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# Family Law

All time
Voices
Josepha Madigan: Covid has forced many couples to the point of separation. How they handle it is key
The Fine Gael TD and lawyer says lack of social supports during Covid means many relationships are feeling the pressure.
25.7k
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Apr 19th 2021, 7:30 PM
Voices
Our family law courts are not fit for purpose and we owe it to children to address this now
CEO of One Family Karen Kiernan says we desperately need a new modern, fit-for-purpose family law system.
21.6k
25
Jul 6th 2020, 7:00 AM
# Courting Disaster
'Archaic conditions are leading to violence': Call for new Family Law Court to be urgently developed
Eleven organisations are calling for a dedicated Family Law Court to be developed in Dublin.
11.4k
2
Dec 10th 2019, 7:51 AM
# Family Law
Court decides child in foster care can go to Church of Ireland school against wishes of Catholic parents
The child’s parents did not consent to her attendance at the school.
39.9k
91
Jul 8th 2019, 6:20 AM
# Women's Aid
Thousands of cases of women being beaten, choked, threatened with weapons and smothered in 2018
The charity is calling for greater protections within the law system for children in particular.
13.7k
32
Apr 10th 2019, 6:00 AM
Voices
Our systems are not working to prevent child sexual violence, even after it is reported
Of all reported cases of child sexual violence only 2% end in a conviction. Children whose disclosures don’t result in a criminal conviction still need protection, writes Dr Clíona Saidléar.
10.2k
12
Apr 2nd 2019, 7:00 AM
# dr carol coulter
Childcare court case worries: Families 'cheek-by-jowl' with prisoners, and a huge volume of cases
In one court on one day, with just one judge, there were 139 cases listed, consisting of crime, general civil law, and child care.
12.2k
5
Mar 11th 2019, 6:15 AM
# british spouses
'It's a complete disaster': Getting a divorce in Ireland could get a lot harder post-Brexit
Getting a divorce from a spouse in the UK is governed by EU law, which may not apply after Brexit.
47.6k
45
Sep 23rd 2017, 9:30 PM
# Breakdown
'People were forced to live in the same house for years': Two decades of divorce in Ireland
Divorce was legalised 20 years ago after a bitter campaign and a very tight results in a referendum – now there are calls for the law to be modernised.
25.5k
118
Jan 4th 2017, 6:30 AM
# Where There's A Will
If you're fighting over a €250k house, you could lose it all in legal fees
Arguing over a will? Here’s some advice from a barrister.
27.6k
10
May 2nd 2016, 10:00 PM
Voices
I get annoyed when it is assumed that older people in rural Ireland will vote No
Former president of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, Mamo McDonald, explains why she will be voting Yes tomorrow.
416
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May 21st 2015, 8:00 AM
Voices
The rights of unmarried fathers are being changed – but is it enough?
Unmarried fathers in Ireland need greater clarity when it comes to their rights
5.5k
43
Mar 20th 2015, 8:00 AM
# Explainer
Same-sex couples will have the legal right to adopt
Confused about what new legislation will mean for families? Read on.
43.7k
405
Feb 17th 2015, 11:35 AM
# Family court
Parents 'at a loss to understand' why their children were taken into care
A judge failed to tell them the reasons for his “momentous decision.”
22.4k
0
Dec 21st 2014, 8:15 AM
# valuable resource
The Family Law Court is getting its own building in Dublin
The news has been welcomed by Chief Justice, Susan Denham.
5.6k
5
Dec 12th 2014, 2:20 PM
Voices
Opinion: Legislation is urgently needed following Supreme Court ruling on surrogacy
It is a fact of life that parents will enter into arrangements of whereby a third party bears their child – so we need legislation that deals directly with surrogacy.
504
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Nov 7th 2014, 6:10 PM
Voices
Opinion: Our most important family law reform for a generation isn't child friendly
Compared with best practice elsewhere, our courts currently have major shortcomings from the perspective of children.
676
22
Aug 6th 2014, 8:00 AM
# FLAC
Over 80% more people sought legal advice for housing issues last year
The total number of queries to FLAC centres was up more than 10% compared to 2012.
5.7k
2
Jul 7th 2014, 8:40 PM
Voices
Column: Radical change on the way for (some) unmarried fathers
A groundbreaking new Bill could modernise family and child law to cater for the growing number of families whose needs are not adequately addressed in current law, writes Margot Doherty.
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90
Mar 16th 2014, 7:30 PM
# Family Law
Confused about separation or divorce? New videos aim to offer simple advice
The videos, by the Ombudsman for Children and the Courts Service, offer advice on the workings of a family law court and the process of a separation.
