Provisions against discrimination on religious grounds in Northern Ireland, could apply to appointment of a firm to a panel of experts, where one person was designated to carry out that work. ‘it is essential, for there to be ’employment,’ that the person making the contract shall himself undertake to do, at any rate, some of … Continue reading Kelly v Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Loughran v Northern Ireland Housing Executive: HL 29 Jul 1998
The special relationship between an auditor and a bank, meant that a duty of care could extend even to a second bank with its own auditors. In determining whether there had been an assumption of responsibility, the the relevant factors would include (according to the authorities): ‘(a) the precise relationship between (to use convenient terms) … Continue reading Bank of Credit and Commerce International (Overseas) Limited (In Liquidation); BCCI Holdings (Luxembourg) SA (In Liquidation); Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA (In Liquidation) v Price Waterhouse: CA 13 Feb 1998
The appellant faced a criminal trial. He was granted legal aid for two counsel. He asked for two particular junior counsel, but the certificate required him to instruct leading counsel and a junior. He objected that this deprived him of the right to his chosen counsel. Held: The appeal failed. The purpose of a defendant’s … Continue reading Maguire, Re Application for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland): SC 21 Mar 2018
The defendant appealed his conviction for obtaining property by deception where part of the offence had taken place abroad. Held: Smith should be overturned. The last act or terminatory theory remains the binding common law of England and Wales. The correct rule was that before an English court could try an offence it was necessary, … Continue reading Regina v Manning: CACD 24 Jun 1998
The Crown Court was able to increase the amount of a confiscation order after making the original order, where further assets were revealed, but not beyond assessed benefit to him of the crime. Judges: Rose LJ Citations: Gazette 28-May-1998, Times 06-May-1998, [1998] EWCA Crim 1370, [1999] 1 Cr App R(S) 92, [1998] Crim LR 591 … Continue reading Regina v Tivnan: CACD 6 May 1998
The applicants complained that as an unmarried couple they had been excluded from consideration as adopters. Held: Northern Ireland legislation had not moved in the same way as it had for other jurisdictions within the UK. The greater commitment to traditional family structures did not however justify the difference. The rules were unlawful discrimination.Lord Hoffmann … Continue reading In re P and Others, (Adoption: Unmarried couple) (Northern Ireland); In re G: HL 18 Jun 2008
The defendant had admitted charges of obtaining property by deception. A confiscation hearing concluded that he had benefitted to a much greater extent than could be recoverd. Before then however both his parents had died, and he stood to inherit further sums, though grants had not been taken out. The DPP applied to vary the … Continue reading Maye, Re (Northern Ireland): HL 6 Feb 2008
Citations: [2007] NIQB 109 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Northern Ireland Citing: Cited – Cordoba Shipping Co Ltd v National State Bank, Elizabeth, New Jersey (The Albaforth) CA 1984 A negligent misrepresentation was made in a telex sent from the United States but received and acted upon in England. The judge had set aside leave to serve … Continue reading Batey v Todd Engineering (Staffs) Ltd: QBNI 7 Mar 1998
The appellant said that the police Service of Northern Ireland had failed properly to police the ‘flags protest’ in 2012 and 2013. The issue was not as to the care and effort taken, but an alleged misunderstanding of their powers. Held: Treacy J was right in his conclusion that the police laboured under a misapprehension … Continue reading DB v Chief Constable of Police Service of Northern Ireland: SC 1 Feb 2017
(Northern Ireland) Children had been taken to school in the face of vehement protests from Loyalists. The parents complained that the police had failed to protect them properly, since the behaviour was so bad as to amount to inhuman or degrading treatment, and that the police had given undue weight to the right to demonstrate. … Continue reading Re E (A Child); E v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Another (Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and others intervening): HL 12 Nov 2008
In each case a death had occurred many years earlier where the deceased had apparently died at the hands of the armed forces. The relatives now challenged the range of verdicts which could be left to a coroner’s jury.Lord Bingham said: ‘The Coroner must decide how widely the inquiry should range to elicit the facts … Continue reading Jordan v Lord Chancellor and Another (Northern Ireland): HL 28 Mar 2007
