Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2450Constitutional challenge (super junior ministers attending Cabinet) · Co. Dublin · 29 Jan 2025

Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly granted High Court leave to challenge super junior minister appointments

Sinn Féin TD Patrick 'Pa' Daly was granted leave by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty at the High Court to pursue his judicial review challenging the constitutionality of super junior ministers attending Cabinet, arguing their presence contravenes the 15-person limit in Article 28 of the Constitution. The case will return to court on 4 February 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court29 Jan
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree junior ministers were appointed the previous week to attend Cabinet (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSuper junior ministers attend Cabinet meetings but do not have a vote (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe Constitution limits the government to a maximum of 15 senior ministers (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMary Lou McDonald said the government is using super junior ministers as a workaround to the Constitution's 15-member limit (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatArticle 28 of the Constitution limits the number of government members to 15, including the Taoiseach. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe legal papers were filed on Tuesday, 28 January 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case will return to court on 4 February 2025. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Jan2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    High Court permits Sinn Féin TD to pursue challenge to super junior minister appointments

    Pa Daly's judicial review was granted leave to proceed; the case will return to court on 4 February 2025, by which point he must notify the respondents (Taoiseach, Government, Attorney General and Ireland).

    victim, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, Hildegarde Naughton, female, named, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde Naughtonsuspect, Seán Canney, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seán Canneysuspect, Noel Grealish, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Grealishsuspect, Mary Butler, female, named, irish (judged from name)Mary Butler
  2. 29 Jan2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Sinn Féin launches High Court action over Government's 'Super Junior Ministers'

    Reports the initial filing of legal papers and includes Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald's statement; names the three super junior ministers (Naughton, Grealish, Canney) and their parties.

    victim, irish (judged from name)suspect, Hildegarde Naughton, named, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde Naughtonsuspect, Noel Grealish, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Grealishsuspect, Sean Canney, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Canney