The High Court heard that a former remand prisoner, who was mentally ill and lacked capacity, had given birth by caesarean section after the HSE obtained court orders permitting medical staff to deliver the baby. The woman, whose identity is withheld, had previously refused ultrasounds and a c‑section, preferring a natural birth, and had not cooperated with her doctors. She had undergone a c‑section years earlier for another child. The HSE's application was supported by medical experts, the treating doctors and the woman's guardian ad litem. The court confirmed the child was safely delivered and that the woman is no longer a remand prisoner, having been granted bail. She is now an involuntary psychiatric patient, and the HSE seeks further orders to allow medical treatment if needed. The matter will return to the court later this month.
In High Court civil proceedings brought by Bóthar against former CEO David Moloney, the matter was adjourned to a date next month. Bóthar claims Moloney misappropriated hundreds of thousands of euro donated to the charity over a 21-year period for his own use. Moloney has admitted to this misappropriation, stating in a sworn statement that he spent the cash on family holidays and friends, and claims much of it was paid to others, including the late Bóthar founder Peter Ireton. Bóthar does not accept these explanations. At the hearing before Mr Justice Senan Allen, Moloney's previous lawyers came off record. Moloney stated he had approached the Legal Aid centre in Limerick and requested an adjournment to determine if his application for legal aid is successful. Bóthar's counsel, Frank Beatty SC, also sought an adjournment, noting that investigations into the complex matters regarding the missing monies are continuing and that other parties may be added later. The court also heard that Moloney's wife, Olive, against whom no allegations of wrongdoing have been made, is considering her own proceedings regarding her interest in his assets. Mr Justice Allen deferred any decision to formally join Mrs Moloney to the proceedings. The judge agreed to adjourn the case, noting it could return before the scheduled date if necessary.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Naoufal Fassih, a Dutch gang leader, who sought to halt a murder prosecution in the Netherlands. Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding over the three-judge panel, ruled that the appellant's grounds lacked merit. Fassih, a Dutch citizen of Moroccan origin, was previously surrendered to Dutch authorities under a 2016 European Arrest Warrant (EAW). In the Netherlands, he was convicted of attempted murder, assault, possession of false documents, and money laundering, receiving an 18-year prison sentence. In 2020, Dutch authorities requested permission from the Irish High Court to try Fassih for additional charges of murder and incitement to murder. The High Court granted this permission in July of last year. Fassih's legal team argued that the original EAW was issued by a Dutch public prosecutor, which a 2019 CJEU decision suggested might not qualify as a 'judicial authority,' thereby invalidating the basis for further prosecution. However, Mr Justice Edwards rejected this argument, stating that challenging the 2016 warrant constituted a collateral attack on a prior judicial decision. He affirmed that the High Court judge who ordered the surrender had already determined the prosecutor was a competent judicial authority, a finding that is res judicata and cannot be further challenged. The appeal was dismissed, allowing the Dutch prosecution to proceed.
Portakabin Ltd and Portakabin (Ireland) Ltd, manufacturers of modular buildings, have applied to the High Court for a Norwich Pharmacal order against Google Ireland Ltd. The company seeks details about a Gmail account, irishpeople2021@gmail.com, which it alleges has sent defamatory emails to its customers under the pseudonym 'John Smith'. The emails, beginning last month, contain untrue claims about the quality of Portakabin's products and services and are said to threaten the company's relationships with long‑standing customers. Portakabin requests contact information, credit card details, IP addresses and timestamps associated with the account. In a sworn statement, director Paul Newell noted that similar anonymous letters were sent in October 2020, prompting external consultants to investigate. The court granted permission to serve short notice of proceedings ex‑parte and adjourned the case to a June hearing. The company intends to pursue all legal remedies against the author of the emails.
In a High Court claim, Gastro Grub Limited, trading as Tuco's Taqueria in Galway, alleges that Deliveroo has defamed it by listing the restaurant as closed, not accepting orders, and busy on its website and app. The restaurant, which opened in 2015, had ended its partnership with Deliveroo in 2016 over commission disputes and entered an exclusive delivery agreement with another firm. Director Aonghus O'Flaherty says the false listings caused customer confusion and harmed the business's reputation. He has requested the court to issue injunctions preventing Deliveroo from using the restaurant's name, logo, or presenting itself as a delivery agent for Gastro Grub, and to remove all references to Tuco's Taqueria from Deliveroo's platform. The judge granted short‑notice service ex‑parte and adjourned the case to June.