(Northern Ireland) The applicant sought judicial review of a decision not to disclose documents held by the respondent to him saying that the refusal was disproportionate and infringed his human rights. The respondents said that the documents were provided on an assurance of confidentiality. Held: Disclosure rules are different in judicial review proceedings since such … Continue reading Tweed v Parades Commission for Northern Ireland: HL 13 Dec 2006
Devolution issue arises as to Act of NI Minister The basis for the Attorney’s reference is his assertion that the universal credit provisions in question breach articles 8, 12 and 14 of the ECHR and article 1 of the first protocol to the ECHR and are therefore invalid per section 24 of the 1998 Act. … Continue reading Northern Ireland Devolution Issues, A Reference By The Attorney General (Northern Ireland): SC 5 Feb 2020
Five questions referred by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. Held: The matter was adjourned: ‘it is desirable that legal questions be determined against the background of a clear factual matrix, rather than as theoretical or academic issues of law. The opportunity for discussion and determination of the legal questions raised in the AGNI’s reference … Continue reading Northern Ireland of devolution issues, Reference by the Attorney General for (Northern Ireland): SC 14 Jan 2019
A member state was not allowed to impose a tax regime which discriminated against the subsidiaries of a company based in that state where they were based in other member states, but discrimination was allowed where the subsidiaries were based outside EU. United Kingdom legislation restricting fiscal reliefs or advantages to cases where the relevant … Continue reading Imperial Chemical Industries v Colmer: ECJ 16 Jul 1998
The claimant had brought and lost an action relating to his dismissal by the defendant, who now appealed against an order that he was not estopped from bring a second claim on a different basis namely race discrimination, disapplying the rule in Henderson. Held: The Council’s appeal succeeded. The rule in Henderson should have been … Continue reading Divine-Bortey v London Borough of Brent: CA 14 May 1998
The court was asked as to the meaning of ‘qualification’ when considered under the Act: ‘It is our view that the word ‘qualification’ itself and the other words in the definition viz ‘authority, recognition, registration, enrolment, approval and certification’ convey with reasonable clarity the idea of (a) some sort of status conferred on an employee … Continue reading Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland v Bone: 15 Sep 1993
Judges: Carswell LCJ Citations: [1998] NI 78 Citing: Cited – Regina v Derby Crown Court, ex parte Brooks QBD 1985 The court set out the characteristics of abuse of process in criminal matters. It may be an abuse of process if: ‘the prosecution have manipulated or misused the process of the court so as to … Continue reading Re Molloy’s Application: CANI 1998
The Court dismissed an appeal against a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment imposed for armed robbery of almost andpound;9,000 from a bank: ‘Armed robbery at banks is a growing form of criminal activity and the efforts of the courts to deter do not appear to be achieving appreciable success. Accordingly we are satisfied that the … Continue reading Regina v Coates: CANI 1998
MacDermott LJ said: ‘The attitude of the courts in this jurisdiction to the offence of supplying proscribed drugs is well known (see the observation of the Lord Chief Justice in Haveron and a series of subsequent cases). In short the courts in this jurisdiction view the supply or possession with intent to supply, of any … Continue reading Regina v Hutton: QBNI 1998
Jacobs J said: ‘I do not think it is right to divide up the claim for an invention which consists of a combination of elements and then to seek to identify who contributed which element. I think the inquiry is more fundamental than that. One must seek to identify who in substance made the combination. … Continue reading Henry Brothers (Magherafelt) Ltd v Ministry of Defence Northern Ireland Office: ChD 1997
Police’s Complete Immunity was Too Wide (Grand Chamber) A male teacher developed an obsession with a male pupil. He changed his name by deed poll to the pupil’s surname. He was required to teach at another school. The pupil’s family’s property was subjected to numerous acts of vandalism, which the police investigated and in respect … Continue reading Osman v The United Kingdom: ECHR 28 Oct 1998
The claimant’s son had been stabbed to death. She challenged the refusal of the coroner to continue with the inquest with a view to examining the responsibility of any of the police in having failed to protect him. Held: The question amounted to asking whether the coroner’s decision on the resumption should have been affected … Continue reading Hurst, Regina (on the Application of) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v London Northern District Coroner: HL 28 Mar 2007
