periodic-inspection Case Commentaries

“Re-calibrating Indefinite Detention” – The Preference for Extended Sentences over IPP for Young Dangerous Offenders (Commentary on Sillitto, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 868)

Date: Jun 18, 2025

“Re-calibrating Indefinite Detention” – The Preference for Extended Sentences over IPP for Young Dangerous Offenders Commentary on Sillitto, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 868), Court of Appeal (Criminal...

Affirmation of Category A1 Sentencing for Absent Conspirators – Commentary on R v Lambert [2025] EWCA Crim 918

Date: Jun 18, 2025

Affirmation of Category A1 Sentencing for Absent Conspirators Commentary on R v Lambert, [2025] EWCA Crim 918 1. Introduction R v Lambert concerns an appeal against a 14-year sentence imposed for...

Ashfaq: Blended use of Street and Dwelling Robbery Guidelines for “Hybrid-Location” Robberies; Youth Discounts upheld on Unduly Lenient Sentence review

Date: Jun 18, 2025

Ashfaq: Blended use of Street and Dwelling Robbery Guidelines for “Hybrid-Location” Robberies; Youth Discounts upheld on Unduly Lenient Sentence review Introduction In Ashfaq, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim...

“One Project – One Public Notice” : The High Court clarifies that Environmental Impact Assessment publicity must cover wind-farm grid connections – Commentary on North Westmeath Turbine Action Group v. An Bord Pleanála & Sweetman v. An Bord Pleanála [2025] IEHC 367

Date: Jun 17, 2025

“One Project – One Public Notice” The High Court clarifies that Environmental Impact Assessment publicity must cover wind-farm grid connections Commentary on North Westmeath Turbine Action Group &...

The “Real Beneficiary” Rule in Credit-Hire Litigation: Non-Party Costs Liability after Tescher v Direct Accident Management Ltd

Date: Jun 16, 2025

The “Real Beneficiary” Rule in Credit-Hire Litigation: Non-Party Costs Liability of Credit-Hire Companies under QOCS Introduction Tescher v Direct Accident Management Ltd ([2025] EWCA Civ 733)...

Beyond Conclusive Grounds: BMJ v R and the Limits of Modern-Slavery Defences in Serious Drug Cases

Date: Jun 16, 2025

Beyond Conclusive Grounds: BMJ v R and the Limits of Modern-Slavery Defences in Serious Drug Cases 1. Introduction BMJ v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 716) is the latest Court of Appeal decision to grapple...

The “Singh Clarification”: Correcting Statutory-Maximum Breaches and Disqualification Calculations in Dangerous-Driving Sentences

Date: Jun 14, 2025

The “Singh Clarification”: Correcting Statutory-Maximum Breaches and Disqualification Calculations in Dangerous-Driving Sentences 1. Introduction Singh, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 828) arises from a...

Case Commentary – Vince v Secretary of State for Transport (2025): The Court of Appeal Affirms the Purely Discretionary Status of s.18 Traffic Management Act Guidance and Sets a “Low-Intensity” Threshold for Challenges to its Withdrawal

Date: Jun 14, 2025

Vince v Secretary of State for Transport (Court of Appeal, 2025) Key Principle: Guidance issued under s.18 Traffic Management Act 2004 is wholly discretionary; its withdrawal is a matter of...

Separated co-parents living in two households can be a “relevant couple” for joint adoption: a purposive construction of section 29(3)(d) of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007

Date: Jun 14, 2025

Separated co-parents living in two households can be a “relevant couple” for joint adoption: a purposive construction of section 29(3)(d) of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 Case:...

Reaffirming Strict Limits on Fresh Evidence and Attacks on Trial Counsel in Sexual Offence Appeals: Commentary on R v Hobbs [2025] EWCA Crim 897

Date: Jun 14, 2025

Reaffirming Strict Limits on Fresh Evidence and Attacks on Trial Counsel in Sexual Offence Appeals: Commentary on R v Hobbs [2025] EWCA Crim 897 Court: Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), England...

