjourned the matter to May to allow both parties to explore private rental accommodation. The judge urged cooperation between the council and the family, noting the council had approved them for rent allowance.
RSJ Civil Ltd of South Winds, South Quay, Arklow faced sentencing for health and safety failures that caused the fatal injury of Polish worker Grzegorz Burczak (31) on 12 June 2012. Burczak was working on a manhole cover on Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, when a traffic cone struck by a passing car detached and hit the cover, fatally impacting him. The company had failed to provide advanced warning signs, a safety exclusion zone, or sufficient traffic cones; only two cones were used, whereas an expert engineer recommended a minimum of nine. RSJ Civil Ltd entered a plea of guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for failing to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its employees during manhole work. The court adjourned sentencing to 12 May, and the Health and Safety Authority inspector noted that RSJ Civil Ltd was a subcontractor on a development off Kill Avenue.
The High Court will decide on Friday whether to extend an injunction that prevented disruption of an auction of 1,000 cows and calves belonging to Peter and Tracey Kingston of Craden Hill Farm, Kinsale. The injunction was granted by the Cork County Sheriff, Solicitor Sinead McNamara, after concerns that members of the Land League and New Land League, including spokesman Jerry Beades, might interfere with the sale. The auction took place on 12 April and the cattle were sold, but two bidders failed to pay, raising the possibility of resale. McNamara seeks further orders to protect the collection of animals from the farm and to prevent bidding that could frustrate the sale. Beades, representing himself, disputed the injunction's validity, claiming no connection to the Kingstons and that the protest was peaceful. During the hearing, heated exchanges occurred between Beades and Judge Gilligan, who warned that further derogatory remarks would result in his removal from the court.
In a High Court hearing on 20 April 2016, former taxing master James Flynn and his company Fortberry Ltd consented to judgments in favour of AIB. Flynn agreed to a €2.5 million judgment, while Fortberry Ltd agreed to a judgment exceeding €5 million. The bank's claim arose from loans it provided to Fortberry Ltd in 2008 and sought repayment of the amounts it alleged were due. Flynn, a director and shareholder of the company, was also named in the claim because of a guarantee he allegedly entered into for the loan facilities. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, granted a stay on the execution of the judgments until October to allow Flynn and the company to sell assets, including properties, to reduce the debt. The stay was conditional on full cooperation with the bank, and the parties were allowed to apply for an extension in October.
In a High Court case on 20 April 2016, a receiver appointed by AIB secured an injunction against anti‑eviction activist Ben Gilroy and several others to vacate a commercial premises at 131 D Slaney Road, Glasnevin. The receiver, Ken Fennell, had been appointed in October 2014 after AIB obtained a €2.18 million judgment against the property's owner, Christopher Noone. Fennell sought the injunction because he could not secure possession of the premises, which were occupied by Gilroy, Anderson Prado, Sylwia Waliszewska (trading as Sun Body Solarium), Paul O'Callaghan, Mariusz Jurkiewics and Arthur Fluskey. The court found that none of the occupants had provided evidence of lawful entitlement to the property and dismissed all arguments raised by Gilroy, including his claim of a contractual tenancy and the validity of Fennell's appointment. The injunction was granted, and the matter was adjourned for a week to allow both sides to consider the decision.
A High Court judge refused to allow an English company to fund a legal action against the State, Denis O'Brien and former minister Michael Lowry. The decision was based on the 1634 law of champerty, which makes third‑party funding of legal cases illegal in Ireland. James Boyle of Persona Digital Telephony, who sought to sue after his company lost a mobile licence to Esat Digifone, said he could not raise the €10 million required for the litigation and would therefore drop the case. Justice Aileen Donnelly noted that the plaintiff's claim that the case was of "great public importance" did not override the ancient law, and she rejected the funding arrangement, stating that third‑party funding remains a civil wrong and a criminal offence in Ireland. The case will not proceed.
Katarzyna Plaszewska Siatka, mother of the 2‑year‑old Vanessa, gives a heartfelt statement about her family's life and the tragedy that befell them. She recounts the joy of Vanessa's birth on 11 May 2013, the family's move to a new home in 2014, and the children's everyday activities and travels. The narrative shifts to the fatal incident on Easter Monday 2015, when a car struck Vanessa in Phoenix Park. Plaszewska describes the suddenness of the crash, her attempt to comfort her daughter, and the profound grief that followed. She expresses ongoing nightmares, the emptiness of her home, and the daily visits to Vanessa's grave. The statement thanks friends, family, medical staff, and Gardaí for their support, and urges that the death serves as a warning against driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.".