A meeting was not a public meeting just because the public attended without objection. A press conference to which press only had had invitations was not as such public, and a report of it was not protected under the Act Judges: Carswell LCJ Citations: Times 11-Nov-1998, [1998] NI 358 Statutes: Defamation Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 … Continue reading Turkington and Others (Practising as McCartan Turkington Breen) v Times Newspapers Ltd: CANI 11 Nov 1998
The Commission was a creation of statute, and had not been given power to intervene in judicial proceedings. The coroner was investigating deaths at Omagh from a terrorist bombing, and the Commission sought to intervene. The Act should not be read restrictively, but nor could provisions be read into it which did not exist at … Continue reading Regina v Greater Belfast Coroner, ex parte Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: CANI 11 May 2001
The court was asked as to the liability in damages of information society services, in this case Facebook, for misuse of private information as a result of postings on their sites by third parties. The postings divulged historic sexual ffending. Held: With the passage of time the protection of an offender by prohibiting the disclosure … Continue reading CG v Facebook Ireland Ltd and Another: CANI 21 Dec 2016
French consignees of a shipment of peaches sued in France the Australian issuers of the bill of laiding under which the goods were carried (a contract claim) and the Dutch carriers and master of the ship in which they were carried (tort claims). Held: There was no jurisdiction under Article 6(1) because none of the … Continue reading Reunion Europeenne Sa and Others v Spliethoff’s Bevrachtingskantoor Bv and Another: ECJ 27 Oct 1998
The deceased had been shot by soldiers of the British Army whilst in a car in Northern Ireland. The car was alleged to have ‘run’ a checkpoint. The claimants said the investigation, now 20 years ago, had been inadequate. The claim was brought under human rights law, but predated by many years the incorporation of … Continue reading In re McKerr (Northern Ireland): HL 11 Mar 2004
The appellant was detained under section 37 of the 1983 Act as a mental patient with a restriction under section 41. He sought his release. Held: The standard of proof in such applications remained the balance of probabilities, but that standard was flexible, and varied according to the seriousness of the allegation. The only misdirection … Continue reading AN, Regina (on the Application of) v Mental Health Review Tribunal (Northern Region) and others: CA 21 Dec 2005
ICO An undertaking to comply with the seventh data protection principle has been signed by Department of Justice Northern Ireland. This follows the sale of a filing cabinet that contained documents originating from within the Northern Ireland Prison service. The documents contained personal data, as defined by section 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998 … Continue reading Department of Justice Northern Ireland (Undertakings ): ICO 19 Jun 2014
Legislation which disallowed claimants who asserted that they had been discriminated against, on the grounds of their religious background, from appealing through the courts system, was a clear breach of their human rights. A limitation will not be compatible with Article 6(1) if it does not pursue a legitimate aim and if there is not … Continue reading Tinnelly and Sons Ltd and Others and McElduff and Others v United Kingdom: ECHR 10 Jul 1998
The claimant suffered a condition which would lead to the development of vocal nodules unless she followed a program which would allow her to avoid raising her voice. She said that employer should not have placed her within a noisy environment. The employer appealed against a decision that she suffered a disability saying that she … Continue reading SCA Packaging Ltd v Boyle (Northern Ireland): HL 1 Jul 2009
The UK lodged a derogation with the Court as regards its human rights obligations in Northern Ireland because of the need to control terroist activity. The Government of Ireland intervened. From August 1971 until December 1975 the UK authorities exercised a series of ‘extrajudicial’ powers of arrest, detention and internment in Northern Ireland. The case … Continue reading The Republic of Ireland v The United Kingdom: ECHR 18 Jan 1978
The Sentence Review Commissioners had decided not to order the release of the prisoner, who was serving a life sentence. He had been released on licence from a life sentence and then committed further serious sexual offences against under-age girls and was recalled. In considering his application for a further licence he complained that the … Continue reading In re D; Doherty, Re (Northern Ireland); Life Sentence Review Commissioners v D: HL 11 Jun 2008