A man arrested in Crossmolina, County Mayo, is at the centre of extradition proceedings in the High Court following his alleged breach of probation conditions in the United States. Martin Jude Wall, aged 46, was convicted in Georgia in 2012 of attempting to entice a child for indecent purposes after engaging with an undercover detective posing as a young teenager online. Wall was sentenced to probation, but absconded from the United States in 2014. He was arrested by gardaí in December 2019 following confirmation that he had been residing in Mayo. The High Court heard arguments regarding Wall's extradition. The State sought his return to face potential activation of his 15-year probation sentence. Wall's legal team opposed extradition on human rights grounds, citing the severity of conditions imposed on registered sex offenders in the United States. Justice Paul Burns granted bail in December despite Garda objections and adjourned proceedings to June 30. Martin Jude Wall pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 18 May 2021, Justice Leonie Reynolds expressed her desire to conclude the determination of which documents seized by the ODCE from the FAI are protected by legal professional privilege (LPP) by the end of the legal year in July. The matter, which has been pending since February 2020, involves former FAI CEO John Delaney claiming LPP over various documents and emails seized by the ODCE. A confidential report prepared by barristers Niall Nolan BL and Patrick Mair BL, delivered to the judge by the Gardai, outlines the documents that may be covered by LPP. Justice Reynolds directed the parties to review the report and agree on the documents that are protected, aiming to reduce the number of disputed items for the court to rule on. She noted that the report is confidential and that any breach could have clear implications.
Sere Holdings Ltd has filed a High Court claim against the Health Service Executive (HSE) after being denied a €12 million contract to provide air ambulance services. The contract, awarded to IAS Medical Limited through a public tender, is worth €3 million per year over four years and is set to begin next month. Sere alleges that the HSE breached public procurement rules by awarding the contract to a rival that did not meet the minimum turnover requirements. The company seeks a declaration that the award was unlawful, an order suspending the contract's operation, and damages. The case was admitted to the fast‑track Commercial Court list by Mr Justice David Barniville, who also granted IAS Medical the option to join the proceedings as a notice party. The matter was adjourned to a hearing next month.
Journalists Allison Morris of the Belfast Telegraph and Aoife Moore of the Irish Examiner have filed High Court proceedings against Twitter and former Sunday Independent columnist Eoghan Harris, alleging that tweets from several accounts have defamed them. They seek orders requiring Twitter to disclose information about the account holders, including IP addresses, telephone numbers, e‑mail addresses and other contact details, and to provide the identities of persons who controlled, used, curated or owned the accounts, notably the @barbarapym2 account. The journalists also request a Norwich Pharmacal order to compel Twitter to reveal the identities of those who republished or retweeted the alleged defamatory material. They claim the tweets, which began circulating in 2019, falsely described them as partisan, biased, supporters of terrorism, and supporters of Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA, and that the allegations harmed their reputations, mental health and personal safety.
In a High Court hearing, former Bóthar CEO David Moloney admitted to taking cash donated to the charity over 21 years to fund his lifestyle, including family holidays and gifts to friends. He claimed he never deposited the money in a bank and did not keep any cash. Moloney said he had paid some of the misappropriated funds to others, including the late founder Peter Ireton, and that his wife Olive did not benefit from the money. He expressed remorse and said he was now on welfare. The court varied the freezing order from €769,000 to €1.1m, allowing Moloney to release €13,000 from a credit union account for legal fees and to make payments from his accounts for essential living expenses. Olive Moloney's applications to vary orders were dismissed. The case remains before the court next month.
In a High Court hearing on 13 May 2021, Ms Sinead Connolly, owner of Sin E Hair and Beauty Salon, withdrew her injunction case against landlord Mr Peter McLaughlin. Connolly had claimed that McLaughlin had re‑entered the salon without warning, changed the locks, and locked her and staff out, alleging this was due to a rent arrears dispute. She sought temporary access to serve customers and an order for her equipment to be returned. McLaughlin's lawyers argued he was entitled to re‑enter peacefully and lawfully, and that Connolly owed over €90,000 in arrears. The court noted McLaughlin had not charged rent for ten months in 2020‑21 when the salon was closed for Covid‑19. Connolly, who represented herself, had engaged a builder to remove her equipment and no longer sought temporary access.
In a High Court decision, a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) was approved for 54‑year‑old Esther Kirwan of Moycarkey, Thurles, allowing her to continue making mortgage repayments on her family home until age 90. Kirwan, a single shop assistant living in a three‑bedroom bungalow, owes €108,000, of which €83,000 is to Start Mortgages for a €145,000‑valued home, with the remainder to AIB and Revenue. Under the PIA, her mortgage is restructured and she will pay €214 monthly for 420 months to cover interest. The loan remains unchanged and is payable at the end of the term or upon her death, whichever comes first. The arrangement was supported by Start and had no creditor opposition, and the High Court upheld it after a Circuit Court refusal, citing the lack of a viable alternative for Kirwan. The judge highlighted that the PIA was a test case for extending mortgage terms in insolvency proceedings.
In a High Court hearing on 13 May 2021, Mr Justice Denis McDonald ruled that the hearing to determine the quantum of losses claimed by four publicans against FBD's business‑disruption policy must be held within the two weeks remaining in the current legal term. The judge said no extra time could be granted before the term's August end due to limited judicial resources. He also criticised "unhelpful" cost correspondence between FBD's solicitors and those of two of the publicans, Aberken and Hyper Trust, urging a more professional approach. The publicans—Aberken (Sinnotts Bar), Hyper Trust (The Leopardstown Inn), Inn on Hibernian Way (Lemon & Duke) and Leinster Overview Concepts (Sean's Bar)—had previously won test actions against FBD for failure to pay Covid‑related disruption claims. The court noted progress on final orders, costs and quantum issues, and the hearing on quantum will begin on 6 July, with the judge available for only two weeks before the term ends.