Longford County Council has initiated High Court proceedings against a couple alleged to have occupied a vacant council property without authorisation. John Paul and Frances Doyle are claimed to have moved into a house at Casey Court, Keenagh, Co Longford several days prior to the court application. The Council seeks orders for possession of the property and an injunction preventing the defendants from entering the premises without lawful permission. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted the Council permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on Tuesday. The judge adjourned the matter for one week. The Council submitted that urgency attaches to the case as the property has been offered to another family on the local housing list. It was stated that the locks had been changed following the couple's entry. Both respondents are on the local authority's housing list.
In a High Court judicial review, John and Kathleen O'Reilly and their two children, members of the Irish Travelling Community, argue that Limerick City and County Council failed to provide emergency accommodation as agreed on 22 March. The family had lived at a temporary bay on Childers Road Halting Site since 2008 but left in March due to unsafe conditions—deteriorating structure, rodent infestation, damp, mould, and a fire that damaged the washing facility. They then lived in rented caravans that were unsuitable and unaffordable. After the council committed to cover the cost of emergency accommodation, the family could not secure suitable B&B accommodation because B&B owners would not accept a booking without a credit card. The O'Reillys seek a court order compelling the council to comply with its March decision, declarations that the failure breaches their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, and damages.
In a 2016 ruling, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted a receiver, Mr Kieran Wallace, possession of two apartments at 6 and 7 Merrion Court, Ailesbury Road, Ballsbridge, which host a cosmetic clinic founded by Dr Patrick Treacy. The judge, noting that the clinic's elite clientele operates from the apartments, imposed an 18‑week stay on the order pending a full hearing. Wallace, appointed by KBC Bank after Dr Treacy allegedly failed to repay about €1.3 million owed to the bank, sought the injunction to sell or lease the properties to reduce the debt. Dr Treacy, represented by Joseph Jackson, argued that the loan was not due until March 2017 and that the receiver's claim was unsupported. The court accepted that Wallace was entitled to possession, based on evidence that Dr Treacy had not complied with agreed monthly interest repayments, and the judge expressed hope for an agreement between the parties.
In a High Court hearing, Mr David Walsh from Knocknagreena, Ballinasloe, sued his stepmother, Mrs Mary Walsh, claiming a one‑sixth share of a €3.38 million Lotto win, amounting to €564,000. He argued that he signed the back of the winning ticket and was entitled to that share, and that the money was held in trust for him by his stepmother and his late father's estate. Mrs Walsh, represented by Claire Bruton, denied the claim, asserting that the ticket belonged to her and that her stepson was not entitled to any proceeds. The case was briefly presented to Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, who set a November hearing date and allowed pre‑trial motions to be filed within a month. No parties were present during the short hearing. The dispute centers on ownership of the ticket and the distribution of the prize money.
In a dispute over the ESB's contractor panel, Powerteam Electrical Services Ltd (trading as Omexom) had challenged the ESB's refusal to include it, alleging a breach of EU procurement rules. The ESB denied the claim. Powerteam sought a review in the High Court's commercial division, which triggered a suspension of contract awards to the panel. The ESB later had the suspension lifted, and the matter was briefly addressed by Mr Justice Brian McGovern, who noted that the dispute had been resolved and could be struck out. No settlement details were disclosed. The judge welcomed the resolution, noting that the suspension's negative consequences could outweigh its benefits. The case highlighted concerns about potential staff layoffs and operational risks if the suspension remained in place. The ESB argued that extending existing agreements could address urgency without layoffs. The dispute was settled before any further court action.
The High Court dismissed a challenge to An Bord Pleanala's refusal to grant planning permission for a 9‑screen cinema, café and retail units in Navan, Co. Meath. The developers had secured permission from Meath County Council for a 1.58‑hectare site adjacent to Dan Shaw Road, including a car park. An Bord Pleanala had refused the permission in July, citing that the development would not consolidate the town centre, would be premature and remote, and conflicted with the Navan Town Development Plan and the county's Development Plan. The developer argued the refusal was based on an inspector's report that mistakenly linked the site to a proposed Central Rail Station, a project with no confirmed delivery date or requirement in the development plan. The court found the board had correctly interpreted the plan and that the refusal was reasonable and consistent with the plan, so the challenge was dismissed.