The company decided to make redundancies. The applicants, all selected, had worked in more than one section of the plant. All employees worked under the same contract, but employees were chosen only from the one section. The complainants said that the entire workforce should have been considered. Held: Under the Order it was for the … Continue reading Murray and Another v Foyle Meats Ltd (Northern Ireland): HL 8 Jul 1999
A party had applied to a judge for what in effect amounted to leave to appeal and had been refused. Held: Wherever power is given to a legal authority to grant or refuse leave to appeal, the decision of that authority is, from the very nature of the thing, final and conclusive and without appeal, … Continue reading In re Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890, Ex parte Stevenson: CA 1892
The Northern Ireland Parliament had elected its first minister and deputy more than six weeks after the election, but the Act required the election to be within that time. It was argued that as a creature of statute, the Parliament could not act outside the powers spelled out. Held: When the Act had been drafted … Continue reading Robinson v Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Others: HL 25 Jul 2002
The Commission challenged the compatibility of the NI law relating to banning nearly all abortions with Human Rights Law. It now challenged a decision that it did not have standing to bring the case.
Held: (Lady Hale, Lord Kerr and Lord Wilson . .
The Court concludes that in Northern Ireland:
(i) There is no general right to abortion whether under the common law or under statute.
(ii) The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) has legal standing under the . .
Hudoc Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (locus standi); No violation of Art. 2, not established that applicant . .
The coroner intended to hold an inquest into the deaths on the Omagh bombing. The Commission sought the right to be involved on the basis that human rights of interest to it might arise, and the coroner refused, saying that they had no standing to . .
A company complained that it had been refused a tender for work because of discrimination on the ground of religious belief or political opinion since the unions on the site refused to work with the company’s employees, the unions believing the . .
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
PIP Arrangements not Discriminatory The claimant suffered a life limiting condition, but not so that her death could be reasonably expected within six months. She complained that the resulting unavailability of PIP and UC without assessment was discriminatory as opposed to those who were predicted not so to survive, but did in fact do so. … Continue reading The Department for Communities v Cox: CANI 3 Aug 2021
Application for Judicial Review of the findings of the International Monitoring Commission contained in its Report presented to Parliament on 20 April 2004 and further of a Direction given by the Secretary of State under Section 51B(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 issued on 28 April 2004. By that Direction the Secretary of State … Continue reading Sinn Fein, Re an Application for Judicial Review: QBNI 14 Feb 2005
Scoffield J [2021] NIQB 120 Bailii Northern Ireland Act 1998 52A 52B Northern Ireland Northern Ireland, Constitutional Updated: 26 January 2022; Ref: scu.670947
The claimant made application for judicial review of the stated intention of the Government of the UK to issue an article 50 notice to leave the EU, by means of the use of the royal Prerogative. They said that any use of the royal prerogative had been displaced by the 1998 Act. Held: There was … Continue reading McCord, Re Judicial Review: QBNI 28 Oct 2016
Scoffield J [2021] NIQB 93 Bailii Northern Ireland Act 1998, Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 Northern Ireland Planning Updated: 18 January 2022; Ref: scu.670939
Application by the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) and Brian Gormally for judicial review of an alleged on-going failure of the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly to discharge its statutory duty under section 28E of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. [2015] NIQB 59 Bailii Northern Ireland Act 1998 28E Northern Ireland … Continue reading The Committee on The Administration of Justice (CAJ) and Another, Re Judicial Review: QBNI 30 Jun 2015
The court considered whether a power of appeal to the existed.
Held: A power did exist under FETO, and the CANI having mistakenly excluded a power to appeal the Supreme Court could nevertheless hear it. Both appeals were allowed. . .
