LawShortcut
Free notes

Free Irish law case explainers

Short, exam-focused breakdowns of the leading Irish cases and doctrines — free to read, checked against the primary sources. New explainers added regularly.

Constitutional Law

Crotty v An Taoiseach: Sovereignty & EU Treaties

Why Ireland votes on every major EU treaty — what the Supreme Court decided, and how Pringle and Costello refined it.

Contract Law

Offer vs Invitation to Treat

Why adverts, shop displays and price lists usually aren't offers — and when they are.

Contract Law

Intention to Create Legal Relations

The domestic and commercial presumptions, how they're rebutted, and the objective test.

Criminal Law

Murder vs Manslaughter in Irish Law

The intent for murder under s.4 CJA 1964, provocation, and involuntary manslaughter.

Law of Tort

Duty of Care in Irish Negligence Law

The four-stage Glencar test — foreseeability, proximity, just and reasonable, and policy.

Land Law

Adverse Possession in Ireland

The 12-year rule, factual possession and animus possidendi, and how a squatter defeats a paper owner.

Family Law

Divorce in Ireland

The living-apart period, proper provision, and how divorce differs from judicial separation (2019 rules).

Irish Legal System

The Doctrine of Precedent & Stare Decisis

Ratio vs obiter, vertical and horizontal precedent, and how a court escapes a precedent.

Contract Law

Undue Influence in Irish Contract Law

Actual vs presumed influence, the relationships that raise the presumption, and how it reaches bank guarantees.

Six subjects covered and growing — new explainers added regularly.