David Downes, a well‑known composer and musical director who co‑founded the all‑female Irish ensemble Celtic Woman, has filed a lawsuit in the Commercial Court seeking US$640,000 in royalties and additional amounts for services he performed on the music programme that later became the group's live stage production. He claims entitlement to a share of profits from album sales, DVDs, merchandise and box‑office royalties, and has demanded detailed financial information from Celtic Woman Ltd. The company counters by alleging that Downes owes them over US$1 million, a claim he denies. Downes has provided a sworn statement that the company's partial account for January 2012 to June 2014 acknowledged a debt of US$640,000, to which he asserts VAT and further royalties are due. The judge, Brian McGovern, admitted the case to the High Court's business division, with a hearing scheduled for July, and both parties have consented to the application.
The High Court granted an injunction to stop any interference with the auction of 1,000 cattle belonging to Peter and Tracey Kingston, winners of RTE's 'Ireland's Fittest Family'. The auction, scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Kingston farm in Cradenhill, Nohoval, Co. Cork, was threatened by the Land League and the New Land League, whose spokesman Mr Jerry Beades had posted on Facebook indicating an intention to disrupt the sale. The Sheriff of County Cork, Sinead McNamara, sought the injunction after attempts to secure an undertaking from Mr Beades failed. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ordered that members of the two groups and Mr Beades could not interfere with or attend the auction from midnight on Monday for several days. The injunction, made ex‑parte, is returnable next week and may be applied for on 24‑hour notice. The order also applies to anyone with knowledge of it.
In April 2016 the Commercial Court admitted a dispute between the solicitor's firm Eversheds and Dunnes Stores over a claim for professional fees of about €1 million. Eversheds, which had acted for Dunnes on various matters, alleges that Dunnes has not paid the full amount it owes. The firm has exercised a solicitor's lien on materials, including planning documents, held on Dunnes's behalf. Eversheds claims that an agreement reached late last year required Dunnes to pay €465,000 by early February 2016; if unpaid, the firm would be entitled to more than €900,000 plus VAT of €210,000 and disbursements of €20,000. The solicitor's claim for €1.1 million was brought to the Commercial Court, where the judge rejected Dunnes's objection that Eversheds had delayed the application and adjourned the case to allow Dunnes to prepare its defence.
In a High Court hearing on 8 April 2016, Theresa Andreucetti, the operator of Lynams Hotel at 63/64 Upper O'Connell Street, secured a temporary injunction restoring her to possession of the premises. Andreucetti had run the hotel since 2008, employing 21 staff and paying €240,000 in rent annually. The hotel had been taken over by agents of receiver Aiden Murphy after the landlords claimed Andreucetti owed more than €528,000 in arrears. Andreucetti denied any arrears and argued the agents were not entitled to take possession. She also brought a counterclaim for hundreds of thousands of euros for roof repairs and damages caused by water damage, claiming the landlords should bear those costs. The injunction, granted ex‑parte by Justice Paul Gilligan, required the agents to return possession to Andreucetti and was made returnable to the next Wednesday. The case remains pending.
A homeless family have initiated High Court proceedings against South Dublin County Council over its refusal to grant them priority status for housing allocation. Rosemary and Stephen Mongan, currently residing in emergency hotel accommodation in Dublin City Centre with their young child, became homeless in September 2015 when their landlord in Edgeworthstown, County Longford sold their rented property. The family subsequently applied to South Dublin County Council for priority status, citing family connections to the council's administrative area. Their application was verbally refused, though they were later approved for social housing support. The Mongans, represented by the Mercy Law Resource Centre Solicitors, contend they meet criteria for priority status on exceptional medical grounds. They seek orders to quash the council's January decision and compel reconsideration of their application. The family also seek declarations that the council acted in breach of statutory duty by failing to provide reasons and that the refusal was irrational and unlawful. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys granted permission to bring the action, with the matter returnable later that week.