(Grand Chamber) The applicant had lived with his family in a slum bordering on a municipal house-hold refuse tip. A methane explosion at the tip resulted in a landslide which engulfed the applicant’s house, killing his close relatives. The applicant claimed that the local authorities were responsible for the accident at the tip and for … Continue reading Oneryildiz v Turkey: ECHR 18 Jun 2002
The appellant was serving a prison term for murder. He was being considered for release under the Good Friday agreement, but on home leave he was again involved in further serious violence. He was recalled and his entitlement to early release was withdrawn. He appealed saying that not some evidence had been withheld. Held: The … Continue reading Mcclean, Re an Application for Judicial Review 14: CANI 23 Apr 2004
A contract which employed one person, but anticipated that the services required might be carried out by his employees did not fall within the Truck Acts. Citations: [1853] 138 ER 116, [1853] EngR 156, (1853) 13 CB 166, (1853) 138 ER 1161 Links: Commonlii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Kelly v Northern … Continue reading Sharman v Sanders: 25 Jan 1853
The defendant sought to defend the claim for defamation by claiming fair comment. The claimant said that the relevant facts were not known to the defendant at the time of the publication. Held: To claim facts in aid of a defence of fair comment, it would make no sense if those facts were not known … Continue reading Lowe v Associated Newspapers Ltd: QBD 28 Feb 2006
A person who undertakes work and employs several or many men to do, or to assist in doing, the work is not an artificer or workman for the purposes of the Truck Act which prohibited payment other than in the currency of the realm. Citations: [1848] 154 ER 405 Statutes: Truck Act Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading Ryder v Warde: 1848
The claimants sought to amend their claim which had previously been on the basis of a joint ownership, to one of sole ownership. Held: The application for the amendment being made more han two years after the grant, the amendment could not be allowed. s.37(5) bars the making of a new claim out of time. … Continue reading Yeda Research and Development Co Ltd v Rhone-Poulenc Rorer International Holdings Inc and others: CA 31 Jul 2006
It was said that a squad of the British army had caused the deaths of 24 civilians in 1948 in Batang Kali (now part of Malaysia. Held: No inquiry was required. It was a matter of discretion, and there were no sustainable reasons for overturning the decisions of the respondents. Judges: Sir John Thomas P, … Continue reading Keyu and Others v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Another: Admn 4 Sep 2012
The claimant sought a judicial review of the decision to hold them responsible for necessary works of remediation. They were statutory successors to British Gas Corporation. Held: The legislation clearly attempted to hold the contaminator primarily responsible for works of remediation. Where the contaminating owner was no longer available to pay the cost, its successors … Continue reading National Grid Gas Plc, Regina (on the Application of) v The Environment Agency: Admn 17 May 2006
Four children complained that, for years before they were taken into care by the local authority, its social services department was well aware that they were living in filthy conditions and suffering ‘appalling’ neglect in the home of their parents. Suspicions of abuse had arisen in 1987, but they were given effective support only in … Continue reading Z And Others v The United Kingdom: ECHR 10 May 2001
The nature of the Secretary of State’s objections and a chance to reply are to be given if the Secretary intends to deny an application for naturalisation. Administrative convenience cannot justify unfairness. The court deprecated ‘fishing expeditons’ by those seeking a judicial review.Woolf LJ MR said: ‘on an application for judicial review there is usually … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Home Department ex parte Fayed: CA 13 Nov 1996
Claimants sought damages for personal injuries incurred when, in Pristina, Kosovo and during a riot, British soldiers on a UN peacekeeping expedition fired on a car. Held: The incidents occurred in the course of peace-keeping duties. It was not argued that they occurred in combat, and it was established that in cases of riot, soldiers … Continue reading Bici and Bici v Ministry of Defence: QBD 7 Apr 2004
The defendants were alleged to be members of the IRA who had been found near to the home of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. They were charged with conspiracy to murder. They did not give evidence. During closing speeches in a terrorist trial, the Secretary for Northern Ireland and Lord Denning took part in … Continue reading Regina v McCann and Others: CACD 1991
