E119 The Fifth Court Recorded at the University of Galway recording studios. Hosts Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL talk to Diarmuid J. Connolly BL (kind of 'Father of the Mayo Bar' but he's keen to correct that misnomer) a practising barrister based in County Mayo. Former UCG student Peter along with Diarmuid, start with a bit of reminiscing…

E118 The Fifth Court featuring retired judge Mary Fahy Judge Mary Fahy retired from the Irish District Court on January 31, 2025, concluding a distinguished 31-year judicial career. Appointed to the bench in the early 1990s, she served in various jurisdictions, including Dublin and Galway, and was known for her commitment to accessible justice and …

E117 The Fifth Court throws the spotlight on one of the country's most colourful solicitors, Paul Keane, former Managing Partner at Reddy Charlton (where he started at 17 years of age), now a consultant to that firm, as well as having been the Chair of the North Fingal Beekeepers Association! He was originally inspired by Lord Wedderburn and his le…

E116 The Fifth Court - featuring the life and times of the "former" Master of the High Court, Edmond Honahan Is he, was he still Master? He explains how it's down to an EU interpretation. His cultural reference is the book 'Wolf Hall' (Hilary Mantel) because of a scene involving the malign influence of 'international bankers'. Hosts Mark Tottenham …

Episode 115 – The Fifth Court He’s held one of the highest offices in the land, but what’s life really like after the robes are folded away? In this episode, Frank Clarke SC, former Chief Justice, returns to the studio for the second half of his conversation with Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL. The discussion moves effortlessly from courtro…

Episode 114 The Fifth Court Former Chief Justice Frank Clarke SC - Part I. In this episode, The Fifth Court welcomes none other than Frank Clarke SC, former Chief Justice and one of Ireland’s most respected legal minds. Frank joins Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL for a relaxed and entertaining chat that ranges from the inner workings of the …

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.12 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases, taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Host…

E113 The Fifth Court Dr Susan Leahy, University of Limerick, on consent. DSBA 'Podcast of the Year' Hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL talks to Susan Leahy, Associate Professor in Law whose primary research interests are in the areas of criminal justice (with particular emphasis on sexual violence and victims of crime) and family law (spe…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.11 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases, taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Host…

E112 The Fifth Court 'Live' from University of Limerick, hosts Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL, are joined by Prof. Jennifer Schweppe, Co-Director, European Centre for the Study of Hate - Everything you need to know about Hate Crime Jennifer's culture choice, Jane Casey's series of books featuring Maeve Kerrigan, a police officer, solving cr…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.10 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases, taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Host…

Episode 111 The Fifth Court DSBA 'Podcast of the Year' Patrick Costello, barrister and former Green Party TD and party spokesperson on Justice He took the CETA (EU Canada trade agreement involving private courts) case to the Supreme Court If haven't delved into these private courts, this is a 'must listen'. His choice of movie: (the brilliant) My C…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.9 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases, including a legal challenge by a pilot against Ryanair, taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practition…

E110 The Fifth Court DSBA Podcast of the Year Brendan Slattery, Head of Environment and Planning, McCann FitzGerald solrs. talks to our interlocutors, Peter Leonard, BL, and Mark Tottenham, BL, about the new Planning Act (all 900 pages of it). As Peter says, what Brendan doesn't know about planning law isn't worth knowing. And, as always, there's a…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.8 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

E109 The Fifth Court A most amusing encounter. Hosts Peter Leonard and Mark Tottenham talk to retired judge Bernard Barton, a fabulous raconteur, about his life and times, including his career as a used car salesman! Bernard Barton is a retired Irish judge who served on the High Court from 2014 until his retirement in March 2021. During his tenure,…

E108 The Fifth Court Dr Thom Mohr on Hugh Kennedy, first Attorney General of the Irish Free State and law reformer who had some radical ideas in his time. This is a most entertaining episode, including details of little known attempts by Hugh Kennedy to disrobe judges and re robe them in the Brehon Law style (or what was his interpretation of such)…

