The Supreme Court is pleased to announce that it has published its 2025 Annual Report.  The Annual Report of the Supreme Court of Ireland provides an overview of the work of the Supreme Court both inside and outside of the courtroom.   

In 2025, the Supreme Court saw:  

 The Annual Report includes a selection of summaries of judgments delivered by the Supreme Court throughout the year.  It also captures many of the outreach activities conducted by members of the Court throughout the year with schools, law students, legal professionals, and other educational bodies, as well as the Supreme Court’s extensive engagement with judicial networks and similar courts in other countries.   

Some of the noteworthy news from 2025 recorded in the Annual Report include:  

The Supreme Court’s first sitting on the North Western Circuit  

In April 2025, the Supreme Court sat to hear an appeal in Letterkenny Courthouse, Donegal, marking its first sitting in the Northwest and its first sitting outside of Dublin since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

During its visit to Letterkenny, the Court undertook a structured programme of outreach to support greater public understanding of the work of the judiciary and to strengthen engagement with the regional community.  The programme included outreach at second-level schools, where members of the Court participated in Comhrá sessions with students at Mulroy College, Milford, and Finn Valley College, Stranorlar.   

Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell Elected President of the Network of Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union 

In November, Chief Justice O’Donnell was elected President of the Network of Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the European Union.  The election took place at the Network’s meeting in The Hague, continuing Ireland’s long-standing tradition of active engagement in this important European forum. 

The Network brings together the Presidents of the Supreme Courts of the 27 EU Member States, along with Associate Members and Observers, to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation, and provide perspectives to European institutions on issues affecting the judiciary.  It serves as a vital platform for dialogue on matters of common interest, including judicial independence and the rule of law. 

Broadcasting  

In October 2025, the Supreme Court commenced a pilot project to record and broadcast its proceedings, including oral argument in substantive appeal hearings and the delivery of judgments, on the Supreme Court website.  The pilot operates within the framework set out in Practice Direction SC24 issued by the Chief Justice to provide guidance on the scope and safeguards applicable to the recording and broadcasting of proceedings. 

The purpose of the pilot is to support the principle of open justice, enhance public access to proceedings of general public importance and assist accurate reporting and educational use of broadcast recordings.  Practice Direction SC24 identifies categories of proceedings that are excluded and indicates that the decision to broadcast in any individual case is at the discretion of the Supreme Court. 

More information about these events and all of the activity of the Supreme Court in 2025 can be found in the Annual Report published here.