A man in his sixties, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has filed a High Court challenge against the Child and Family Agency (CFA) after the agency refused to rescind a Specified Information Notice issued to the Garda Vetting Bureau. He claims his sister falsely accused him of sexually abusing her during the early 1970s, allegations that arose after a family dispute over their late mother's estate. The man says the CFA's initial finding, made by a social worker, was based on a flawed investigation that did not properly consider his denials or the context of the family conflict. An appeal panel later ruled that his denials had not been adequately taken into account and that the social worker's statement about lack of evidence was incorrect. Despite this, the CFA has not rescinded the notice.
In a High Court hearing, the landlord of a unit in the Charlesland Shopping Centre, where Ms Sinead Connolly's Sin E Hair and Beauty Salon had operated for over a decade, asserted that he was fully and legally entitled to re‑enter the premises and change the locks. The dispute centres on alleged arrears of about €77,000. Ms Connolly, who has secured a new premises but it will not be ready for another month, sought orders allowing her and her staff temporary access to retrieve equipment and to serve customers for four weeks. She claimed that agents of the landlord entered the salon and changed the locks. The court heard that the landlord, represented by Eoghan Cole BL, had engaged a security company and re‑entered the property peacefully, a fact he confirmed in a sworn statement. Mr Justice Senan Allen adjourned the matter to allow Ms Connolly to consider and reply to the affidavit.
Sean Leahy, a 50‑year‑old YouTuber from Dublin, has filed a High Court challenge against the constitutionality of Covid‑19 regulations under the 1947 Health Act. He claims he was wrongfully arrested during the Easter Rising commemoration on O'Connell Street on 4 April after Gardai asked him for media identification. Leahy says he did not possess such ID, offered to show his work on his phone, and refused to leave the cordoned area, asserting he was complying with Covid rules. He was escorted to North Earl Street, again refused to leave, and was arrested. Leahy has not been told which regulation he allegedly breached and questions whether it carries a penalty. He seeks an order to halt his District Court prosecution, declarations that the relevant Health Act provisions are arbitrary and unconstitutional, and damages for false imprisonment and unlawful detention. The case is set to return to court in July.
A Dublin woman charged with dangerous driving following an alleged chase involving Garda vehicles on the M50 motorway has launched a second High Court judicial review action challenging bail conditions imposed by the District Court. Gemma Greene, aged 24, of Coolock, Dublin, contests conditions including a curfew, requirement to sign on daily with gardaí, and a prohibition on driving mechanically propelled vehicles. She argues the District Court lacked jurisdiction to impose or vary these conditions and claims they breach her presumption of innocence. Ms Greene's legal representatives submitted she had previously complied with initial bail requirements and that gardaí did not seek the driving prohibition. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to bring the action on Friday and placed a stay on the contested bail conditions, subject to Ms Greene remaining in the jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions neither opposed nor consented to the application. This represents Ms Greene's second such action; a separate judicial review concerning earlier bail conditions is also ongoing. Both matters will return before the High Court in June.
In an appeal-stage application at the Central Criminal Court, Tom Murphy BL, acting for RTE, sought to lift a previous court order restricting the naming of a child murderer and the deceased victim. The applicant alleged that the existing restriction, imposed by Mr Justice Michael White in January, prevented public identification due to a family relationship between the accused and the 11-year-old boy killed in 2019. The accused, a 28-year-old man, had admitted to the murder and was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. Mr Murphy argued that the Children (Amendment) Bill 2021, which rectified a loophole in Section 252 of the Children's Act, was set to come into force the following day, thereby removing the legal barrier to naming the victim. Mr Justice Paul McDermott indicated he saw no difficulty in lifting the ban once the new legislation took effect. However, noting the application was ex-parte and that the Director of Public Prosecutions and the accused had not been notified, the judge stated he was technically restricted from making the order before the law came into force. Consequently, the matter was adjourned. Mr Justice McDermott instructed the applicant to return the next day, once the amended legislation was in force, to allow the DPP and the accused to be present and make any submissions. The judge emphasized that the order would not be made immediately but would follow the commencement of the new law.
Michael Leonard, 63, of Hillcrest, Glenosheen, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, was denied bail by the High Court after being accused of murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe in Doneraile, Co Cork, on 4 February 2021. Leonard appeared at the hearing by video‑link. Detective Sergeant James O'Shea, of Fermoy Garda Station, argued that the evidence was strong, the charge serious, and that Leonard might interfere with witnesses. He described the scene where a burning vehicle was found at 2.20 pm on 4 February, containing Ms O'Keeffe's body. Leonard's defence, led by Mr Marc Thompson Grolimund BL, highlighted his client's 41‑year work record with Coillte and his recent retirement, and offered a €10,000 bond and a vacant property address for bail if granted. Mr Leonard pledged not to approach witnesses. Judge Robert Eager cited the "appalling" death and the seriousness of the murder charge in denying bail.
