The ever-evolving regulatory environment could be making society too complex for its own good, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

David Hall, chief executive of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, has warned that home repossessions will begin in earnest this year, having a potentially catastrophic effect on the housing market.

The Department of Education has been accused of “bullying tactics” after it wrote letters to people who were sexually abused in schools as children, warning them to drop their legal cases or potentially face significant costs.

People who apply for bankruptcy will be allowed take ownership or interest in their family home after three years, under new laws.

Rihanna is being sued for defamation by her Dublin-based former head of security.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said he cannot interfere in the dispute between IBRC and its staff over redundancy payments which could see the latter taking industrial action.

The High Court has refused to set aside property developer Sean Dunne’s bankruptcy in Ireland.

Catherine Nevin’s conviction for the murder of her husband Tom can be used as evidence in a civil action aimed at stopping her from inheriting any of his assets.

Solicitors for Sean Quinn and his family have informed the High Court that they will no longer be representing them in two legal actions involving the former Anglo Irish Bank.

What do you think of Seán Quinn?

The Irish media’s right to report on celebrities has been supported by two potentially groundbreaking rulings at the European Court of Human Rights.

AN election candidate has warned RTÉ he intends to take legal action against the station for their failure to give adequate coverage to independent candidates.

THE word “unborn” refers to a child within the womb, not pre-implantation embryos, and state protection of embryos arises only after implantation, the Supreme Court has found.

The European Court of Human Rights has formally asked the Government not to deport a Nigerian woman and her two young daughters to Nigeria until it has considered her arguments against the deportation orders, including that her two daughters face a real risk of female genital mutilation if returned.

A BRITISH parliamentary peer and world-renowned human rights lawyer has claimed the ruling by Garda authorities that Sikh recruits may not wear a turban is indefensible and will easily be overturned in a court of law.

A CASE taken by an unmarried father and due for hearing in the High Court soon could have huge political and legal ramifications for the rights of unmarried fathers in this country.

Lawyers for the American fugitive wanted in the US over a fatal high-speed car crash today told the High Court that he should be treated the same as drugs boss John Gilligan.

THE administrators of Parmalat, the huge Italian food company that collapsed in 2003, have lost their case to oversee the liquidation of the company’s Irish subsidiary, Eurofood.

IRISH infertility experts are hoping that a legal battle over the custody of human embryos will also clarify where Constitutional protection to the unborn begins.

JURIES in libel trials are to remain free to award plaintiffs as much damages as they see fit after a European court dismissed a claim by Irish newspapers and RTÉ that a failure to set limits could lead to unfairly high payouts.

SO if you are from Portugal, your spouse is French, you were married in Rome and you are living in Ireland — where do you get divorced?

IRISH companies have written off close to €600 million in bad debts in the last five years, according to figures released by BusinessPro.

PEOPLE who refuse to disclose their full assets during divorce and separation cases must be severely penalised by the courts, a family lawyer insisted yesterday.