Donal Coffey
@donalcoffey.bsky.social
Constitutional law, legal history. Assistant Prof in Maynooth University, Ireland.
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Donal Coffey
@donalcoffey.bsky.social
· Oct 22
I've created a Legal History starter pack as I don't think anyone else has and it seems like the type of thing we should have. I'm sure I missed people (apologies!), so hit me up if I have: go.bsky.app/XJxJpA
Reposted by Donal Coffey
The English High Court has overturned the ban on Palestine Action.
ALAN GREENE on the dangers of expansive executive discretion – and why the Court signals that counter-terrorism powers require genuine legal constraints, not mere trust in the “good chaps.”
verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
ALAN GREENE on the dangers of expansive executive discretion – and why the Court signals that counter-terrorism powers require genuine legal constraints, not mere trust in the “good chaps.”
verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
February 17, 2026 at 6:45 PM
The English High Court has overturned the ban on Palestine Action.
ALAN GREENE on the dangers of expansive executive discretion – and why the Court signals that counter-terrorism powers require genuine legal constraints, not mere trust in the “good chaps.”
verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
ALAN GREENE on the dangers of expansive executive discretion – and why the Court signals that counter-terrorism powers require genuine legal constraints, not mere trust in the “good chaps.”
verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
Just had a conversation where I ended up saying 'plenty of things make sense but are still a breach of competition law'.
February 16, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Just had a conversation where I ended up saying 'plenty of things make sense but are still a breach of competition law'.
Reposted by Donal Coffey
Very good piece by Dr Cian Ó Concubhair on the new Garda powers bill - interestingly, when the Commission on the Future of Policing recommended codification of these powers it did so thinking the preparatory work would be done by the Law Reform Commission
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
New Garda powers bill could conceal abuses
Gardaí can consistently deny racial profiling because there is no data on who is stopped and searched — but the new powers bill doesn't allow this data to be collected. Why, asks Cian Ó Concubhair
www.irishexaminer.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Very good piece by Dr Cian Ó Concubhair on the new Garda powers bill - interestingly, when the Commission on the Future of Policing recommended codification of these powers it did so thinking the preparatory work would be done by the Law Reform Commission
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Donal Coffey
To explain the ridiculousness of this, holding up a sign at a protest saying that you are pleased with today's HC judgment, could give rise to a 'reasonable suspicion' that you support a proscribed organisation.
I share this only to help those contemplating whether to tweet "I support Palestine Action".
February 13, 2026 at 10:47 AM
To explain the ridiculousness of this, holding up a sign at a protest saying that you are pleased with today's HC judgment, could give rise to a 'reasonable suspicion' that you support a proscribed organisation.
Inaugural lecture of Prof Michael Doherty.
February 12, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Inaugural lecture of Prof Michael Doherty.
Me, watching a snowboarder corkscrewing three times while pitching themselves at a height of a two storey house: "he'll be disappointed with himself there".
February 11, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Me, watching a snowboarder corkscrewing three times while pitching themselves at a height of a two storey house: "he'll be disappointed with himself there".
My wife's common cold has somehow mutated into the manflu I am currently experiencing.
February 11, 2026 at 8:24 AM
My wife's common cold has somehow mutated into the manflu I am currently experiencing.
My prediction is that Starmer won't resign over this, because I think it would be entirely inconsistent with his self-image to resign over Epstein when there is no personal link. He could resign after the local elections if/when Labour take a drubbing.
February 9, 2026 at 5:09 PM
My prediction is that Starmer won't resign over this, because I think it would be entirely inconsistent with his self-image to resign over Epstein when there is no personal link. He could resign after the local elections if/when Labour take a drubbing.
The UK is currently facing the choice of watching the Starmer administration implode or the women's big air qualification in the winter olympics. It's not even a choice.
February 9, 2026 at 2:21 PM
The UK is currently facing the choice of watching the Starmer administration implode or the women's big air qualification in the winter olympics. It's not even a choice.