In a High Court hearing on 5 May 2021, Dromada Windfarm (ROI) Limited secured a temporary injunction preventing Mr Denis Cremins from digging up high‑voltage cables that run from its 19‑turbine wind farm at Clash South, Athea, to the national grid. The cables, laid over a decade ago along a public road adjacent to Mr Cremins' land at Keale, Athea, were said to pose serious or fatal injury risks if disturbed. Dromada, part of the SSE Group, argued that Mr Cremins had threatened to dig up the cables by 5 May, potentially causing daily losses of €5,000 and endangering health and safety. The court, hearing extensive prior engagement and recent correspondence, granted the injunction on an ex‑parte basis, restraining Mr Cremins from accessing or interfering with the cables and allowing either party to re‑present the case with 24‑hour notice. The order is temporary and returnable later in the month.
Ms Sinead Connolly, operator of Sin E Hair and Beauty Salon in Greystones, has applied to the High Court for a temporary order allowing her to return to her premises after her landlord, Mr Peter McLaughlin, allegedly changed the locks. Connolly claims the salon has been closed since lockdown and that she and her four staff cannot access the premises. She argues the salon is compliant with Covid‑19 regulations and that she has been paying a market rent of €20,000, while the landlord claims arrears of €77,000 based on a former "Celtic Tiger" rent of €36,800. Connolly, who has entered a Personal Insolvency Arrangement, seeks an injunction for about six weeks and the return of her equipment. The judge declined to grant an injunction but allowed Connolly to serve short notice on the landlord's lawyers, with the case adjourned to early next week.
A South Dublin residents group, the Pembroke Road Association, has brought a judicial review before the High Court to challenge a planning permission granted to Derryroe Ltd for 105 apartments and ten apart‑hotel bedrooms on a site at 36, 38 and 40 Herbert Park Road, Ballsbridge. The site includes the demolished former home of 1916 Rising leader Michael Joseph O'Rahilly, known as 'The O'Rahilly'. The group, represented by James Devlin SC and solicitor Fred Logue, seeks an order quashing the permission, arguing that the Board failed to consider the cultural significance of the site under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. They also contend the development does not meet open‑space criteria in the Dublin City Development Plan, exceeds permitted height limits, and that the developer did not comply with mandatory pre‑application consultation under the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016.
Titus Williams, a businessman from Springfield, Missouri, claims that 33.7 Bitcoin he purchased in February 2021 were stolen from his personal blockchain wallet a few days later. He alleges that 2.89 of those Bitcoin, worth over US$160,000, were transferred to an unknown account and to an account held by Coinbase Europe Ltd, an Irish‑registered subsidiary of Coinbase Global. Williams has filed complaints with the FBI and local police and engaged a cryptographic tracing firm. He applied to the High Court in Dublin for a Norwich‑Pharmacal order directing Coinbase Europe to disclose all information that would identify the unknown account holder, and to provide that information within a week. The court, hearing that Coinbase Europe had agreed to comply, granted the order, allowing Williams to pursue further legal action once the identity of the account holder is known.
Receiver Mr Declan Taite, of Duff and Phelps, applied to the High Court for an injunction against businesswoman Mairead Barry, alleging she engaged in intimidation and made threats against him, his family, and employees. Mr Taite claims Ms Barry threatened to drive her vehicle through the firm's front window and seeks orders preventing her from attending or entering their Stephen's Green offices. The matter was heard before Mr Justice Allen, where Ms Barry, representing herself, denied the allegations and stated she wished to bring a counterclaim to clear her name. She offered undertakings to stay away from the offices and communicate only via solicitors. While she opposed a general adjournment, Ms Barry requested a six-month adjournment on medical grounds. Mr Justice Allen agreed to adjourn the matter to a date in late October. The application stems from Mr Taite's appointment as receiver over properties belonging to Ms Barry's husband and a company where she is a director. Mr Taite alleges that following contentious dealings, Ms Barry became abusive and threatening, leading him to cease direct contact and report the credible threats to the Gardaí. The court has not yet issued a final decision on the injunction, with the proceedings currently suspended pending the future hearing date.
David Moloney, former CEO of the charity Bothar, admitted in the High Court to misappropriating large sums of donated money for personal use. He confessed to taking about €200,000 that was intended for a Roman Catholic order in Tanzania, €34,000 meant for a Kenyan project, €127,000 paid to an English company for unexecuted Rwanda projects, €100,000 fraudulently transferred to a pension fund he set up, and €10,000 used for a hay shed on his own property. Moloney also admitted receiving extra salary, expense payments, and a €19,000 Christmas bonus that were not authorised by the board. Bothar's counsel highlighted that these admissions were welcomed but that Moloney had not yet provided details on where the money went or his assets. The court increased the freezing order value to €769,000 and directed Moloney to submit a statement of assets by May 4th.