E107 The Law Reform Commission, 50 years old Modernising the law. How we change the law to update it. The programme for work is laid out in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. Next year they'll be canvassing the public to find other areas of legislation that might do with some updating. The Irish Law Reform Commission is an indepen…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.7 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

E106 The Fifth Court DSBA 'Podcast of the Year' The Fifth Court LIVE! Part II. Presenters Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL are joined live at the Law Society by Rachel Stanton, Country Head for Ireland, Simmons & Simmons as well as by James Duggan, Managing Partner, Flynn O'Driscoll Solicitors. They discuss whether a legal Big Bang is current…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.6 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

E105 The Fifth Court DSBA 'Podcast of the Year' The Fifth Court LIVE! Part I. Presenters Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL are joined live at the Law Society by Rachel Stanton, Country Head for Ireland, Simmons & Simmons as well as by James Duggan, Managing Partner, Flynn O'Driscoll Solicitors. They discuss whether a legal Big Bang is currentl…

E104 The Fifth Court DSBA Podcast of the Year Griffith & Griffith, the sequel. (Follow on from E57, The Fifth Court) Cyril Griffith Junior talks about what happened next, Simply stunning. Cyril Griffith (son of the original Cyril Griffith) contacted the podcast to give a fascinating background about the case. This one is made for sharing with anyon…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.4 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

E103 The Lucy Letby Case and the role of 'expert witnesses' Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL discuss some complex legal issues around this difficult case that has made international headlines. The Lucy Letby legal case involved a neonatal nurse convicted of the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of six others at a UK hospital be…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.4 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, who speci…

E102 The Fifth Court - Louise O'Donnell, Deputy Chair, The Labour Court A great story about starting work in the Civil Service at 17 and her subsequent, highly successful, career. She talks about a recently published book, 'A history of the Labour Court 1946- 2021' In 2021, the Labour Court celebrated it's 75th anniversary following its establishme…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.3 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, who speci…

E101 The Fifth Court The second part of an informative and highly entertaining chat with former Mr. Justice Peter Kelly - President of the High Court of Ireland from 2015 to 2020 who was widely recognised for his work in complex commercial and public interest cases. He is reluctantly retired and would have loved to have continued on the bench. His …

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.2 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, who speci…

E100 The Fifth Court For its 100th episode, The Fifth Court hosts, Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL, had a lengthy, informative and highly entertaining chat with former Mr. Justice Peter Kelly - President of the High Court of Ireland from 2015 to 2020 who was widely recognised for his work in complex commercial and public interest cases. He i…

A bonus episode, from The Fifth Court team. Episode No.1 The Fifth Court UNPRECEDENTED - recent interesting cases taken from the Decisis.ie Law Reports casebook introduced by Mark Tottenham, BL, and Peter Leonard, BL. Brought to you thanks to Charlton's Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners, of George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, who speci…

E99 The Fifth Court. Mark Tottenham and Peter Leonard talk to Mick Clifford, author of the best-selling true-crime book, 'Who killed Una Lynskey?' This is the true story of murder and vengeance, a shattered community and a miscarriage of justice that echoes down the decades. In October 1971 nineteen-year-old Una Lynskey vanished near her home in Co…

Episode 98 of The Fifth Court podcast was recorded LIVE at the Allingham Festival in Donegal, on Friday 8 November 2024. Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL chatted to the amazing Nelofer Pazira, whose life story is quite extraordinary. She has also has recently completed work on the final book of her late husband, the renowned journalist, Rober…

Episode 97 The Fifth Court Michael O’Farrell is a journalist for over two decades and has reported widely on matters of public interest from across the globe and at home. He is currently Investigations Editor with The Irish Mail on Sunday. His new book, ‘Fugitive: The Michael Lynn Story,’ is the true story of how he tracked down and then interviewe…

Episode 96 The Fifth Court with Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL. On this episode, Judge Gráinne Malone, a former solicitor who also qualified as a barrister but who went on the bench after only six months at the bar, and who has now served thirteen years as a judge. She talks about the new Irish Courts Service Podcast, an initiative created …

Hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL chat to Marla Dukharan and Bill Black, world experts in White Collar Crime, at an early morning talk at the Kilkenomics Festival. They discuss white collar prosecutions, and the double standards applied to Caribbean countries by the OECD, as well as Bill's book, titled 'The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to O…

Episode 94 Aisling Meehan, Agricultural Solicitor It takes specialist knowledge and understanding to appreciate the problems farmers face today. Every decision is affected by legal, tax and practical considerations specific to farming business. As a qualified solicitor, tax consultant and young trained farmer, Aisling Meehan (ex William Fry) can co…

Recorded at the 2024 ELI (European Law Institute) Annual Conference held at the Kings Inns, Dublin, where Fifth Court presenters, Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL, talk to ELI President, Professor Pascal Pichonnaz Professor Pichonnaz earned a Ph.D. that is in published form as ‘Habilitation’, a large book on the Law of Set-off. He teaches Con…

Episode 92 The Fifth Court Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales and ELI Vice-President who attended the European Law Institute (ELI) conference in Dublin. Established in 2011, the ELI emulates the American Law Institute and focuses on advancing all areas of law across Europe and beyond. As the premier…

Episode 91, The Fifth Court A slightly longer than usual edition of Ireland's favourite podcast as our hosts delve into the light and shade of Arthur Mathews new book, 'Walled In By Hate: Kevin O’Higgins, His Friends and Enemies'. Arthur is well known as co-creator of Father Ted so naturally the talk starts with a chat about the modern sitcom maste…

E90 The Fifth Court - The Vacation Sittings Continuing our series of law related interviews whilst regular presenters Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL take a well-earned break. Life after the law. On this episode, former Senior Counsel Jenny O'Connell along with her pals Louise O'Riordan and Aoife Matthews, have all given up high-powered 'rea…

E89 The Fifth Court - The Vacation Sittings This is the third of four vacation sittings of the Fifth Court. On this episode we've teamed up with our sister podcast That Great Business Show again to bring you an interview with Colm O'Reilly, COO Business Post Group, Chairman Newsbrands Ireland, Board member Press Council of Ireland. Colm discusses t…

E88 The Fifth Court - The Vacation Sittings This is the second of four vacation sittings of the Fifth Court. On this episode we hear our Fifth Court co-presenter turned guest, Mark Tottenham BL and an 'expert witness' expert (!) (he's written the books - plural) talk all about the importance of the 'expert witness', but we start with 'expert witnes…

E87 The Fifth Court This is the first of four vacation sittings of the Fifth Court. On this episode we hear presenter turned guest, Peter Leonard BL and mediator, discuss the virtues of mediation versus litigation, in an interview Peter did recently with Fifth Court producer Conall O Morain, on Conall's own business podcast, That Great Business Sho…

E86 The Fifth Court - DSBA 'Podcast of the Year' On this episode hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL are joined by Isabella Hughes, boxer (!) and former legal executive Cosgrove Gaynard Solicitors who has turned co-founder of Simple Probate, inspired by the founder's experience with probate inefficiencies. Talking to solicitors and executo…

E85 The Fifth Court A most entertaining episode of podcast as our hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL chat to Law Library legend Ercus Stewart, a barrister for almost fifty five years during which time he has probably been involved in every type of legal case imaginable. The three even touch on Master and Servant law! His membership of ass…

E84 The Fifth Court Hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL are joined in studio by solicitor and Partner at Byrne Wallace, Martin Cooney talking about the law and housing development. He thinks he was always was going to be a lawyer having, at the age of 12, drawn up a contract with his own mother, for payments for chores in the family home! …

E83 The Fifth Court Problems have emerged around new legislation around enduring powers of attorney (EPA). On this episode hosts Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL discuss these issues, and some solutions, with David Byrnes BL and solicitor Flor McCarthy, Founder Director of Solicitors Growth, Ireland’s largest independent community of mutual s…

E82 The Fifth Court Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL talk to Kevin O'Higgins, solicitor, about his life and times. As he says himself, 'After 40+ years of practising law, I’ve learned a few things along the way!' and he shares some of that knowledge at https://ohigginssolicitors.ie/blog BTW, when he started in law a fax machine was seen as ne…