Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, President of the High Court, made the order on 28th May 2014 after hearing that the woman’s medical condition was life threatening. A young woman described as being at “grave risk” of malnutrition and irreversible liver injury due to severe anorexia is to be fed through a nasogastric tube against her […]
Article 40.5 – a safe-haven for unauthorised dwellings?
The recent judgment of Mr. Justice Hogan in The County Council of Wicklow v Katie Fortune (no.2)has attracted the concern of planners in relation to the suggested precedent it lays down for unauthorised dwellings to bypass planning regulation. The case concerned Katie Fortune’s wooden chalet which was constructed without planning permission and the consequent order […]
Cyprus bailout agreed
The European Union’s decision to recapitalise Cypriot banks by inflicting losses on depositors and senior bondholders is triggering investor concern that bank funding across the region will be hurt. Cyprus qualified for its €10 billion bailout by agreeing to close Cyprus Popular Bank, also known as Laiki Bank, the island’s second largest lender, the EU […]
Right to die challenge before High Court
A 58-year-old woman appeared last week before High Court to petition for the right to be lawfully assisted in ending her own life. Marie Fleming, who suffers from terminal multiple sclerosis, challenged the absolute ban on assisted suicide as set out in Section 2(2) of the Criminal Law Suicide Act 1993. Brian Murray SC, for Ms Fleming, […]
EU Directive to introduce Gender Quotas for the Board Room by 2020
In 2011, 85% of all non-executive board member positions in corporations were held by men and in financial institutions women only made up 9% of the top management positions. It is with these statistics in mind that the EU Commission has announced its intention to introduce a Directive which according to Vivianne Reding, Vice President […]
Impact of the McCrystal Case on the result of the Children’s Rights Referendum
In its decision last Thursday in the McCrystal case, the Supreme Court held that the government had acted contrary to the principles in the McKenna judgment (1995) in spending public money on publicity that was considered to support the ‘Yes’ side in Saturday’s referendum on children’s rights. Under the McKenna principles, the government is entitled […]
Time Running out for Buyer Relief
The tax relief scheme for first-time buyers ends on December 31st, so anyone who wants to avail of it will have to find a house – and finance – fast WITH REPORTS that prices are levelling off in some areas and a temporary Government tax relief to cushion buyers for the first five years of […]
Quinn says case for jailing him not proven
THE FORMER Anglo Irish Bank has failed to tell the Supreme Court exactly what Seán Quinn jnr is being held in prison for and has conceded there was “no direct evidence” to support a finding of contempt against him, his lawyer argued yesterday. While just one finding of contempt was made against Quinn, he was […]
Parents of severely brain-damaged boy face legal bill of €500,000
THE PARENTS of a severely brain-damaged child are facing a legal bill of more than €500,000 after losing their High Court action over alleged negligence in their son’s treatment after birth at the National Maternity Hospital. Linda Duffy, of Glen Drive, The Park, Cabinteely, Dublin, wiped away tears as Mr Justice Seán Ryan said he […]