LDB Developments Limited has taken High Court action to overturn An Bord Pleanala's refusal to grant planning permission for 32 apartments at Braemor Road, Churchtown, Dublin 14. The developer sought a three‑ to six‑storey residential development, but the board upheld a prior decision by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and denied the application. The board's refusal was based on the project being premature and on alleged deficiencies in the developer's proposals to manage surface water, as well as a claim that the development would be prejudicial to public health and contrary to proper planning. LDB, represented by John Kenny BL, argues that the board's conclusion was flawed, that the proposal was not premature, and that adequate surface‑water management plans had been submitted. The developer also contends that the board failed to explain why it rejected the inspector's recommendation that permission should be granted.
The High Court has adjourned an injunction application brought by receiver Mr Declan Taite against businesswoman Mairead Barry. Mr Taite, of Duff and Phelps, alleged that Ms Barry engaged in acts of intimidation and made threats against him, his family, and company employees. He claimed she threatened to drive her vehicle through the front window of the firm's offices in Dublin 2. The applicant sought an injunction preventing Ms Barry and her agents from behaving in a threatening, abusive, or intimidating manner, as well as orders barring her from attending or entering the company offices. Additionally, he sought damages for harassment and the intentional infliction of emotional suffering. Mr Taite stated he was appointed receiver over properties belonging to Ms Barry's husband, Tim Sheahan, and that disputes arose regarding a transaction involving apartments in Limerick and an unsigned B10 form. He alleged Ms Barry used abusive language and made specific threats during conversations. Following a complaint to the Gardaí, who indicated the threats were credible, Mr Taite initiated proceedings. The application came before Mr Justice Senan Allen on an ex-parte basis. The judge granted Mr Taite permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings against Ms Barry. The matter was adjourned for a week.
The High Court awarded legal costs to Mark Hedderman and his wife, Sinead Hedderman Gallagher, in a case concerning their right to return to Ireland from Ukraine with their newborn son, Theo Declan. The applicants, who travelled to Ukraine for the birth of their child via surrogacy, challenged mandatory hotel quarantine requirements for arrivals from designated countries. They alleged that the requirement to pre-book quarantine accommodation breached their Constitutional and European Convention rights, arguing it constituted a disproportionate interference with liberty. The action was brought against the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Transport, and Health, along with the Attorney General. Before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, the court heard that new regulations had been implemented allowing the family to return without undergoing mandatory hotel quarantine. Counsel for the applicants, Micheál O'Higgins SC, stated the family returned home after these regulatory changes and proposed that the case be struck out on consent, with an order for costs against the State. The State's counsel, Catherine Donnelly SC, did not object. Mr Justice O'Moore noted the novel points raised and the resulting regulatory changes, granting a costs order in favour of the applicants. The estimated costs are a five-figure sum. The matter was resolved by consent with the case struck out and costs awarded.
The High Court in Dublin is examining two separate challenges to mandatory hotel quarantine requirements for people arriving in Ireland from designated countries. Counsel for the applicants argued that the measures breach constitutional rights to liberty and amount to unlawful detention. One applicant is a healthcare worker based in Letterkenny, County Donegal, who returned from South Africa on 9 April and has since tested negative for Covid-19 twice. The second applicant, a fully vaccinated healthcare worker from Dublin, returned from Dubai on 10 April. Both cases raise questions about the proportionality of the scheme and whether individual circumstances receive adequate consideration. The State's medical adviser, Dr Darina O'Flanagan, defended the quarantine measures as necessary and proportionate responses to pandemic risks, particularly regarding variants. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore is hearing the inquiry and indicated he would deliver a decision shortly after proceedings conclude. The hearing resumed on Saturday morning for State submissions.
Two men imprisoned for contempt of court in connection with interference at a disputed farm in County Roscommon have been released from custody. Michael Anthony McGann, who owned the property at Falsk, Strokestown, and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Longford, were held in Mountjoy Prison for nearly five months following their arrest for obstructing KBC Bank's agents during enforcement of a repossession order. On Friday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds directed their release after both men provided undertakings to the court to remain away from the property. The judge warned that any breach would result in their immediate return to prison. A cost order against McGann, described as the "puppet master" in the matter, was estimated at well into six figures. A third man, Colm Granahan from Ballina, Mayo, was previously released after purging his contempt. The underlying dispute concerns a farm that was the subject of a controversial 2018 eviction following KBC's €431,000 loan recovery action. The full hearing of the case is scheduled for June.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore expressed satisfaction that the State had taken all possible measures to enable an Irish couple, who had travelled to Ukraine for the birth of their son by surrogacy, to return home without mandatory hotel quarantine. The judge noted that new regulations were being drafted to allow the family to board flights from Ukraine via Frankfurt to Dublin on Saturday morning and to avoid the compulsory quarantine that had been imposed after Ukraine was added to the list of countries requiring it. The couple had argued that the State's failure to secure pre‑booking for quarantine rooms breached their constitutional and European Convention rights, and had sought an order quashing Ukraine's banned status and a declaration that their rights had been infringed.