The Gill family, owners of the book publisher Gill, resolved a High Court dispute with Gulland Property Finance Ltd over a €3.3 million loan that the lender claimed was due. The family had secured a temporary injunction preventing Gulland from appointing a receiver on the property, worth about €4 million, which had been used as security for the loan. The injunction, granted by Justice Paul Gilligan, barred Gulland from enforcing the loan or appointing a receiver following a February demand for repayment. In court, the partnership confirmed that the loan had not expired and would not be due until 2020, as per agreements made after the loan was transferred from Anglo Irish Bank to IBRC and then sold to Gulland in February 2015. The partnership also stated it had been making monthly interest payments and annual capital repayments of €137,000, and that it was fully solvent. The matter was declared resolved by the court.
Anthony Handley, 64, of Whitethorn Grove, Artane, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of Olivia Dunne and serious bodily harm to Éabha Dunne in Balbriggan on 17 January 2014. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case for sentencing on 10 May, when all evidence will be heard.
Derek McCann, 51, pleaded guilty to assaulting Glen Riordan, 35, at Edenmore House, Coolock, on 10 September 2011. McCann, an unemployed plumber, had moved from Millbrook Road to a caravan park in Bettystown, which delayed the case. Garda Eoin Cowap described the incident: McCann ran at Riordan, swung his hand, and struck him, after breaking a glass at the counter and using it to attack. Riordan fell, received ten stitches for a facial wound, and suffered a 2‑cm hairline scar. McCann had been drinking heavily and had no memory of the assault. The court, after a Probation Service report, suspended a three‑year prison sentence and ordered McCann to complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months. The judge noted McCann's loss of employment, stress medication, and cancer diagnosis, and a character reference described him as honest and trustworthy.
The High Court has reserved its judgment in a deportation challenge brought by an unidentified man alleged to be involved with Islamic State (ISIL) extremists. The respondent, who has resided in Ireland since 2000, denies State claims that he consulted with senior violent extremist leaders, poses a national security threat, or recruited for ISIL. He argues that deportation to Jordan would breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights due to a risk of torture, citing past abuse in the 1990s. The State, represented by Conor Power SC, opposed the action, asserting that the Minister properly considered all evidence before issuing the deportation order. Power highlighted inconsistencies in the man's asylum applications, noting he did not mention torture in his 2000 application and had subsequently sought consular assistance from Jordan. The man's counsel, David Leonard BL, argued that Jordan's treatment of suspected extremists and the interrogation of the man's family members demonstrated a credible risk. Following a four-day hearing, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys reserved his decision on Friday. The judge indicated he hopes to deliver the judgment soon, and the matter is scheduled to be mentioned before him in April.
A group representing nearly 200 landowners in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath has initiated High Court judicial review proceedings challenging An Bord Pleanála's decision to hold an oral hearing on EirGrid's North-South electricity interconnector application. The North East Pylon Pressure Campaign Ltd opposes the proposed construction of 300 pylons as part of the project. The challenge centres on alleged deficiencies in the application's Environmental Impact and Natura Impact Statements, and contends EirGrid may not be the legitimate applicant. The oral hearing, underway in Carrickmacross, is expected to continue for twelve weeks. An Bord Pleanála and EirGrid oppose the judicial review, arguing the challenge was not brought within the required eight-week timeframe and that challenging the hearing's validity is premature pending a decision on the substantive application. The High Court previously dismissed the group's application for a temporary injunction. The hearing resumed in late March before Mr Justice Richard Humphrey.
Word Perfect Translation Services (WPTS) brought a legal action against the Garda Commissioner after the commission awarded a €5 million, four‑year contract for face‑to‑face language interpretation services to three rival firms: Forbidden City (Translation.ie), Language Training and Translating Ltd (Context), and Natalia Cotov (Accord Translations). WPTS had supplied interpreters to Gardaí since 2007 under a Department of Justice and Law Reform framework agreement and claimed that the award to the rivals breached EU public procurement regulations, alleging a lack of adequate reasons for the selection, unequal treatment of bidders, and discrimination against WPTS. The case was scheduled for the Commercial Court but was struck out on the consent of the parties before a hearing. Mr Justice Brian McGovern, who had previously denied WPTS an injunction, described the resolution as "good news." The article does not disclose any settlement terms or further procedural steps.
