2022 Question 2 — LawShortcut Independent Model Answer
Liability for Third-Party Acts · Public Authority Negligence · Causation
Scenario summary
The Minister for Justice is charged with running and overseeing a juvenile detention centre located on an island off the coast of Cork. One evening the guards throw a drinks party, get drunk and are asleep by 10 pm, having left the cell keys within reach of the detainees.
A number of the detainees break out, commandeer the island's supply boat and damage yachts moored at a nearby marina. They spend that night concealed in Farmer Black's barn and, come morning, rob him of €500. Seven days later, over in the west of Ireland, they take tools from a hardware store and use them to steal €5,000 from B Bank.
Candidates are asked to advise the Minister on any tort liability owed to the yacht owners, to Farmer Black, to the hardware store and to B Bank.
This is a LawShortcut scenario summary written in our own words. For the exact examined wording, use the official King’s Inns paper linked above.
What this model answer covers
Issues and structure addressed in the full LawShortcut model answer:
- 1. Duty for the Acts of Third Parties
- 2. Breach
- 3. The Yacht Owners
- 4. Farmer Black
- 5. Hardware Store and B Bank
- 6. Public Authority Context
Read the complete LawShortcut model answer to this question — reading the question, issue spotting, the applicable law, application to the facts and conclusions — inside the King’s Inns Tort Model Answer Vault.
Part of the King’s Inns Tort Model Answer Vault — 30 independently authored model answers, 2020—2025.