Two men imprisoned for interfering with a bank's lawful repossession of a farm in Strokestown, County Roscommon, have sought their release from custody. Michael Anthony McGann and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Longford, were detained in Mountjoy Prison after being found in contempt of court for obstruction during the 2018 eviction. A third man, Colm Granahan of Ballina, purged his contempt and was released before Christmas. At Thursday's High Court hearing before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, counsel for the men argued they had satisfied both coercive and punitive elements of their contempt findings. KBC Bank's legal representatives opposed the application, stating the men could secure release by purging contempt and complying with existing court orders. The men offered undertakings to avoid the property if the bank reciprocated, which counsel for KBC rejected as improper. Ms Justice Reynolds adjourned proceedings to allow further consultation between the applicants and their legal team, with the hearing resuming Friday.
In a High Court ruling, Justice Mary Irvine ordered the temporary suspension of Dr Gerard Waters, a GP in Celbridge, following a patient complaint that he had told the patient that Covid‑19 was a hoax and that government measures were harmful. The patient, who had sought treatment for a suspected chest infection, claimed Dr Waters had denied a Covid‑19 test, spread misinformation about masks and the virus, and suggested that deaths were not caused by Covid‑19. Dr Waters admitted expressing his views but said he did so professionally and only to patients seeking his opinion. The Medical Council, after receiving the complaint, requested assurances that he would follow HSE guidelines; when these were deemed insufficient, it applied to the High Court for suspension under the 2007 Medical Practitioners Act. Justice Irvine found the allegations serious enough to justify a temporary suspension pending further disciplinary proceedings. The order remains in effect until the outcome of those proceedings.
The High Court granted bail to Farah Damji, a 54-year-old woman convicted in the UK for breaching restraining orders and absconding from trial. Mr Justice Paul Burns applied the principle of proportionality, noting that Damji had already served eight months in Irish custody while contesting her extradition on medical grounds. The judge stated the sentence she faced in the UK was nine months' imprisonment. Damji, who fled to Ireland in February 2023, was arrested in Dublin in August 2023 under a European Arrest Warrant. She is alleged to have harassed two male victims by naming, stalking, and harassing them, including calling one victim ten times daily and tweeting a link to his victim impact statement. She also faces a breach of licence sentence for absconding. Damji, who has a criminal record dating back to 1995, is now represented by Ms Joanne Williams BL. Bail conditions require her to reside at an agreed address, sign daily at a Garda station, provide a mobile number, agree not to apply for travel documents, and keep the peace. She must lodge a €1,000 bond (part of a €1,200 total) by next Tuesday. A separate application from her legal team is scheduled for May.
Jonathan Collopy, 34, of St Mary's Park, Limerick, faces extradition to Bulgaria to serve an 18‑month sentence for drink driving. He has a prior conviction for serious drug offences in the early 2000s. Collopy's counsel, Katherine McGillicuddy BL, argued that extradition would expose him to inadequate medical care for his severe back and disc problems, citing Bulgarian prison conditions as substandard. She highlighted concerns about bed‑bug infestations, lack of pillows, and a single doctor for 600 inmates, arguing these factors could worsen Collopy's health. The Minister's counsel, Grainne Mullan BL, countered that Bulgarian authorities had provided information on living space (not less than four square metres), private bathrooms, daylight, ventilation, and active treatment in a specialised hospital in Sofia. She also noted assurances of inpatient and outpatient care and that prisoners can apply to the court if rights are breached.
A High Court dispute regarding the upkeep of art works, including pieces by Jack B Yeats, has been adjourned to a date after the Easter holidays. The action was brought by solicitor Brian Baily, an executor of the late Hugh James Tunney, and Tunney' Estates, the beneficial owner of the items. The defendants, Ms Caroline Devine, who claims she was Mr Tunney's partner, denies any wrongdoing. The plaintiffs seek injunctions for the possession of valuable paintings and orders preventing Ms Devine from carrying out works at the property where the items are kept without consent. They also seek possession of the property itself. The plaintiffs allege that the items are at risk due to the damp condition of the property and potential theft, and claim Ms Devine has obstructed their access. The case, which commenced last month, was heard before Mr Justice Senan Allen. The judge was informed that the parties have agreed to proceed to mediation, scheduled for early next month. With the consent of both parties, the court adjourned the case to a date after the Easter holidays. The High Court had previously granted the applicants permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings. The matter was adjourned after lawyers representing Ms Devine gave certain undertakings to the court.
Lidl Ireland and Lidl Ireland Gmbh, acting as applicants, brought defamation proceedings against the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), its President Tim Cullinan, and Vice-President Brian Rushe. The applicants alleged that the IFA published media advertisements and statements claiming Lidl's own-brand milk is not Irish and that the chain misled customers. Lidl contended these allegations were untrue and defamatory, seeking an injunction under Section 33 of the 2009 Defamation Act to prohibit further publication of such claims pending the full dispute. The applicants stated they source their 1-litre milk from Arrabawn in County Donegal and their 2 and 3-litre cartons from Strathroy in Northern Ireland, which sources milk in Ireland. They rejected accusations of creating a "fake dairy" or "phantom farm," clarifying that "Coolree Creamery" is a registered trademark rather than a physical creamery. Lidl also denied engaging in branding strategies to drive down prices paid to farmers, noting that farmers are paid via milk processors. The matter came before Mr Justice Senan Allen, where Lidl sought ex-parte permission to serve short notice on the defendants. The judge adjourned the action to a date in April, following the court's Easter vacation.