The Special Criminal Court dismissed a case alleging that a Cork man, Kevin Power, was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court was informed that the State would not proceed with the charge and that no further evidence would be presented. Power, aged 39 and residing in Railway Street, Passage West, had previously pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 19 December 2011. He had been arrested on 19 January 2011 on suspicion of IRA membership and released without charge, and again on 19 December 2011 for the same suspicion. Judge Paul Butler ruled the second arrest unlawful, citing Section 30(A) of the Offences Against the State Act, which prohibits re‑arresting a person for the same offence without a warrant after release. Consequently, the charge was dismissed.
In March 2016 RTESA, the pension fund for certain RTE employees, filed a lawsuit in the High Court against Advance Fund Management Ltd and BNY Mellon Trust Company Ltd. The claim seeks to redeem RTESA's more than €19 million investment in the Davy Property Fund, a sub‑fund of the Davy Property Trust. RTESA alleges the defendants wrongfully withheld full repayment, established a new sub‑fund to gain control for the J&E Davy Group, and withheld trust documents. The court case was admitted to the big business division and the parties agreed to fast‑track commercial proceedings. RTESA requests orders for full redemption by 30 June 2016, damages for fees charged since November 2014, and declarations that the defendants breached trust, contract and statutory duties, and that Advance Fund Management created a conflict of interest and acted for its own benefit.
The Supreme Court expressed deep sorrow at the death of Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, a Senior Ordinary Member. He had a distinguished 26‑year career as a barrister, known for his extensive practice and skill in cross‑examination, before being appointed directly to the Supreme Court in 2000. During his tenure he contributed significantly to Irish jurisprudence, authoring majority opinions and sharp dissents, notably in DPP v. Gormley and DPP v. White, where he emphasized the protection of persons and dignity. Hardiman was also a historian and scholar, lecturing on topics such as the Trial of Robert Emmet, the 1916 Rising, and James Joyce. The Court noted his eloquence, depth of knowledge, humour, and friendship, and offered condolences to his wife, Judge Yvonne Murphy, and sons Eoin, Hugh, and Daniel. The statement serves as a brief tribute to his profound contribution to Irish public life.
In a High Court hearing, the Minister for Justice was found to have acted lawfully and considered all relevant factors before issuing a deportation order against an unnamed man alleged to have ties with Islamic terrorists. The man, who has lived in Ireland since 2000 and has an Irish‑citizen child, challenged the order, claiming he would be tortured if returned to Jordan. He denied the state's allegations of consulting extremist leaders, recruiting for ISIL, and arranging travel for the group. The court noted inconsistencies in his asylum applications, including a 2000 application that omitted any mention of torture. Counsel argued that the possibility of ill treatment in Jordan was insufficient to prevent deportation, and that no evidence showed the man was known to Jordanian authorities. The case was scheduled to continue next week.
The High Court heard that a man, whose identity is withheld for legal reasons, was detained in Jordan for almost three months without charge. He denies the State's allegations that he consulted with senior extremist leaders, arranged travel for, or recruited members for ISIL, and that he poses a national‑security threat. He has brought several proceedings, including a challenge to the Minister for Justice and Equality's decision to deport him to Jordan. The court heard that his son was detained in Jordan's General Detention Centre after disappearing while planning to travel to Turkey for study; the son was later released. The man also cited the detention of a relative who fought the Assad regime and was interrogated by Jordanian authorities. He fears torture if deported, citing past torture in Jordan that caused health problems.
In 2016 the Supreme Court ruled that a public body cannot be liable for negligence when the legislation does not create a duty of care towards the claimant, nor when liability is based on the policy pursued unless the claimant has successfully challenged that policy in judicial review. The case involved Cromane Seafoods Ltd and O'Sullivan McCarthy Mussel Developments Ltd, companies sharing directors, whose mussel cultivation in Castlemaine Harbour was halted after the harbour was designated a Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. Cromane and O'Sullivan sued the Minister for Agriculture for negligence and breach of legitimate expectation, claiming loss of income and profit. The High Court found the Minister negligent and awarded damages, but the Supreme Court allowed the Minister's appeal, holding that no duty of care arose under the Sea‑Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 or the Habitats Directive.
