News & Insights

The following opinion piece from Linus Murray, Director in the Commercial Department of O’Reilly Stewart featured in the Irish News on 22nd May 2018. Cranes are now a regular site across the Belfast skyline again and much has been made of the sharp increase in hotels that have opened up in the city in the…

Not every business is a success and sometimes business owners need to make the difficult decision to cut their losses. As many businesses in the hospitality sector operate via a lease with the owner of the premises from which they trade, they may find that they are tied into the lease for a number of…

As business owners it is possible you may at some stage wish to borrow money. This could be to fund a refurbishment or purchase of a new premises, for capital working requirements or even to service an existing debt. Thankfully over the last couple of years high street banks have been more willing to lend…

Background CervicalCheck is the national screening programme to prevent and control cervical cancer diagnoses. The programme provides smear tests for women aged 25 – 60. CervicalCheck has an agreement with a US laboratory whereby the tests themselves are performed in Ireland, but may be analysed in the US. This controversy has come to light as…

The recent patient recall at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which extends to 2,500 neurology patients including some who were treated by Consultant Neurologist Dr Michael Watt, has resulted in a number of on-going investigations from different regulatory bodies, and may have significant legal consequences for patients. Primarily, it will be a source…

Our healthcare partner, Paddy Mullarkey,  discusses the legal fall out from the Patient Safety Incident related to the practice of Dr Michael Watt, Consultant Neurologist in today's Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/rvh-patients-recall-treatment-errors-could-lead-to-significant-legal-consequences-36864553.html

News has emerged that 2500 patients of Dr Michael Watt, a Neurologist, have been recalled over concerns of potential misdiagnosis and mistreatment.  Multiple patients have been contacted by the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust offering them an opportunity to seek further clinical care and review The recall was announced following a review of patient…

 The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) come into effect in UK and Irish law from 25 May 2018. This is a major piece of legislation coming from the European Union and significantly impacts on how personal data is stored and used. Currently, patients are required to pay a fee of up to £50 for a…

With the Supreme Court due to hear the final appeal in the Asher’s Bakery case from the end of April, O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors was delighted to partner with Legal-Island to deliver an employment law breakfast seminar, with Director Seamus McGranaghan and solicitor Hannah McGrath offering advice on a range of workplace equality issues relating to…

James Stewart of the O’Reilly Stewart Litigation department is running a leg of the Belfast Marathon to help raise funds for the MS Society Northern Ireland. His brother in law Colin Goodman, a client and friend of the firm, was recently diagnosed with MS.  He is showing James up by running the whole race. To…

O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors held a fund raising event in conjunction with Forever Products today, to help James Stewart and his family with their Belfast Marathon fundraising efforts for MS society Northern Ireland. The Staff at O’Reilly Stewart raised £113.00 from raffle ballots which O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors matched, totaling £226.00. Aine from Forever Products will donate…

With the deadline for Gender Pay Gap Reporting fast approaching, the differences between men and women’s pay is firmly in the spotlight and it doesn’t make for pretty reading. Of the 900 GB businesses due to report, 19% have published their statistics ahead of time, revealing that 85% of men are paid more than women…