“True-or-False” Compliance with Funding Certificates: Kireeva v Zolotova & Anor [2025] EWCA Civ 847

Date: Jun 13, 2025

“True-or-False” Compliance with Funding Certificates: Kireeva v Zolotova & Anor – A New Strictness in Unless Orders 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in Kireeva v Zolotova & Basel...

Limiting Personal Mitigation and Clarifying Sentence Ranges in Historic Child-Sex Penetration Cases – Commentary on R v Anderson [2025] NICA 33

Date: Jun 13, 2025

Limiting Personal Mitigation and Clarifying Sentence Ranges in Historic Child-Sex Penetration Cases – Commentary on R v Anderson [2025] NICA 33 Introduction The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s...

The Ryanair v. Skyscanner Discovery Precedent: Embedding Proportionality, Sampling, and Temporal Reach in High-Tech Competition Litigation

Date: Jun 12, 2025

The Ryanair v. Skyscanner Discovery Precedent: Embedding Proportionality, Sampling, and Temporal Reach in High-Tech Competition Litigation 1. Introduction The High Court’s judgment in Ryanair DAC v....

Pepper Finance v O’Reilly – The High Court Clarifies the Evidential Threshold and Discovery Limits in s.62(7) Possession Actions

Date: Jun 12, 2025

Pepper Finance v O’Reilly – The High Court Clarifies the Evidential Threshold and Discovery Limits in s.62(7) Possession Actions 1. Introduction Pepper Finance Corporation (Ireland) DAC (“Pepper”)...

“Qualified Finality” — The Limited Reach of Res Judicata in Scottish Mental-Health Tribunal Appeals

Date: Jun 12, 2025

“Qualified Finality” — The Limited Reach of Res Judicata in Scottish Mental-Health Tribunal Appeals 1. Introduction In Dr Agnes Louise Johnston v GA and another ([2025] CSIH 18) the Inner House of...

Atlantic Endeavour v OPW ([2025] IEHC 324): Contractual Duration as the Determinant for Lifting Automatic Suspensions under the 2017 Review Procedures Regulations

Date: Jun 12, 2025

Atlantic Endeavour Ltd & Anor v Office of Public Works ([2025] IEHC 324) “Contractual Duration as the Determinant for Lifting Automatic Suspensions” 1. Introduction This High Court decision,...

Promptness Prevails: Surrey CC v BC (2025) – Curtailing the “Continuing Duty” Doctrine and Reinforcing CPR 54.5 in Children-Act Judicial Reviews

Date: Jun 12, 2025

Promptness Prevails: Surrey CC v BC (2025) – Curtailing the “Continuing Duty” Doctrine and Reinforcing CPR 54.5 in Children-Act Judicial Reviews 1. Introduction In Surrey County Council v BC ([2025]...

“Injurious Affection” Re-Defined: The Supreme Court Clarifies the Scope of Compensation under s.53 Electricity (Supply) Act 1927 – O’Reilly v. ESB [2025] IESC 27

Date: Jun 12, 2025

“Injurious Affection” Re-Defined: Supreme Court Clarifies the Scope of Compensation for Electricity Wayleaves in Ireland 1. Introduction On 5 June 2025 the Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling...

“Reason to Believe” and Appellate Deference under CPR 6.9: A Commentary on Carr v Vehicle Control Services Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 713

Date: Jun 12, 2025

“Reason to Believe” and Appellate Deference under CPR 6.9: A Commentary on Carr v Vehicle Control Services Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 713 1. Introduction Carr v Vehicle Control Services Ltd (“Carr”)...

The “Limited-Weight & Rare-Prediction” Principle: UKSC settles the role of foreign early-release regimes in Article 8 extradition proportionality tests

Date: Jun 12, 2025

The “Limited-Weight & Rare-Prediction” Principle Andrysiewicz v Circuit Court in Łódź, Poland ([2025] UKSC 23) 1. Introduction The United Kingdom Supreme Court (“UKSC”) has delivered a landmark...