Superintendent David Taylor, former head of the Garda Press Office, has filed a High Court challenge to stop an investigation into alleged breaches of the Garda Siochana Act and the Data Protection Act over the leaking of sensitive information about a childcare matter in South County Dublin on 21 October 2013. Taylor claims that evidence in the case has been tampered with and that the investigation has been conducted in a way that interferes with the integrity of the evidence and the administration of justice. He seeks injunctions to halt further steps by the Garda Commissioner and the Director of Public Prosecutions until a report is provided that addresses his concerns about the conduct of the investigation. The application was adjourned for two weeks, and Taylor's counsel highlighted alleged phone calls, arrests, and the use of phones that may have compromised evidence. The court will consider whether the investigation should be prohibited due to the alleged interference with evidence.
In February 2016 the High Court granted Mr James Richard Hodgins, an isolated farmer in Clonakenny, temporary injunctions against a group of individuals who had threatened and intimidated him over several years. The injunctions barred the defendants and their agents from approaching within 500 metres of Mr Hodgins or his farm, from harassing or intimidating him, and from watching or besetting his property. Mr Hodgins, aged in his early forties, had been approached by the defendants in 2013 with offers of farm work that were often substandard or not carried out. He was later forced to write cheques totalling €102,000, of which €83,000 were cashed, and was threatened with harm if he did not pay an additional €17,000. The court, acting on Mr Desmond Murphy SC's application, issued the orders ex‑parte and made them returnable in two weeks.
A food storage company, VF Coldstores Ltd, admitted breaching health and safety laws after a forklift incident that caused an employee's death on 28 November 2015. A company representative pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 13 April, ordering victim impact reports from the deceased's family.
The High Court approved an interim payment of €4.1 million to Andrew Whelan, a 22‑year‑old man with cerebral palsy, as part of a settlement in a medical negligence action. The claim, brought by Mrs Angela Whelan on Andrew's behalf, alleged that a delay in his delivery on 5 August 1993 at Portlaoise General Hospital caused his injuries. The settlement covers Andrew's ongoing care, aids and appliances for the next ten years and includes his legal costs. The court, presided over by Justice Anthony Barr, agreed to adjourn the matter until February 2026. Mrs Whelan stated that while the money cannot repair Andrew's brain or enable him to walk, it will improve his quality of life and ease the family's concerns about his future care. The settlement was reached with the HSE and Dr John Patrick Corristine, who were found negligent for the delay and failure to respond to signs of foetal distress.
Sinead Branagh, CEO of Dublin‑based Zutec Inc Ireland Ltd, has filed a High Court action to stop her removal from the CEO role. She claims the company appointed another person to the position without notice and seeks injunctions to prevent termination, prevent any other appointment except temporarily, and stop the firm from stating she is no longer connected. The court granted her lawyers permission to serve short notice of the proceedings. Branagh, a 5% shareholder and former COO since May 2015, has worked for the company in various roles worldwide. She was detained in the UAE in 2015, returned to Ireland, and has been on sick leave. After learning of the new appointment, she wrote to the company demanding assurances that she would remain CEO and that the appointment was temporary. The company has not replied, only asking for more time. Branagh's counsel argues the alleged removal violates natural justice.
In a High Court hearing, Blake O'Donnell described Bank of Ireland (BOI) claims regarding the sale of Columbus Courtyard in London's Canary Wharf as "scurrilous." BOI sought orders to prevent O'Donnell, his family, and three British Virgin Island-registered companies from dissipating an estimated £6m in expected sale proceeds. O'Donnell stated he was "caught on the hop" by the application and lacked access to key legal documents, noting he must now litigate in Ireland, the UK, and the BVI. He requested a six-week adjournment to prepare a sworn statement. His father, Brian O'Donnell, told Mr Justice Hedigan that BOI had no interest in the property. Counsel for BOI, Stephen Dowling BL, argued the proposed delay was excessive and maintained the bank's concern over asset dissipation. Mr Justice Hedigan, aiming to preserve the status quo in this complex matter, granted the six-week adjournment for O'Donnell to respond. However, the judge scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to consider BOI's application to extend the injunction pending the full dispute. This hearing will proceed unless the parties agree to convert previous undertakings regarding BVI interests into formal court orders, a step BOI seeks because it considers the current undertakings insufficient.