Health insurer is not body providing qualification to carry on profession or trade and not liable as such in race discrimination laws. Citations: Times 24-Jul-1997, [1997] EWCA Civ 2046 Statutes: Race Relations Act 1976 12 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Kelly v Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Loughran v Northern Ireland Housing Executive … Continue reading Dr Tattari v Private Patients Plan Limited: CA 8 Jul 1997
Child born after vasectomy – Damages Limited Despite a vasectomy, Mr MacFarlane fathered a child, and he and his wife sought damages for the cost of care and otherwise of the child. He appealed a rejection of his claim. Held: The doctor undertakes a duty of care in regard to the prevention of pregnancy: it … Continue reading MacFarlane and Another v Tayside Health Board: HL 21 Oct 1999
It is a defence in criminal law to a charge of assault if the defendant had an honest belief that he was going to be attacked and reacted with proportionate force: ‘If there has been an attack so that defence is reasonably necessary, it should be recognised that a person defending himself cannot weigh to … Continue reading Palmer v The Queen: PC 23 Nov 1970
The applicant had dual Iraqi and British nationality. He was detained by British Forces in Iraq under suspicion of terrorism, and interned. Held: His appeal failed. The UN resolution took priority over the European Convention on Human Rights where there was a conflict between them. ‘If the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII, consider that … Continue reading Al-Jedda v Secretary of State for Defence: CA 29 Mar 2006
The claimant had been detained by the US in Guantanamo Bay suspected of terrorist involvement. He sought to support his defence documents from the respondent which showed that the evidence to be relied on in the US courts had been obtained by torture, and in particular by the hiding of his detention for many months … Continue reading Mohamed, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No 1): Admn 21 Aug 2008
The applicant, an 8 year old boy, became part of his Indian family who lived in England, through an adoption recognised in Indian Law, but not in English Law. Though the adoption was genuine, his family ties had not been broken in India. The family resisted an order for his return to India. Held: The … Continue reading Singh v Entry Clearance Officer New Delhi: CA 30 Jul 2004
The claimant’s daughter had committed suicide after being given home leave on a secure ward by the respondent mental hospital. A claim in negligence had been settled, but the parents now appealed refusal of their claim that the hospital had failed in its article 2 duty to respect her right to life. Held: The decision … Continue reading Rabone and Another v Pennine Care NHS Trust: CA 21 Jun 2010
The court was asked: ‘Was it unlawful for the Secretary of State for Health, the respondent, who had power to make provisions for the functioning of the National Health Service in England, to have failed to make a provision which would have enabled women who were citizens of the UK, but who were usually resident … Continue reading A and B, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: SC 14 Jun 2017
The claimant taxi driver sought to assert race discrimination. The respondent argued that he had not been an employee, but an independent contractor. The Claimant owned his own vehicle and paid the respondents minicab operators pounds 75 per week for a radio and access to their company system, which allocated calls from customers to a … Continue reading Mingeley v Pennock and Another (T/A Amber Cars): CA 9 Feb 2004
A school board employed staff to manage a residential school for vulnerable children. The staff committed sexual abuse of the children. The school denied vicarious liability for the acts of the teachers. Held: ‘Vicarious liability is legal responsibility imposed on an employer, although he is himself free from blame, for a tort committed by his … Continue reading Lister and Others v Hesley Hall Ltd: HL 3 May 2001
Prisoner’s death – need for full public enquiry The deceased had been a young Asian prisoner. He was placed in a cell overnight with a prisoner known to be racist, extremely violent and mentally unstable. He was killed. The family sought an inquiry into the death. Held: There had been a police investigation and trial … Continue reading Amin, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 16 Oct 2003
Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000
Challenge to decision was not to hold a public inquiry into the circumstances of the notorious Omagh bomb explosion which occurred in the town of Omagh, County Tyrone, on 15 August 1998. Citations: [2016] NIQB 95 Links: Bailii Statutes: Justice and Security Act 2013 6 Jurisdiction: Northern Ireland Administrative Updated: 03 August 2022; Ref: scu.640858
This appeal is concerned with a challenge to the legality of legislation of the Scottish Parliament which deprives a person, A, who is accused of sexual activity with an under-aged person, B, of the defence that he or she reasonably believed that B was over the age of 16, if the police had previously charged … Continue reading AB v Her Majesty’s Advocate: SC 5 Apr 2017
