Healy Law

28/05/2026

Dangers of AI Legal Advice

When people have a legal problem, it can be tempting to try AI for advice. This step, while it can provide informative data on your problem, it could lead to further problems.

AI can be very good at certain matters but in legal (and indeed medical) issues, it is safer to rely on professionals. Looking at AI is fine and it might mention matters which you can ask your solicitor about.

Each legal problem or case (if it goes to court) has its own unique elements which humans are best to evaluate than AI.

Matters to be aware of
Not all information given in AI is 100% dependable. The problem for the user is what is reliable and what is fake?

Some AI generated documents submitted to Irish courts have been thrown out as unreliable, untrue information amounting to misleading legal arguments and some have given fake citations of decisions.

By inserting confidential or sensitive information into an AI tool can create breach of confidentiality and result in further legal issues. There is a danger that the use of such information could be picked up elsewhere.

New legislation or precedent judgments can put AI tools out of date whereas your solicitor will be aware of any new changes of legislation or new case law where it affects your legal problem. For instance, if the Supreme Court decides today on a case which changes the law in some area, can you be sure that the AI tool you are using has been updated to include that?

Accountability
This is an important consideration. Solicitors and barristers when engaged by a client have professional indemnity insurance where they have acted below their accepted standard of service or negligently. If you follow AI legal advice and it all goes wrong for you, for example, say it gave you outdated law which you relied upon and lost, where do you stand on AI accountability? Out in the cold, no come-back, no professional indemnity, nothing.

The best advice will be from a solicitor who can give you individual attention on your problem.

Call now to connect with business.

25/05/2026

PROPERTY
Points to watch when leasing an apartment.
(This article will consider the situation on lettings made after the 1st of March 2026 as the regulations changed after that date)
General points to watch:
1. Use a platform like Daft.ie to find current properties available.
2. Have a file ready to include employer references, previous landlord reference, and evidence of ability to pay the rent such as bank statements or letter from bank.
3. First month’s rent and security deposit need to be paid on signing of the lease.
4. Confirm if any parking space is available with the apartment. Lettings usually include lots of furniture and kitchen items. Ask for these to be listed as an inventory and ideally attached to the lease. Disputes can arise over missing or smaller items that have not been included in the inventory.
5. Under the new rules, rent increases are capped at 2% or the cost-of-living index, whichever is the lower.
6. Any evictions only apply where a tenant breaches his obligations to pay rent, or similar, or the landlord himself or his family wish to move in.
7. The most important change is a Tenancy of Minimum Duration (TMD) for a period of six years applies as soon as a tenant has been in occupation for six months. In other words, as a general rule, a tenant can stay on in the premises for a minimum of six years and indeed, if they wish, a further period of six years, unless the landlord has given adequate notice that he or his family wish to move in and occupy the property themselves. The six-year rule applies even if the parties actually signed only a one-year agreement provided it is signed after the 1st of March 2026.
8. Tenants should note the six-year rule does not apply to them if they wish to vacate. They can do this at any time, even during the six-year term, on merely giving the landlord a notice of termination and the required notice.
9 What are the Tenant’s obligations?
To pay rent and any electric/gas/refuse charges. To maintain the property in a reasonable condition but fair wear and tear excepted. Also to allow the landlord to access the property provided he has given sufficient notice to the tenant. The landlord might have to check a leak or show off the apartment if it has been sold.

10. What about the landlord’s obligations?

To allow you peaceful enjoyment of the property and to pay any service charge which includes fire insurance on the building and Management Company fees. Also, the landlord is responsible for any local property tax, but it is advisable that the tenant pays himself for insurance on the contents of the apartment for example, furniture, bedding, TV, computer equipment, jewellery etc.

29/04/2026

PERSONAL INJURIES
Accidents in Public Parks – Who is Responsible?

A family day out could turn out to be a disaster where an accident occurs causing injury and possibly a hospital stay.
Councils around the country provide playgrounds and while every foreseeable precaution is made to avoid accidents, they still occur. Though, not every accident is necessarily the fault of the council. As in all personal injury cases, negligence must be proved.
Councils are also responsible for uneven concrete footpaths. These can be particularly dangerous for running children or those with impaired eyesight or elderly. But again, the mere fact of an accident is not evidence of fault. The injured party must prove that the council were negligent in the repair or condition of the footpath which caused the accident.
A common defence by a council is that the injured party contributed to the accident. Take for instance, a person texting on their mobile phone, not noticing an uneven slab of concrete, and tripping over causing them injury. While the council might be responsible for the poor maintenance or repair of the footpath, it would be reasonable for the council to state that the individual was not looking where they were walking and thus contributed to the fall.
Common Kinds of Public Area Accidents
• Falls from Heights.
• Equipment Malfunction
• Slip and Trip Incidents.
• Collisions.
• Entanglement
• Environmental Hazards
• Animal Attacks.

Amusement Parks (Non-Public Owned)
Accidents that occur here are known as Public Liability Accidents and the owners of the park would have public liability accident insurance to cover these events. The owners of the amusement park have a legal responsibility to provide a duty of care to everybody using their facilities.
The Law
The Occupier’s Liability Act, 1995 is the governing law and under EU law the European Communities (Machinery) Regulations 2008.
Duty of Care
The duty of care applies not just to paying customers but also those who work there. The additional range of regulations include:
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• The Health and Safety at Work Act 2005
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2016
• Health and Safety Regulations 1996
• Work at Height Regulations 2005

A duty of care can be defined as a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent reasonably foreseeable harm to others.
So, what amounts to reasonably foreseeable? If the accident could have been foreseen then it falls within this definition but if the accident’s foreseeability was remote, it does not.
Your solicitor will advise you on the merits of your case but do not delay in taking action as there is a time limit of two years within which to commence proceedings.