Patrick Kearney and Kilmona Holdings Ltd sued J&E Davy over advice given in 2014 about selling 27 million Anglo Irish Bank callable subordinated floating bonds. Kearney claimed the brokers advised a sale at 20.25 cent per euro, yielding about €5.58 million, which he said undervalued the bonds and failed to disclose a conflict of interest. The case was admitted to the Commercial Court in October 2015 on consent between parties. On 22 February 2016, the court was informed that the parties had settled the claim and it could be struck out. No settlement details were disclosed. The sale had been arranged to discharge a €2.36 million debt to Stapleford Finance Ltd, with profits to be shared among Kearney, LeBruin Private Ltd and Davy. The settlement ended the litigation.
In a 2016 High Court decision, Justice Peter Kelly denied the Reinstate 48 Initiative (R48) an injunction, allowing Dublin City Council to remove six posters it had placed around the city. The judge found the posters, which promoted a constitutional amendment to restore Article 48 and enable referendums with 75,000 signatures, did not violate electoral law because they did not mention the election, candidates, or constituencies, nor did they exhort voters to support any party. R48's chairman, Stephen Mulcahy, argued the posters were exempt and relevant to the upcoming general election, seeking declarations that the removal was unlawful and breached the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The court ruled the posters were not election‑related, permitting their removal, and adjourned the full hearing to allow the council to prepare its defence. The case involved €30,000 spent on the posters and a social media campaign, with over 30 candidates pledging support for R48.
The High Court has dismissed an application by Gayle Dunne to cross-examine a US lawyer as part of her bid to halt Irish proceedings against her. The proceedings, brought by Chris Lehane, the official administering Sean Dunne's Irish bankruptcy, arise over alleged invalid transfers of assets to Ms. Dunne, including a South African hotel valued at over €18m. Ms. Dunne, who resides in Connecticut, sought to have the Irish action discontinued, arguing the transfers are already subject to US bankruptcy proceedings where Mr. Dunne was adjudicated bankrupt in 2013. In a preliminary motion, she requested permission to cross-examine Timothy Miltenberger, the lawyer for the US Bankruptcy Trustee. Mr. Lehane opposed this, seeking a reciprocal order to test the evidence of Ms. Dunne's US lawyer, Alec Ostrow. Justice Caroline Costello ruled that cross-examining Mr. Miltenberger was not necessary. Consequently, the application to cross-examine Mr. Ostrow did not arise. The judge adjourned the matter to a date later this month. The case concerns alleged agreements from 2005 and 2008 regarding assets in South Africa, Dublin, and Co. Wicklow. Mr. Lehane claims these agreements have no legal status, while Ms. Dunne asserts they were compensation for starting a family and her career sacrifices. The matter remains ongoing following the adjournment.
In February 2016 the Reinstate 48 Initiative, led by Stephen Mulcahy, filed a High Court action against Dublin City Council (DCC) after the council removed posters that promoted the group's campaign to restore Article 48 of the Irish Free State Constitution. The initiative seeks to re‑introduce a clause that would allow a constitutional referendum to be triggered by 50,000 voter signatures, a mechanism that existed in the 1922 constitution but was removed in 1929. The group has spent about €30,000 on six posters and a social media campaign, and claims it is entitled to display them during the election campaign. Mulcahy's lawyers requested declarations that the posters are lawful, that their removal was unlawful, and that the removal breaches the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. They also sought an injunction to prevent further removal of the posters.
A 22‑year‑old burglar, Gerry Wall, was caught on CCTV attempting to exchange a stolen jar of 50‑cent coins for notes at a petrol station next to the house he had broken into. Wall and an accomplice also stole jewellery worth €4,030 and the coins, valued at €58. None of the property was recovered. The burglary took place at a house on Hyde Road, Dalkey, on 9 September 2014, and the house suffered €2,315 of damage. The court heard that several rooms were ransacked and that the homeowner's back‑door window and a window above the sink were smashed. Garda Kevin Carey recovered the CCTV footage, identified the men, and later arrested Wall at his home. The case was adjourned to 27 April for finalisation, with a plea in mitigation to be heard. The judge warned Wall that he was approaching the end of lenient treatment. Gerry Wall pleaded guilty.
