Judicial Heavyweight to hear Irish Times appeal

Looking at the called-over list for appeals from Cork Circuit Court (postponed from March), I was startled to see that the two judges assigned to the list are the Limerick duo of Murray C.J. (remember him ?) and Johnson P.. It is a little unusual (only a little) for a member of the Supreme Court to sit as a High Court judge, but I don't remember the Chief Justice doing so before. It is somewhat intimidating for practitioners to have him paired with the President of the High Court.

No doubt, it is completely coincidental that our old friend the negligent publication case is listed (at no.16)for hearing, having been adjourned from the last appeal sessions, which - I now recall - also featured a Supreme Court judge.

Update on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 02:11PM by Fergus O'Rourke

I have it on the best authority that the "negligent publication" case cannot proceed. Due to the postponement of the appeal sessions from March to June, a crucial witness has become unavailable. (Circuit Court appeals proceed by a full re-hearing).