John Delaney, former CEO of the FAI, applied to the High Court for an in‑camera hearing of proceedings concerning the seizure of about 280,000 documents by the ODCE. He argued that media coverage would expose legally privileged information. The court rejected the application, stating that no legal basis existed to hold the hearing privately. Delaney's concerns were opposed by media outlets, notably the Sunday Times, which argued that public scrutiny is a constitutional right. The judge noted that the case had been ongoing since February 2020 and that the matter could be revisited if the assessors' reports, prepared by independent barristers, indicated a need for privacy. No order was made at this stage, and the proceedings were adjourned to a date in April. The ODCE, the FAI, and the parties involved remain neutral on the decision.
In March 2021 the High Court concluded proceedings initiated by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) concerning Traveller families residing in the exclusion zone around the airport's new North runway. The DAA had sought orders and injunctions to obtain vacant possession of land in Collinstown, previously leased to Fingal County Council for Traveller accommodation. The DAA claimed the McAleer family occupied the land without entitlement and required its vacating urgently for runway work. The families, represented by Quinn & Reynolds Solicitors and the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC), denied wrongdoing and opposed the action, citing up to 30 years of residence. The injunction application had been adjourned for out‑of‑court discussions; the court was informed that the dispute had been resolved and could be adjourned until after Easter. The terms of the settlement remain confidential. The resolution was welcomed by FLAC, who said it prevented serious consequences for their client.
The owners of two trans‑Atlantic communication cables, GTT Communications Inc and its affiliates Hibernia Express Ireland Ltd and Hibernia Atlantic Cable System Limited, have applied to the High Court for injunctions to stop fishermen from trawling within one kilometre of their cables. The cables, which link Ireland, the UK and Canada, carry data for major financial, telecommunications and cloud firms, and one cable transmits information vital to global stock traders. The companies allege that vessels owned by Brendan, Denis, James and John O'Flaherty, operating out of Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford, have been trawling near the cables, posing a high risk of damage and endangering crews because the cables are charged and have previously caused vessels to sink when fishing gear became entangled. The applicants seek orders restraining the respondents from trawling, dropping anchor or interfering with the seabed until the dispute is resolved.
The High Court has admitted a challenge to a €30m co-living development in Georgian Dublin to the fast-track Commercial Court list. The North Great George's Street Preservation Society, representing local residents, seeks to quash An Bord Pleanála's June 2020 decision to grant planning permission for 132 residential units at North Great George's Street and Hill Street. The developer, Hillstreet Limited Partnership, applied for fast-tracking, citing commercial urgency and €5m in prior expenditure. Counsel for Hillstreet argued that delays would increase costs, and both parties agreed to a telescoped hearing where the leave application and the action itself would be heard simultaneously. Mr Justice David Barniville was satisfied the matter should be admitted to the list. The Society alleges the planning decision is flawed, claiming the board unreasonably found the development would not injure the area's heritage and failed to conduct a proper Environmental Impact Assessment screening. They further claim the board breached EU directives regarding environmental impact assessments. The Society seeks declarations of non-compliance and an order quashing the board's decision. The matter was adjourned and will be next mentioned before the court in May.
A 45‑year‑old Romanian man, Vasile Jelecuteam, was stopped at a Garda checkpoint in Wicklow at about 12:05 a.m. on 22 March 2021. Garda Margaret Fennelly of Bray Garda Station checked his ID and driver's licence against the Garda Pulse and the newly‑activated Schengen Information System (SIS II). The search revealed that Germany had issued a European Arrest Warrant for Jelecuteam. The High Court heard that the details of the alleged offence had not yet been supplied. Mr Justice Paul Burns remanded Jelecuteam in custody until 31 March, with a bail hearing scheduled for the following Thursday. The case illustrates how SIS II allows instant alerts across 30 countries, enabling authorities to act swiftly on cross‑border warrants. The court did not receive further information on the offence at the time of the hearing.
Cork County Council has filed a High Court challenge against the Minister for Local Government and the State, arguing that a December 2023 direction to remove a variation to the 2014 Cork County Development Plan is unlawful. The council's elected members had introduced a variation in January 2020, including a retail planning strategy, after reviewing a detailed report and concluding that a major retail outlet centre would benefit the area without harming other retail centres. The Minister claimed the variation made the plan inconsistent with national spatial planning guidelines and that the Office of the Planning Regulator had found it inconsistent with its recommendations. The council, represented by James Connolly SC and Stephen Dodd SC, contends the Minister acted without jurisdiction, misinterpreted guidelines, and considered irrelevant factors. They seek an order quashing the Minister's direction, declarations that parts of the 2018 Planning and Development (Amendment) Act are unconstitutional, and that the direction has no legal effect.