A Moldovan plasterer, Ruslan Cornea, 38, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €1,500 from an AIB ATM on 3 January 2015. Cornea claimed he had been given the ATM card by an unknown man he met in a casino, who promised him €150 for the withdrawal. He later told gardaí that the arrangement seemed odd in hindsight. Garda Philip Byrne explained that a genuine cheque had been altered by a third party to withdraw €6,850 from a customer's account, and that the customer was reimbursed after AIB discovered the fraud. CCTV identified Cornea making the €1,500 withdrawal, but he denied any role in lodging or modifying the cheque. Cornea has 11 prior convictions, including possession of a fraudulent cheque, unstamped cigarettes, theft, and a fake Romanian ID. His defence lawyer, Luigi Rea, noted that Cornea had arrived in Ireland in 2018, struggled with unemployment, and had turned to gambling.
Michael Gill and his family, who own the publishing company Gill, secured a temporary High Court injunction against Gulland Property Finance Ltd. The injunction stops Gulland from taking enforcement action or appointing a receiver over a building in Park West, Gallanstown, Co Dublin, which is worth about €4 million and was used as security for a loan. Gulland had demanded €3.3 million from the partnership, claiming the loan had expired. The partnership argues the loan was originally due in 2005, was extended to 2020, and they have been paying interest and annual capital repayments of €137,000. The injunction was granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan and is returnable later that week. The case involves the partnership's status as both landlord and beneficiary of the publishing company.
At the High Court on 12 February 2016, Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan dismissed the mother's attempt to have her infant child returned to her. The mother, represented by Bernice McKeever BL, had sought an Article 40 inquiry into the legality of the orders that placed the baby in the care of the Child and Family Agency (CFA). She argued that the child had been unlawfully and unconstitutionally removed from the family home by the Gardai when the infant was only a few days old. The CFA, represented by Paul Anthony McDermott SC, counter‑argued that the child had been lawfully taken into care following orders from the District Court and that an Article 40 inquiry was inappropriate. The court found that the child remained in CFA care under the District Court orders and that the mother's claims of unlawful detention were rejected.
In February 2016 the High Court approved an interim payment of €3 million as a settlement in a claim brought by the parents of 11‑year‑old Mohammad Daud Assad, who suffers severe brain damage and cerebral palsy. The boy's mother, Mrs Alia Muryem Assad, sued the Governors and Guardians of the Rotunda Hospital for negligence in the circumstances of his birth on 20 February 2004. The claim alleged that a delay in performing a caesarean section caused the injuries that left Mohammad unable to speak, with ongoing care needs and specialised equipment. The settlement, agreed by counsel for both parties, includes the €3 million interim payment and covers past and future care costs, housing, equipment and music therapy. Justice Kevin Cross approved the award and adjourned the case for six years, with a reassessment of the boy's needs when the case returns in 2022.
In 1974, the IRA carried out the worst terrorist attack in Britain, detonating two bombs in Birmingham pubs, killing 21 and injuring 180. The bombs were planted in rucksacks and exploded without warning on the night of 21 November. The attacks prompted the UK government to introduce the Prevention of Terrorism Act, granting police extended detention powers. The bombings also triggered backlash against the Irish community in Birmingham. The article recounts the author's experience as a brewery worker in Coventry, describing the tense atmosphere and the presence of a former British Army paratrooper who helped keep the author safe. It also notes that six Irishmen were wrongfully convicted of the bombings, spending 17 years in prison before their names were cleared in 1991. The perpetrators of the IRA attack returned to Ireland without consequence. The article ends with a call to reopen the inquest into the victims' deaths.
Brian Stokes, a businessman from Inchanappa House, Ashford, Co Wicklow, applied to the High Court for permission to sue the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) and its subsidiary, the National Asset Loan Management Agency (NALM), as well as the receiver appointed over his lands, Ms Siobhan O'Dwyer. The court, on an ex‑parte basis, granted the application and set a later date for the hearing. Stokes seeks declarations that the receiver's appointment is void, that the February 2007 mortgage between NAMA and AIB is void, and that the lands are not a bank asset under the 2009 NAMA Act. He also requests an injunction to prevent the receiver from selling the property. Stokes argues that the security attached to the Building Licence Agreement, which was intended to secure development obligations, has failed, and that no valid security exists over the lands in question. The case is set to proceed in the High Court.