An NHS Trust and others v Y (by his litigation friend, the Official Solicitor) and another (2018) UKSC 46
2018
The United Kingdom Supreme Court has ruled that doctors may withdraw treatment from patients in a persistent vegetative state without seeking legal permission. Provided that both the medical team and the patient’s relatives are agreed that the withdrawal is in the patient’s best interests, doctors will be able to remove feeding tubes without applying to the Court of Protection.
Richard v The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) & Anor (2018) EWHC 1837
2018
The BBC has failed to persuade an English High Court judge to allow it to appeal its ruling on a privacy case involving Sir Cliff Richard.
Sir Cliff successfully sued the BBC over its coverage of a 2014 police raid on his home, following an allegation of child sexual abuse. He was never arrested and did not face any criminal charges.
The High Court of England and Wales ruled that the BBC’s reporting of the incident represented a very serious privacy invasion and awarded Sir Cliff £210,000 in damages.
Buick's (Colin) Application as Chair Person of NOARC 21 (2018) NICA 26
2018
The Civil Service will not appeal against the court judgment ruling that a permanent secretary lacked the power to approve a £240m waste incinerator in Mallusk.
The Court of Appeal ruled that only the full Executive could authorise the proposed facilities on the outskirts of north Belfast because they were so significant, controversial and cut across areas of responsibility. The Court said,
Paul Loughran v Piney Rentals Limited and F5 Property Limited 16/084351
2018
On 29th June Belfast County Court ruled that F5 Property Limited, acting as a letting agent, return an administration fee which was charged to a tenant prior to commencing his tenancy. Belfast County Court had previously ordered, in December 2017, that another letting agent, Piney Rentals Limited, return a similar fee charged to the same tenant.