5.9k
12
Feb 4th 2014, 8:14 AM
Voices
Column: Tragic case of newborn boy highlights unmarried fathers' lack of rights
A Dublin hospital has secured a court order to withdraw life-support from a severely brain-damaged baby whose his young mother died after delivery. As the child’s parents were unmarried, the father was not deemed the legal guardian.
2.1k
253
Jan 16th 2014, 4:32 PM
Voices
Column: Behind the veil – a new era has begun for family courts
The easing of the in camera rule in Irish family courts will see many social issues come to light – many of which may have been hidden behind from the public for generations, writes Katherine Irwin.
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Jan 15th 2014, 1:00 PM
Voices
Column: Our new in-camera Family Court legislation is a sham
The unlimited powers given by to judges in our Family Courts may continue to prevent the public from finding out what has transpired, writes Gerry Fahey.
2.6k
120
Jan 14th 2014, 1:00 PM
# in camera
Family law and child care court cases can now be reported, but under strict conditions
The changes to the in camera rule mean that under certain circumstances cases can be reported.
8.8k
28
Jan 13th 2014, 12:23 PM
# Family Law
'Entirely improper' for mother to contact TD, says judge
The mother apologised for approaching the unidentified TD.
15.3k
0
Nov 7th 2013, 10:57 AM
# Courts
Conversation between two judges on family law case had 'no effect' on ruling
In a ruling in July, Judge Henry Abbott said a fellow judge had approached him about a case that was before him.
9.1k
16
Nov 4th 2013, 7:12 PM
# Courts
Fathers' rights group protests outside Taoiseach's home
The protesters said they were calling for transparency in family law courts in Ireland.
11.5k
141
Jun 17th 2013, 8:21 PM
# Interview
Children's Minister 'constantly amazed' at lack of basic services
In a recent broad-ranging interview, Frances Fitzgerald talks about schools being ‘too ashamed’ to stand up to bullying, ‘unacceptable’ waiting lists and ‘bad news’ in service inspections.
6.8k
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May 7th 2013, 6:45 AM
Voices
Column: Decisions in the family courts will be open to scrutiny now the veil has been lifted
Until now, family court proceedings have been heard ‘in camera’ but new legislation will bring more transparency – and more confidence – to the system, writes solicitor Emma Heron.
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Apr 9th 2013, 7:00 AM
# need to know
The Evening Fix... now with added Mr Burns endorsing Romney
Here’s all the things we learned, loved and shared today.
11.6k
3
Nov 2nd 2012, 8:05 PM
# Courts
Reporting to be allowed on family law and child care court cases
New legislation will amend the in camera rule in courts, but will not allow the identification of the people involved.
7.3k
40
Nov 2nd 2012, 4:54 PM
# Family Law
In full: The two versions of the letter Alan Shatter sent to the Taoiseach
Amid a growing row over a story on the front page of today’s Sunday Independent we publish both versions of a letter the Justice Minister sent Enda Kenny – one from the newspaper and one from the Minister.
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Oct 28th 2012, 10:48 PM
# Family Law
Second Shatter statement rejects 'inaccurate' Sunday Independent story
The Justice Minister responds to an earlier Sunday Independent statement regarding a frontpage story about correspondence between himself and the Taoiseach and says the paper needs to apologise.
14.2k
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Oct 28th 2012, 9:55 PM
# Family Law
Shatter says newspaper article is “dishonest and inaccurate”
The justice minister says the Sunday Independent “corrupted the content” of correspondence with Enda Kenny.
11.8k
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Oct 28th 2012, 1:39 PM
# legal advice
Free legal advice service sees demand increase
FLAC advice service dealt with over 25,000 queries last year.
2.2k
16
Jun 19th 2012, 2:10 PM
# Courts
High Court rules boy, 6, with brain injury should not be resuscitated
Resuscitating the boy, who sustained a serious brain injury after nearly drowning four years ago, is ‘not in his best interests’.
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29
Jan 11th 2012, 2:00 PM
# Texas
Judge who beat daughter won't be charged
The Texas family law judge was secretly taped by his daughter beating her seven years ago – but he won’t be charged with an offence.
1.7k
27
Nov 4th 2011, 2:33 PM
Voices
Column: Messy divorce in the courts? There is a better way
A group of lawyers are pioneering a new kind of divorce, where the partners move past their anger and work together. Muriel Walls explains how it works.
450
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Sep 8th 2011, 7:01 PM
# Courts
Drugs are up, divorce is down - the Irish courts in numbers
The Courts Service report for 2010 reveals that there has been an increase in drugs offences at the Circuit Criminal Court, an increase in child custody and access applications, and a decrease in separation and divorce.
556
12
Jul 14th 2011, 11:41 AM
# Canada
"Paging Dr Freud": family law judge's tirade turns viral
Judge Joseph Quinn clearly had one nasty divorce case too many – his 31-page rant is memorable for unusual reasons.
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0
Jan 7th 2011, 8:22 PM