Tughans Solicitors

Reasonable Adjustments and Royal Colleges: The Implications of Dr Karmakar’s Case

The recent case of Karmakar & Anor v Royal College of General Practitioners was a significant legal challenge to the policies and practices of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) regarding the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT), a mandatory exam for General Practitioners. The case was heard in the UK High Court in August 2024... Read More

Autumn Budget 2024 – Impact on businesses and individuals

After much anticipation, the details of the first Labour Budget in 14 years have now been disclosed. Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, suggests the Budget will raise taxes by £40 billion. Below we have highlighted some of the key issues which are likely to affect our clients, both businesses and individuals.   Rise in Employer National Insurance Contributions... Read More

Good jobs consultation: good news for employers?

Consultation on the “Good Jobs” Employment Rights Bill closed on 30 September 2024. The consultation proposed a wide range of employment law reforms for Northern Ireland, addressing the four key aspects of a “good job” namely: terms of employment; pay and benefits, voice and representation and work-life balance. Many of these would bring NI in... Read More

Environmental Improvement Plan for Northern Ireland – What does it mean for development?

On 27 September 2024 DAERA published Northern Ireland’s first Environmental Improvement Plan (“EIP”).  The EIP was due to be published in July 2023 but progress stalled due to the collapse of Stormont.  The Office of Environmental Protection (“OEP”) issued an information notice (the first stage of an investigation) in July 2024 in respect of the... Read More

Why is my bottle cap tethered?

Most of us will have noticed over the last few months that our bottle caps have become mysteriously attached to the bottle.  For some of us it is an irritating development and for others a welcome innovation that reduces litter.   The new plastic caps are just one in a series of measures being pursued... Read More

OEP Report: Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Northern Ireland

It is back to school for most of Northern Ireland’s school children this week and the Office of Environmental Protection (OEP) has released its  report entitled “A review of implementation of the Water Framework Directive Regulations and River Basin Management Planning in Northern Ireland”.   The OEP report concludes that Northern Ireland is not on... Read More

Appeal Granted – notable development in the case of Rahman v Hassan (2024 EWHC 1290 Ch)

We recently commented on the judgment in the case of Rahman v Hassan (2024 EWHC 1290 Ch) (see “Is a text message sufficient evidence to prove intentions to update a Will?” ) and its ruling on the validity and scope of donationes mortis causa, or ‘gifts in contemplation of death’.   In a notable development,... Read More

Is a text message sufficient evidence to prove intentions to update a Will?

An unusual decision in the High Court in England has deemed that a text message was sufficient in evidencing a deceased’s intentions for their Will. In the recent case of Rahman v Hassan, 2024 EWHC 1290 (Ch), the claimant argued that the deceased had expressed his wish for him to receive all of his UK... Read More

Northern Ireland High Court Rejects Disgruntled Family Member’s Claim for Financial Provision from Late Father’s Will

The High Court in Northern Ireland has provided a rare judgment in relation to claims made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) (NI) Order 1979 (‘the 1979 Order’).   The plaintiff in this case was the eldest son of the deceased Testator. The plaintiff had been left out of his father’s Will with... Read More

High Court Clarification on Nervous Shock – Exploring Doctors’ Duty of Care to Patients’ Relatives in Ireland

In the High Court judgement of Germaine v Day, Egan J examines the intersection of the doctrine of nervous shock with medical negligence, and arrives at a similar position that was recently reached by the UK Supreme Court in Paul v. Wolverhampton NHS UKSC 1 (“Paul”), albeit via a somewhat different legal route.  ... Read More