periodic-inspection Case Commentaries

R v Mikolajczyk [2025] EWCA Crim 1232: A stringent “interests of justice” standard for 12‑year out‑of‑time appeals and the limits on re-trying jury verdicts

Date: Sep 10, 2025

R v Mikolajczyk [2025] EWCA Crim 1232: A stringent “interests of justice” standard for 12‑year out‑of‑time appeals and the limits on re-trying jury verdicts Introduction In R v Mikolajczyk [2025]...

Out-of-time judicial review dismissals operate as res judicata: High Court strikes out collateral plenary challenge; “continuing breach” and Greendale fraud arguments rejected

Date: Sep 10, 2025

Out-of-time judicial review dismissals operate as res judicata: High Court strikes out collateral plenary challenge; “continuing breach” and Greendale fraud arguments rejected Introduction In Browne...

R v Dervan [2025] EWCA Crim 1525: Evidence‑Based Harm Categorisation in Breaches of Non‑Molestation Orders

Date: Sep 10, 2025

R v Dervan [2025] EWCA Crim 1525: Evidence‑Based Harm Categorisation in Breaches of Non‑Molestation Orders 1. Introduction The decision in Dervan, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1525 is a sentencing appeal...

R v Bergstrom [2025] EWCA Crim 1301: Voluntary Desistance Requires a Significant Step‑Two Downward Adjustment Under s.10 Guideline, Balanced by Aggravation and Totality

Date: Sep 10, 2025

R v Bergstrom [2025] EWCA Crim 1301: Voluntary Desistance Requires a Significant Step‑Two Downward Adjustment Under s.10 Guideline, Balanced by Aggravation and Totality Introduction This commentary...

Liberty to Apply Is for Working Out, Not Rewriting: Limits on Post‑Judgment Clarification and Retrospective Time Extension in Point Village Development Ltd v Dunnes Stores [2025] IEHC 480

Date: Sep 9, 2025

Liberty to Apply Is for Working Out, Not Rewriting: Limits on Post‑Judgment Clarification and Retrospective Time Extension in Point Village Development Ltd v Dunnes Stores [2025] IEHC 480...

Automatic Statutory Substitution under Section 41 of the Central Bank Act 1971: No Court Order Required; Collateral Challenges Struck Out and Injunction Undertakings Discharged — Commentary on KBC Bank NV v Smith & Ors [2025] IEHC 481

Date: Sep 9, 2025

Automatic Statutory Substitution under Section 41 of the Central Bank Act 1971: No Court Order Required; Collateral Challenges Struck Out and Injunction Undertakings Discharged Introduction This...

Patel v R: Post‑Brexit closure of EU free‑movement defences to cannabis importation and the confinement of Margiotta to proven low‑THC cases

Date: Sep 8, 2025

Patel v R: Post‑Brexit closure of EU free‑movement defences to cannabis importation and the confinement of Margiotta to proven low‑THC cases Court: Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), England and...

Evans v R: OSGs Can Be Public Officers; Likely Consequences, Not Proven Harm, Define Seriousness in Misconduct in Public Office

Date: Sep 8, 2025

Evans v R: OSGs Can Be Public Officers; Likely Consequences, Not Proven Harm, Define Seriousness in Misconduct in Public Office Introduction In Evans v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 1150), the Court of Appeal...

Potanina v Potanin (No. 2): Aligning the Part III Leave Threshold with a “Real Prospect of Success” and confirming (pre‑Brexit) Maintenance Regulation constraints on forum objections

Date: Sep 6, 2025

Potanina v Potanin (No. 2): Aligning the Part III Leave Threshold with a “Real Prospect of Success” and confirming (pre‑Brexit) Maintenance Regulation constraints on forum objections Introduction...

Section 11(7D) as Gatekeeper in Domestic‑Abuse Contact Disputes: Refusal of Even Indirect Contact despite Positive Sessions — SJM v AJD [2025] CSOH 84

Date: Sep 6, 2025

Section 11(7D) as Gatekeeper in Domestic‑Abuse Contact Disputes: Refusal of Even Indirect Contact despite Positive Sessions — SJM v AJD [2025] CSOH 84 Citation: SJM v AJD [2025] CSOH 84 (Outer House,...

