Tughans Solicitors

Managing the Fallout: Business Strategies and Legal Implications in the Wake of the PSNI’s Data Breaches

When we hear about a data breach we tend to think about cyber attacks, hackers, or malware. However, most data breaches stem from some form of human error. This is particularly clear in light of the recent high-profile data breach incidents involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), where the personal details of 10,000... Read More

New Sustainable Disclosure Standards – rapid developments at home and abroad

To date, ESG reporting has been largely voluntary, leaning heavily on non-financial data. However, new regulations due to come into force in 2024 will require businesses to disclose both the impact their activities have on ESG metrics, and how they are prepared to mitigate physical risks and transition risks related to climate change. The summer... Read More

Mandatory Open Disclosure – the new Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023

In a long-anticipated development, Ireland has recently taken significant steps to prioritise patient safety with the introduction of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023. This legislation establishes a comprehensive framework aimed at promoting transparency within healthcare organisations and improving patient outcomes. Its key provisions highlight an extensive approach to enhancing healthcare... Read More

Health and Safety at Work: Spotlight on Pregnancy

Under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, and related regulations, all employers have a duty to protect the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. This duty is enhanced in relation to expectant and new mothers, while also protecting employees of childbearing age.   As part of your health... Read More

Race for Green Growth hots up but is the UK lagging behind?

Wildfires in the southern Mediterranean have brought climate change to the top of the news agenda again.  Closer to home, the European Space Agency (ESA) report that some of the most intense marine heat increases on Earth have developed in seas around the UK and Ireland, with water temperatures as much as 3 to 4C... Read More

Retrofit-first – Can we have a clear policy first?

Michael Gove’s decision to halt the demolition of the M&S London flagship store in Oxford Street has caused shockwaves across the development industry.   The secretary of state went against the recommendations of the Planning Inspectorate and stopped plans to knock down and rebuild Orchard House, a 1929 art deco building, over concerns that the... Read More

For better or worse? Considering the rights of cohabiting couples

‘Cohabitation’, where a couple live together without getting married or entering a civil partnership has become the fastest-growing relationship type in the UK, with more than 4 million couples currently choosing this lifestyle. Despite such relationships being commonplace, the law has been slow to keep up, and combined with a persistent and misplaced reliance on... Read More

Marriage, Wills and Legal Challenges

In an interesting case before the England & Wales High Court, an application by a widower for summary judgment has been refused. In Lattimer v Karamanoli , the claimant argued that his marriage to the terminally ill testator revoked the Will which she had executed in his presence the previous day. The case raises interesting... Read More

Should Employers Consider Introducing an Electric Vehicle Policy

In efforts to reduce emissions and protect the environment, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, with predictions that by 2040, the majority of cars sold will be electric. In line with their environmental obligations, together with the cost saving advantages, many employers have started to incorporate electric vehicles into their businesses. With this in mind,... Read More

Jenkinson v Hertfordshire CC: Novus Actus Re-visited

A common perception in medical negligence law is that a ‘Specific Rule’ exists as a necessary ingredient of a novus actus interveniens defence in the context of subsequent medical interventions: that only gross negligence by the hospital could break the chain of causation. However, the recent decision of the High Court in England by Baker... Read More