The Fifth Court — Episode 133

Presented by barristers Mark Tottenham and Peter Leonard.

This episode opens with Josepha Madigan — solicitor, former cabinet minister and family-law mediator — on why mediation is gaining ground, what makes it work, and how practice culture is changing for clients and lawyers alike.

Then Mark and Peter review three recent Decisis cases (case-note segment sponsored by Charltons Solicitors & Collaborative Practitioners):

• A Court of Appeal judgment on alleged ineffective legal representation.
• A High Court ruling that quashed a same-day trial conviction on fair-trial grounds.
• A further decision testing procedural fairness and preparation time in summary proceedings.

Clear takeaways — and the practical implications for practitioners and clients.

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LCJ Keegan on the modern courtroom — AI, experts and leadership

On Episode 132, The Fifth Court hosts Peter Leonard and Mark Tottenham have rare access to Dame Siobhán Keegan, the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, to discuss evaluating expert evidence in an age of AI and complex fact-finding, leadership on the bench, and the realities of administering justice in Belfast’s Royal Courts. The episode is recorded with her in the Royal Courts of Justice, LCJ Keegan flags her Macfadyen Lecture on evaluating the expert witness in the modern legal landscape—a timely frame for how courts should approach AI-assisted and technical testimony (provenance, transparency, methodology, limits).

Her cultural choice 'Is a River Alive?' by Robert Macfarlane, published by Hamish Hamilton

Plus, our case-law segment, drawn from the Decisis.ie casebook, covers a failed attempt to register a New York multi-billion judgment against Argentina in Ireland without locating Irish-sited assets, and the Court of Appeal’s approach to frivolous and vexatious challenges to demolition orders.

Sponsored by Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners of Dublin

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E131 The Fifth Court

Co-host of the Fifth Court, Peter Leonard, BL, met with Kirk Offel at the Dublin Tech Summit, promoter of the 5th Industrial Revolution.

'Data centres are the most important things to be manufactured in the world'. That's Kirk's view and that's just the beginning of this terrific chat about all things AI and Data Centres.

Kirk is not your typical tech CEO. From a military family, a former US Navy submariner, nuclear-trained engineer, cancer survivor, and now founder of Overwatch Mission Critical, he brings a mix of discipline, resilience, and purpose to the fast-changing world of digital infrastructure. His company designs and delivers the data centres that make the cloud, AI, and mission-critical systems possible — what he likes to call “the sky for the cloud.”

You'll also learn everything you ever wondered about life in a submarine under the ocean...though some of what he's done he can't talk about.

Before that, Peter and Mark Tottenham, BL, examine notable recent court decisions featured on Decisis.ie including:

• A 'Proceeds of Crime' case and whether it should be reopened with new material comes to light?
• A case full of energy, including a windfarm, a hydrogen plant and turf-cutting.
• Another planning case, this one regarding an old paint factory that was being used to house migrants. It turned out to be a moot case.

Whether you're in practice or just passionate about the law, this episode is a must-listen for its clarity, depth, and practical relevance.

Sponsored by Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners – family law with a collaborative approach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.