R v Sartip‑Zadeh & Ors [2025] EWCA Crim 1250: Regulatory Warnings as Aggravating Factors and Fair Trial Despite Encrypted Digital Evidence

Date: Sep 6, 2025

R v Sartip‑Zadeh & Ors [2025] EWCA Crim 1250: Regulatory Warnings as Aggravating Factors and Fair Trial Despite Encrypted Digital Evidence 1. Introduction This commentary examines the Court of Appeal...

R v Thorpe [2025] EWCA Crim 1334: Corrosive Substances (s.6 OWA 2019) Sentenced by Analogy with the Bladed/Offensive Weapons Guideline; Recall Time Not a Basis for Sentence Reduction

Date: Sep 6, 2025

R v Thorpe [2025] EWCA Crim 1334: Corrosive Substances (s.6 OWA 2019) Sentenced by Analogy with the Bladed/Offensive Weapons Guideline; Recall Time Not a Basis for Sentence Reduction Introduction In...

The McMahon Two‑Stage Approach: Deferred Consideration and Deliberate Dissipation in Valuing and Dividing Business Assets under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985

Date: Sep 6, 2025

The McMahon Two‑Stage Approach: Deferred Consideration and Deliberate Dissipation in Valuing and Dividing Business Assets under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 Introduction In Nicola Drummond or...

R v Turner [2025] EWCA Crim 1455: Mandatory Mitigation for First‑Time Offenders When Sentencing s14 “Arranging or Facilitating” Child Sex Offences by Reference to the s9 Guideline

Date: Sep 5, 2025

R v Turner [2025] EWCA Crim 1455: Mandatory Mitigation for First‑Time Offenders When Sentencing s14 “Arranging or Facilitating” Child Sex Offences by Reference to the s9 Guideline Court: England and...

R v Qasimm [2025] EWCA Crim 1248: Limited Scope to Reduce the 30‑Year Murder Starting Point for Young Adults Absent Particular Immaturity

Date: Sep 5, 2025

R v Qasimm [2025] EWCA Crim 1248: Limited Scope to Reduce the 30‑Year Murder Starting Point for Young Adults Absent Particular Immaturity 1. Introduction R v Qasimm [2025] EWCA Crim 1248 is a Court...

EAC v The King: Post‑Retirement Jury Information and Time‑Limited Child‑Cruelty Sentencing — Neutrality, Non‑Prejudice and Downward Adjustment

Date: Sep 4, 2025

EAC v The King: Post‑Retirement Jury Information and Time‑Limited Child‑Cruelty Sentencing — Neutrality, Non‑Prejudice and Downward Adjustment Introduction This commentary examines the Court of...

Somani Hotels: Court of Appeal clarifies “desirable” joinder of the Home Secretary and a status‑quo preference for s.187B planning injunctions affecting asylum accommodation

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Somani Hotels: Court of Appeal clarifies “desirable” joinder of the Home Secretary and a status‑quo preference for s.187B planning injunctions affecting asylum accommodation Introduction In Somani...

No English Winding-Up of SICAV “Dedicated Funds”: Compartment Is Not an “Association” under Insolvency Act 1986 s 220

Date: Sep 4, 2025

No English Winding-Up of SICAV “Dedicated Funds”: Compartment Is Not an “Association” under Insolvency Act 1986 s 220 Introduction This Court of Appeal decision in East Riding of Yorkshire Council...

Implicit Criminal-Proceedings Leverage as “Unambiguous Impropriety”: High Court admits WPSATC correspondence — QPQ Limited v Schute [2025] IEHC 474

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Implicit Criminal‑Proceedings Leverage as “Unambiguous Impropriety”: High Court Admits WPSATC Correspondence QPQ Limited v Schute (Approved) [2025] IEHC 474, High Court of Ireland, Commercial List...

Ageing‑Out Does Not Create Sentencing Prejudice: Jurisdiction‑First under s.75 Children Act and Non‑application of s.13 Criminal Law Act 1976 to Children Detention Schools

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Ageing‑Out Does Not Create Sentencing Prejudice: Jurisdiction‑First under s.75 Children Act and Non‑application of s.13 Criminal Law Act 1976 to Children Detention Schools Case: K (Aged Out Child) v...