Michael Clifford has found many people ditch the legal experts and fight their own case in court. Tom Talbot is one of those people... 

THE European Court of Human Rights has found in favour of an Irish woman who sought to hold the State liable for sexual abuse she suffered at a Catholic-run primary school in 1973.

A relative of bankrupt solicitor Brian O’Donnell and his wife Dr Mary Patricia O’Donnell has made a last minute challenge to the judge hearing their bankruptcy case.

A receiver has been reinstated to the five-star hotel owned by Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin after the High Court refused to approve the appointment of an examiner.

Bankrupt businessman Sean Quinn and members of his family will no longer have legal representation in two major upcoming court battles against the former Anglo Irish Bank.

The High Court has approved a survival scheme for electrical retailer Peats which reversed its decision to cease trading earlier this year.

Preliminary issues in a legal action brought by Sean Quinn's family against the former Anglo Irish Bank will be heard by the Commercial Court today.

A consultant gynaecologist has lost a High Court challenge against her suspension by the Medical Council over her treatment of three patients, including a woman who later died.

The High Court has dismissed a female patient's claims that her continued detention in seclusion at a psychiatric hospital is unlawful on the grounds that it amounts to torture and inhuman treatment.

A Limerick taxi driver has been convicted of raping a passenger as he drove her home.

A Dublin man who was due to go on trial for murder at the Central Criminal Court this morning has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will be sentenced in October.

The High Court has today quashed a decision by the Financial Services Ombudsman (FSO) in which investment brokers Davy were found to have mis-sold €500,000 worth of perpetual bonds to Enfield Credit Union.

A 60-year-old Galway man has been jailed for life for murdering his long-term partner in a Dublin apartment over two years ago.

The trial of four men accused of murdering a nightclub bouncer in Limerick City five years ago has been put off until next Monday.

A Co Cork doctor struck off after being found guilty of professional misconduct in relation to eight female patients today lost his High Court appeal against the Medical Council’s decision.

The High Court has heard that three men who are taking a libel action against Independent Newspapers were very upset having read headlines referring to them as "would-be hitmen".

A GARDA superintendent and three rank-and-file gardaí were yesterday refused legal costs for failing to co-operate with the Morris Tribunal.

A Garda superintendent and three rank-and-file gardaí were today refused legal costs for failing to co-operate with the Morris Tribunal.

A man arrested in connection with the murder of a Raphoe cattle dealer was taken to a remote station to ensure senior gardai involved in the case could not “interfere” with him, it was claimed today.

A FUNDAMENTAL right of a defendant - to challenge the evidence of a prosecution witness - would be removed if a controversial proposal is introduced by the Government, it was warned yesterday.

Final submissions are being heard in the case of a Dublin man charged with the capital murder of a garda sergeant two years ago.

The jury in the trial of a Tipperary sports coach charged with the sexual assault of four young girls has been discharged after tabloid newspapers published his photograph and identity.

The Special Criminal Court is considering whether to allow the first of three state supergrasses to take the witness stand today in the trial of John Gilligan.