The Home Secretary had issued directives to the BBC and IBA prohibiting the broadcasting of speech by representatives of proscribed terrorist organisations. The applicant journalists challenged the legality of the directives on the ground that they were incompatible with the ECHR, and also on the ground that they were disproportionate in going beyond the established … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Brind: HL 7 Feb 1991
The applicant had been attacked and beaten by skinheads shouting racial abuse. He complained that as a Roma, the police had failed through race discrimination properly to investigate his complaint. Held: The court repeated the statement that article 3 may give rise to a positive obligation to conduct an official investigation. The obligation on the … Continue reading Secic v Croatia: ECHR 31 May 2007
A complaint was made that the police had failed properly to understand and implement their duties in managing partisan marches in Northern Ireland. Held: the 1998 Act had not been undermined by the decisions and actions of the police in relation to the parades. The steps taken by the police to protect the article 8 … Continue reading DB, Re Judicial Review: CANI 1 Jul 2014
The court granted the respondent’s application for judicial review of the policing by PSNI of certain parades which had not been notified in accordance with the requirements of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, finding that the PSNI had facilitated illegal and sometimes violent parades with the effect, for a period of time at … Continue reading DB, Re Judicial Review: QBNI 28 Apr 2014
The child had been born to parents who married and later divorced in Romania. The mother brought him to England without the father’s consent, and now appealed an order for his return. Held: The mother’s appeal succeeded. The Convention required an order to be made for the return of a child only where the parent … Continue reading In re D (A Child), (Abduction: Rights of Custody): HL 16 Nov 2006
The actions and failures of a trade union representative can be attributed to the claimant. Citations: [1979] IRLR 335 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Dedman v British Building and Engineering Appliances CA 1973 The claimant sought to bring his claim under a provision which required a complaint to the industrial tribunal to be … Continue reading Syed v Ford Motor Co: 1979
The claimant had been accused with others of arson to school property. He was suspended for the maximum forty five day period. The school then invited the family to discuss arrangements to return to the school, but the family did not attend. After the expiry of the forty five days, the criminal proceedings were discontinued. … Continue reading Ali v Head Teacher and Governors of Lord Grey School: HL 22 Mar 2006
The claimants claimed for the estate of their murdered son. He had been waiting to give evidence in a criminal trial, and had asked the police for support having received threats. Other witnesses had also suffered intimidation including acts of arson to cars and premises. The police officer had been disciplined for failing to respond … Continue reading Van Colle v Hertfordshire Police: QBD 10 Mar 2006
The claimants were dependants of Iraqi nationals killed in Iraq. Held: The Military Police were operating when Britain was an occupying power. The question in each case was whether the Human Rights Act applied to the acts of the defendant. The question amounted to whether the officers acted under State Agent Authority within the convention … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Mazin Mumaa Galteh Al-Skeini and Others) v The Secretary of State for Defence: CA 21 Dec 2005
The Commissioner appealed an order requiring the North London Coroner to re-open an inquest into a death of Mr Hurst. Following the adjournment a neighbour had been convicted of the murder. The commissioner argued that since the death had occurred before the coming into effect of the Human Rights Act, the coroner was not under … Continue reading Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis v Hurst: CA 21 Jul 2005
The applicant was a soldier who had been court marshalled for misuse of travel warrants. He wished to use in his defence his recent epilepsy. There was some delay while medical reports were obtained, and subsequently when the new legal system was brought in and again for the issue of a new legal aid order. … Continue reading Stephen Jordan (No 2) v The United Kingdom: ECHR 10 Dec 2002
The defendants had had confiscation orders made against them. They had appealed on the basis that the orders were made more than six months after sentence. The prosecutor now appealed saying that the fact that the order were not timely did not invalidate them. Held: The appeal was allowed. The confiscation orders made by the … Continue reading Regina v Soneji and Bullen: HL 21 Jul 2005