A man in his late thirties, suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, has filed a High Court challenge against a Mental Health Tribunal decision to extend his involuntary detention at a psychiatric facility until July. He argues that the Tribunal failed to provide proper reasons for the extension, which was renewed by a 2‑to‑1 majority after a hearing earlier this year. The man, who has been stable since admission, is concerned about potential discharge into the community. His application seeks to quash the Tribunal's decision and declares that the lack of reasons breaches his rights to natural and constitutional justice, making the decision unreasonable and irrational. The case was heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who adjourned it for a week and directed that the application be made in the presence of lawyers for the respondent. The Mental Health Commission is a notice party to the application.
In a High Court case, Mr David Allen, a 70‑year‑old farmer from Johnville, Rathdangan, sued Start Mortgages and its appointed receivers, Mr Ken Fennell and Mr James Anderson of Deloitte, over his apartment at Atlantic Coast Apartments, Tramore. Allen had bought the unit in 2000 after borrowing €125,000 from Irish Life and Permanent. He alleged that Start's conduct after acquiring the loan was aggressive and that the receivers entered the apartment, changed the locks, and threatened his planned sale to repay the remaining €82,000 owed. Allen sought injunctions to prevent the receivers from entering or interfering with the property. The case was settled a few weeks ago, with the only remaining matter being the legal costs. Mr Allen's counsel, Hugh O'Flaherty BL, informed Justice Leonie Reynolds that the parties had consented to strike out the action without a costs order. The court had previously criticised the defendants' handling of the case.
Ms Fiona Squibb, chairperson of the Irish Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), claimed before the High Court that her suspension from the board was unlawful, unfair and fundamentally flawed. She denies any wrongdoing and says she has been an ISPCA volunteer for 20 years and a director since 2017, having been elected chair after the previous holder retired. Ms Squibb alleges that following her appointment, CEO Andrew Kelly went on sick leave for medical stress and later, when he returned, demanded that she and another director resign or he would raise a grievance with the charity regulator. She says Kelly expressed dissatisfaction with her election and had long sought her removal. After his return, Kelly allegedly filed a grievance claiming she had undermined his position. Ms Squibb and another director were suspended pending the grievance procedure, which she says lacks transparency and does not observe natural justice.
Jonathan Collopy, 34, of St Mary's Park, Limerick, is wanted in Bulgaria to serve an 18‑month sentence for drink driving committed in his absence. He has a prior conviction for serious drug offences in 2004. Collopy's barrister, Katherine McGillicuddy BL, told Mr Justice Paul Burns that she requires two weeks to prepare submissions challenging Bulgarian authorities' claim that prisons are not overcrowded. The court adjourned the matter to March 25. The case follows Collopy's arrest on 5 November after a European Arrest Warrant was issued by Bulgaria.
A 60‑year‑old Scottish man living in Ireland is wanted for six sexual offence charges covering a period from 1975 to 2020. He was arrested in Ireland on 16 December and brought before the High Court where a European Arrest Warrant issued by Scottish authorities was endorsed. Mr Justice Paul Burns heard that the man's lawyers are awaiting a decision by Mr Justice Paul Coffey in another UK extradition case, which could influence this case, and therefore requested an adjournment. Mr Justice Paul Burns said he expects a judgement within two weeks and adjourned the matter until 22 March.
Farah Damji, 53, a well‑known con‑woman and daughter of a property tycoon, was convicted in her absence by Southwark Crown Court of two breaches of a restraining order in 2018. She was brought to Ireland in February 2020 and her lawyers argued that she would not receive the long‑term psychodynamic psychotherapy she needs if extradited to the UK, citing a psychologist's report that the UK lacks specialists for her serious condition. The High Court heard that the UK authorities would refer her to a GP and specialists upon arrival, but the lawyers contended this would breach Article 3 of the European Human Rights Act. Mr Justice Burns adjourned the case to 26 March. Damji also faces a sentence for absconding from her trial, having fled after three days of proceedings. She was arrested in Dublin under a European Arrest Warrant. The case remains pending.
A South Dublin Primary school has settled High Court proceedings it initiated concerning concerns over the impact of dust and noise from construction works near the school. The action was brought by St Patrick National School in Glenageary, Dalkey, against Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council regarding the approval of a construction plan for 105 new apartments. The matter was briefly heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who was informed that the case had been settled out of court and could be struck out with no order. The case arose after developer Winterbrook Homes (Harbour Road Ltd) was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala to build the apartments. The school raised concerns about the Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), arguing that the local authority failed to consider its submissions regarding the potential impact of dust and noise on students and staff. The school claimed the council believed it was legally precluded from considering the information. The council approved the CEMP late last year, prompting the school to bring judicial review proceedings, seeking an order to quash the decision. The developer was a notice party to the proceedings. The school expressed no issue with the planning permission but was concerned about the health and welfare of its students and staff during the construction phase, citing the need for open windows due to current health guidelines related to Covid-19.