Local authorities are set to significantly miss their targets for spending on building social houses, despite the country’s escalating housing crisis.

The State wants the High Court to strike out a decision it can be sued, along with the Christian Brothers, by three alleged sexual abuse victims, following a European court ruling in the landmark Louise O’Keeffe case.

A High Court judge has directed an inquiry into the legality of the detention, in Limerick Prison, of a Cork mother for contempt of a Circuit Court order directing she hand over possession of her home to a bank.

World-renowned musician Sharon Shannon and her manager John Dunford have consented before the Master of the High Court to a judgment for €520,000 being registered against them.

The High Court has granted an injunction against the Master of the High Court, Edmund Honohan, following his decision to refer papers on a case to the DPP for a perjury investigation.

The Master of the High Court has warned that judges lack knowledge about new laws concerning repossession cases as the mortgage market begins to be “sliced and diced”.

An accountant who was found to have acted reprehensibly by misleading the Moriarty Tribunal to protect Michael Lowry has helped to secure a €650,000 judgment against the disgraced former minister.

Elizabeth Dunne

“DEBT forgiveness” is an undefined expression, we have no commonly-held interpretation of what it is.

FAMILIES facing home repossession had their hopes of any immediate rescue dashed after the Government firmly ruled out debt forgiveness.

CONSOLE launched its Snowdrop Campaign amid continuing fallout over comments made by the Master of the High Court regarding banks allegedly driving debtors to suicide.

The Master of the High Court has warned that borrowers who are having trouble paying back their loans are being driven to suicide.

PRESSURE on the Government to draft laws allowing some debt forgiveness for struggling homeowners and others facing crippling debts has mounted after the Master of the High Court said repossessions were causing untold social harm, including suicides.

A LEGAL challenge to the entitlement of Start Mortgages Ltd to issue mortgages here has major implications for Start’s €1 billion housing loans and for the legal position of other lenders, the Central Bank has told the Commercial Court.

AN unemployed construction worker has brought a High Court challenge aimed at stopping a mortgage provider from taking possession of what has been his family’s home for more than three centuries.

STRUGGLING home-owners facing repossession are carrying arrears amounting to an eighth or more of their original mortgage loan, according to a snapshot survey of borrowers before the courts.

A clear majority of 72% of the repossession cases being brought to court involve mortgage owners who borrowed an average of nearly €236,000 during 2006 and 2007, as the property bubble was at its height, according to a survey conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute.

Legal proceedings in which relatives of Celine Cawley are seeking orders disentitling her husband and convicted killer Eamon Lillis to any interest in his wife's estate have been adjourned for three weeks.

A HIGH Court application by journalist Ian Bailey to get detailed Garda files for his action for alleged wrongful arrest in connection with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier will be heard next February.

THE Master of the High Court has issued guidelines for under-stress borrowers, as he revealed that 600 new cases for repossession of homes had come before him since early June.

BANKS must help bail out people struggling to repay mortgages and shoulder some of the pain, according to the Master of the High Court.

LENDERS must abide with a code of conduct aimed at helping people in mortgage arrears, the Master of the High Court Edmund Honohan warned yesterday.

An avalanche of home repossession cases is expected to come down on the courts this year, a senior High Court official declared today.

TAXPAYERS’ money is being wasted because of avoidable pre-trial applications in court cases involving local authorities and the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Master of the High Court has said.

ATTITUDES towards the legal profession will undoubtedly be coloured by the outcome of the Law Society’s investigation into double charging of clients by solicitors which begins today.

THE State has been accused of having a history of not co-operating with the legal representatives of Frank McBrearty Jnr, who is suing in connection with his detention for alleged murder eight years ago.

LIAM LAWLOR could be forced to sell his Lucan mansion to pay the legal bills arising from his failure to co-operate with the Planning Tribunal.

The High Court today dismissed actions for damages against a number of cigarette companies brought by 50 people, among them Northern Ireland-born former snooker champion, Alex Higgins.