The tribunal set out the test for whether a dismissal was for redundancy: ‘Free of authority, we understand the statutory framework . . involve a three-stage process: (1) was the employee dismissed: If so, (2) had the requirements of the employer’s business for employees to carry out work of a particular kind ceased or diminished, … Continue reading Safeway Stores Plc v Burrell: EAT 24 Jan 1997
The applicant, who feared for his life if identified, sought the release to him of materials discovered by the police in searching premises associated with a loyalist paramiliitary group. He thought that they might include information sourced form the security services. The request was refused. The police offered assistance and advice with the applicant’s security … Continue reading A, Re Application for Judicial Review: QBNI 25 Jun 2001
The claimant police officer considered being transferred to Northern Ireland. He asked and was incorrectly told that his housing allowance would not be affected by taking time off work. Held: The break between employments had affected his entitlements. The finding of a duty of care and its breach involved no new extension of the law. … Continue reading Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v Lennon: CA 20 Feb 2004
A claim was made under the TUPE regulations. The company replied that the part of the business transferred was not a discrete economic entity. Held: The regulations did not require that in order to be governed by the regulations, a business transferred had to be a discrete entity. Judges: Lord Justice May Lord Justice Mummery … Continue reading Fairhurst Ward Abbotts Limited v Botes Building Limited and others: CA 13 Feb 2004
The claimant’s child had died as a result of negligence in hospital. The parents had been told the result of police investigation and decision not to prosecute, and the hospital’s own investigation, but had not been sufficiently involved. There remained unresolved suspicions of negligence having been covered up. They had been refused legal aid to … Continue reading Khan, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: CA 10 Oct 2003
A surviving same-sex partner sought a right of succession to a tenancy (of their previously shared flat). Interveners ‘pointed out that a growing number of national courts in European and other democratic societies require equal treatment of unmarried different-sex partners and unmarried same-sex partners, and that that view is supported by recommendations and legislation of … Continue reading Karner v Austria: ECHR 24 Jul 2003
The appellant’s son and two others had been shot dead by police officers. There remained considerable controversy over the circumstances. The matter had been taken to the ECHR which had found the enquiry inadequate. The parties now disputed the steps taken to give effect to that decision. The court held that the 1998 is not … Continue reading In re McKerr: CANI 10 Jan 2003
(Northern Ireland) The chief constable appealed against a decision that the directions he had given, that officers with poor attendance records for sickness should not be considered for promotion. Held: The Chief Constable had, following the Act, found a serious management problem. The directions were designed to encourage good attendance, and were within his powers, … Continue reading In re Shields: HL 6 Feb 2003
The claimant company said that the 2010 Act was outside the competence of the Scottish Parliament insofar as it severely restricted the capacity of those selling cigarettes to display them for sale. They suggested two faults. First, that the subject matters were reserved to the UK Parliament under the 1998 Act. Second that the Act … Continue reading Imperial Tobacco Ltd v The Lord Advocate: SC 12 Dec 2012
The appellants challenged the legality under European law of orders under the Act restricting their freedom of movement, after suspicion of involvement in football violence. Held: Although the proceedings under which orders were made were civil, the standard of proof required was virtually that of a criminal court. Public policy could be used to justify … Continue reading Gough and Another v Chief Constable of Derbyshire: CA 20 Mar 2002
The appellant had been detained in a mental hospital after a conviction. Later released, he was recalled, but he was not given written reasons as required by a DoH circular. However the SS referred the recall immediately to the Tribunal. He appealed from refusal of a finding that his subsequent detention had been unlawful. Held: … Continue reading Lee-Hirons v Secretary of State for Justice: SC 27 Jul 2016
Challenge to two child limit for child tax credit. Judges: Patten, Leggatt, Nicola Davies LJJ Citations: [2019] EWCA Civ 615, [2019] 4 All ER 787, [2019] 1 WLR 5687, [2019] WLR(D) 233 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – SC, CB and 8 … Continue reading SC and Others, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Others: CA 16 Apr 2019
