John Kelly (51), pleaded guilty to arson of the family home at Bruhenny, Churchtown, Mallow, Co Cork on December 18, 2016 when the four children aged 11, eight, six and two were inside.

A chronic Dublin drug addict described as “the black sheep of his family” who carried out a string of robberies of bookies shops has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

A dispute over a publican's alleged unlawful occupation of the Long Stone pub in Dublin's city centre could delay the planned sale and redevelopment of the Apollo House site, with a market value of €35m, the Commercial Court has been told.

A grandmother who agreed to take on full-time care of her daughter's three children amid concerns for their welfare has taken proceedings alleging the Child and Family Agency is in "grave neglect" of its duty towards them.

The Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has offered an olive branch to judges, by agreeing to let the heads of more courts have a seat on a new body to pick the judiciary.

A 54-year-old catering assistant, who claimed she has ongoing back pain since she slipped and fell on spilt gravy two years ago, has been awarded over €25,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court against Dunnes Stores.

A 29-year-old former international amateur boxer and champion bare-fist fighter faces a €20,000 legal costs bill after withdrawing a Circuit Civil Court claim for personal injuries allegedly suffered in a road traffic accident.

A mobile ice cream van, which sold ice-lollies and cones to children around parks and sports venues, was being used as a cover for a major drugs distribution business, Limerick circuit criminal court heard today.

A Kerry man has been awarded damages in the Circuit Civil Court against well-known artist Kevin Sharkey over “highly defamatory” comments he wrote on his Twitter account.

A young mother was beaten, stripped, and hosed down in a cold shower during a terror assault by her ex.

Court office queues are to shorten under plans to allow more legal transactions to be carried out online.

His three-day sit-in at Dairygold Co-op’s boardroom may have landed him in the High Court, but dairy farmer Ned McCarthy remains adamant: “I’m definitely not going to give up on getting my money.”

The former eminent defence counsel Donagh McDonagh, who, on behalf of the Irish Government attended the inquest in Gibraltar into the shooting dead by the SAS of three IRA members, stepped down as a judge of the Circuit Court yesterday.

Tributes were paid at Cork Circuit Court yesterday to barrister Liam Crowley who died unexpectedly last Thursday.

A 38-year-old electrician, who claimed he had difficulty making a cup of tea following a shoulder injury at work, has settled a €38,000 damages claim in the Circuit Civil Court against former employer Iarnrod Éireann.

A five-year-old girl who suffered stress and psychological abuse when she attended a creche, which figured in an RTÉ exposé about the mistreatment of children, has been awarded €17,500 compensation in the Circuit Civil Court.

Richard Bruton’s sweeping changes could face a constitutional challenge as some lawyers see themselves being sidelined, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

The second quarter of the year saw a significant increase in Circuit Court usage by SMEs applying for examinership.

A student, found with cannabis plants and a weighing scales, claimed he was part of “a hobbyist cannabis culture” following a connoisseur’s blogs.

A Polish chef who worked for leading publican Charlie Chawke claimed that she was offered €1,150 to drop a compensation claim after she slipped when working in Mr Chawke’s old family pub in Adare, a court heard.

A 32-year-old homemaker who was injured by a “vicious” dog three years ago, has settled a €38,000 damages claim in the Circuit Civil Court on undisclosed terms.

A judge has warned warring members and former members of the Church of Scientology to “sit down and be reasonable” with each other if they want to avoid a massive legal costs bill.

A couple embroiled in a legal battle with their neighbours over a hedge are now facing a massive legal bill after they yesterday lost their case.

The Law Society has apologised in the High Court to a Kerry carpenter over an article which incorrectly stated that he had been certified insane.

More than 1,700 jobs have been saved through the use of the examinership process for troubled companies in the first nine months of the year — the majority in small-and medium-sized businesses.

Celtic striker Anthony Stokes has been warned by a judge that his alleged assault of an Elvis impersonator is no minor offence.

NOTHING to see here, folks, now move along please. So went the tone of the statement issued by the presidents of the High and Circuit Courts on Monday evening regarding the latest controversy to hit the judiciary.

A retiring judge yesterday blasted plans for a new €21 million courthouse in Cork.

This story has been subject to the following update on February 3, 2017: Following an appeal by Henry Gwyn-Jones the findings of the Employment Appeals Tribunal were overturned at Dungarvan Circuit Court on 17 December 2013.

A Circuit Court judge pondered the possibility of even tougher economic times ahead and told a jury on their way to lunch yesterday that in a year’s time he would probably be making their sandwiches.

The State has been given extra time to complete a book of evidence in the case of a retired consultant surgeon who denies indecently assaulting 16 young males over a 26-year period.

The number of children taken into the care of the Health Service Executive by court order more than doubled last year, according to the annual report of the Courts Service.

The DPP, Claire Loftus, called last May for reform of pre-trial procedures.

A man who lost a legal action against a midwife for interrupting his filming of the birth of his child will find out today if he can proceed with another court case - this time for defamation.

Independent TD for North Tipperary Michael Lowry has lost his High Court bid to secure summary disposal of a defamation case brought over comments by journalist Sam Smyth.

Bankrupt developer Tom McFeely has been given a week to pay more than €24,000 to a creditor or he could face up to three months in prison.

A son of Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa, who is charged with assaulting his father, is fit to stand trial, a judge was told today.

A son of Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa, who is charged with assaulting his father, is to spend Christmas on remand in the Central Mental Hospital.

A LOCAL authority is facing legal bills running into hundreds of thousands of euro over harassment and discrimination claims taken on behalf of Travellers.

A youth has been charged with having bricks and stones as weapons when rioting broke out in Dublin city centre during the Queen's visit in May.