The judge directed bona fide members of the press may attend and report such applications but, before the court sits to hear such cases, they must make themselves known to the court registrar and produce satisfactory identification such as a National Union of Journalists card.

A High Court judge has said the costs of HSE legal proceedings aimed at keeping an 18-year-old with a severe personality disorder in a specialised unit in England against her wishes would fund a “purpose-built” unit for her in Ireland.

Motherhood can no longer be determined on the basis of giving birth, and both it and fatherhood are instead determined according to “inheritable characteristics” or a “blood link” to a child, the Supreme Court was told yesterday.

THE HSE has no legal power to direct the gardaí to restrain a person who is the subject of a care order, the High Court heard yesterday.