13/03/2026

Recently, Barry Healy travelled to Ukraine as part of a convoy delivering vital medical aid to communities affected by the war. A meaningful experience helping those in need.

10/02/2026

🏡 Buying a home is exciting, but the legal side doesn’t have to be stressful.

From contracts to keys, Healy Law provides clear, practical guidance every step of the way, so you can move forward with confidence.

Book your consultation today and let us take care of the details.

05/02/2026

Going through a family law matter can feel overwhelming 💙

At Healy Law, we specialise in family law, offering clear, compassionate legal support when you need it most.

Whether you’re dealing with separation, divorce, custody arrangements, or other family-related matters, our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way.

✅ Family law expertise
✅ Clear, practical advice
✅ Support through difficult transitions
✅ A focus on achieving stability and peace of mind

Your family. Your future. Our priority.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help.

🔗 www.healylaw.ie
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 047 71556

03/02/2026

🚨 Injured at work? Slipped in a public place?

At Healy Law, we specialise in helping you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

Whether it’s a workplace accident or an unexpected injury, our experienced team is here to support you, every step of the way. Give Barry a call!

💼 Personal Injury Specialists
📞 047 - 71556
🌐 www.healylaw.ie

28/01/2026

Medical Negligence Legal Costs in Ireland:
An Overview

In Ireland, the legal costs for medical negligence cases are among the highest in the world due to the protracted and adversarial nature of the claims process. In some cases, known as catastrophic, a huge payment or series of payments can be made and as a general rule, such multimillion Euro payments mean that legal fees are correspondingly higher.

• How Legal Costs in Medical Negligence cases Work

• "No Win No Fee" Arrangements: Many solicitors offer "no win no fee" arrangements for medical negligence cases. This means you do not pay your solicitor's professional fees if your case is unsuccessful. However, the Law Society of Ireland's regulations prohibit solicitors from advertising this option explicitly, so you must discuss funding options during an initial consultation. It is usually possible to take out an insurance policy which will fund your legal costs in the event you and your legal team lose the case.
Winning Party's Costs:
• The general rule is that the losing party pays the winning party’s legal costs. If you win your case (either through a court award or settlement), the defendant (usually the Health Service Executive (HSE), represented by the State Claims Agency) is typically ordered to pay the majority of your legal fees and outlays (e.g., expert reports, barrister fees, medical records).
• Losing Party's Costs: If you lose your case, you may be required by the court, to pay the defendant's legal costs, in addition to your own outlays. However, there are insurance policies which can cover you against such eventualities.
• Outlays and VAT: In addition to legal fees, there are outlays such as fees for medical and other expert reports. These charges, along with professional fees, are generally subject to VAT at 23%.
Key Statistics on Medical Negligence Costs

• Average Legal Cost: Reports indicate that the average legal cost for a medical negligence claim in Ireland is approximately €34,646, which is significantly higher than similar cases for medical negligence in other jurisdictions like the UK (€11,911) or other jurisdictions in some EU countries. New Zealand has a unique system which operates a “no fault” system for medical injuries.
• Total State Payouts: The State Claims Agency (SCA) manages claims against the HSE. In 2022, €84.9 million was spent on legal and expert costs alone. The total liability for clinical negligence claims managed by the SCA was estimated at approximately €5 billion as of 2024.
• Drivers of High Costs: Factors contributing to high legal costs include the slow claims resolution process being adversarial in nature, a lack of mechanisms for early resolution (such as pre-action protocols), and the complexity of cases involving catastrophic injuries that require extensive long-term care and very high damage awards.
• In 2022, clinical catastrophic claims accounted for 53%of total litigation costs between 2018 and 2022. The settlement costs of these claims have risen dramatically with some awards reaching up to €35 million awarded to one child.

• Efforts to Reduce Costs

To address these high costs, the government and legal bodies have considered
reforms which would include:
• Introducing a formal pre-action protocol to encourage earlier settlements by way of disclosure of all medical and related reports
• Promoting the use of mediation services for alternative dispute resolution.
• Implementing case management rules in the High Court to streamline the litigation process and ensure timely progression of case
• Creation of a dedicated High Court list which would allow for better management of cases and faster resolutions thereby reducing costs.

20/01/2026

Thinking of buying or selling property? 🏡

At Healy Law, we specialise in property law, providing expert legal guidance through every stage of the process.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, seasoned investor, or planning to sell your home, our team ensures your transaction is smooth, secure, and stress-free.

✅ Residential & commercial conveyancing
✅ Clear, practical advice
✅ Efficient turnaround times
✅ Support you can count on

Your property. Our priority.
Contact us today and let’s get moving.

🔗 www.healylaw.ie
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 047 71556 See less

13/01/2026

When it comes to notary services, experience matters.

A notary public is a qualified legal professional who can witness signatures, certify copies, and authenticate documents especially those needed for use abroad.

Healy Law proudly provides trusted notary services in Monaghan and beyond.

📞 Contact Healy Law today.