Gerard Hogan on the Constitution and Irish Unity.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
The Irish Constitution: Leading judge on how it could impact the drive for a united Ireland
The Constitution, designed to achieve unity, ‘may ultimately complicate that ambition’, not ‘because it was weak and inflexible’ but ‘rather because it was sufficiently flexible and strong’
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Gerard Hogan on the Constitution and Irish Unity.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Donal Coffey
The CFP is now up for the 6th Asian Legal History Conference, which will be in Melaka, Malaysia (6-7 August 2026). Proposals are due by 1 April 2026 (Malaysia time): www.mmu.edu.my/fol/alhc2026/ #LegalHistory
6th Asian Legal History Conference 2026 – FOL
www.mmu.edu.my
February 9, 2026 at 1:06 AM
The CFP is now up for the 6th Asian Legal History Conference, which will be in Melaka, Malaysia (6-7 August 2026). Proposals are due by 1 April 2026 (Malaysia time): www.mmu.edu.my/fol/alhc2026/ #LegalHistory
Gateway of India.
February 6, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Gateway of India.
Pretty significant backing here, but I would anticipate two things: (a) it won't move the Government on the issue, and (b) support could change depending on actual wording.
Two-thirds of voters back insertion of right to housing into Constitution, poll shows
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Two-thirds of voters back insertion of right to housing into Constitution, poll shows
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Two-thirds of voters back insertion of right to housing into Constitution, poll shows
Fewer than a third of voters think Government is making progress on housing, Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll finds
www.irishtimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Pretty significant backing here, but I would anticipate two things: (a) it won't move the Government on the issue, and (b) support could change depending on actual wording.
Two-thirds of voters back insertion of right to housing into Constitution, poll shows
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Two-thirds of voters back insertion of right to housing into Constitution, poll shows
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Donal Coffey
Legal history people: the ASLH conference will be in the Canadian Rockies in Nov.2026! Panel proposals are due March 24, 2026. The Call links to google sheets where you can find co-panelists & chair-commentators 👇 You can @ me if you're looking for fellow panelists, too.
I'm honored to serve as one of the cochairs of the Program Committee for the 2026 American Society for Legal History Conference in Banff, Canada! The CFP is now available. Please consider submitting a proposal! aslh.net/2026-annual-... #ASLH #legalhistory
2026 Annual Meeting Call for Papers | American Society for Legal History
Call for Papers 2026 American Society for Legal History Annual Meeting (November 12 - 14, 2026) The Program Committee of the American Society for Legal History invites proposals for the 2026 meeting t...
aslh.net
February 5, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Legal history people: the ASLH conference will be in the Canadian Rockies in Nov.2026! Panel proposals are due March 24, 2026. The Call links to google sheets where you can find co-panelists & chair-commentators 👇 You can @ me if you're looking for fellow panelists, too.
Reposted by Donal Coffey
It's publication day!
You can now buy Celebrating Women in Legal History here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/celebrati...
You can now buy Celebrating Women in Legal History here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/celebrati...
February 5, 2026 at 10:32 AM
It's publication day!
You can now buy Celebrating Women in Legal History here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/celebrati...
You can now buy Celebrating Women in Legal History here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/celebrati...
Patrick Freyne is very good to be fair.
February 5, 2026 at 6:40 AM
Patrick Freyne is very good to be fair.
Reposted by Donal Coffey
Lithograph of the preamble of the Indian Constitution. I believe it's an original produced at the time.
February 4, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Lithograph of the preamble of the Indian Constitution. I believe it's an original produced at the time.
Reposted by Donal Coffey
Lithograph of the preamble of the Indian Constitution. I believe it's an original produced at the time.
February 4, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Lithograph of the preamble of the Indian Constitution. I believe it's an original produced at the time.
Sinn Féin are going to start climbing back to the levels of support they last had when inflation was hot.
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
Price of basic food rising at more than double the rate of inflation
Initial reading on harmonised index of consumer prices shows a slight drop in the annual rate to 2.6% in January
www.irishtimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:53 AM
Sinn Féin are going to start climbing back to the levels of support they last had when inflation was hot.
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
Hyderabadi Biryani in Hyderabad. God tier.
January 30, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Hyderabadi Biryani in Hyderabad. God tier.
I'm not saying the driver in India was a bit reckless this morning, but I will say he undertook an ambulance.
January 30, 2026 at 9:34 AM
I'm not saying the driver in India was a bit reckless this morning, but I will say he undertook an ambulance.
Reposted by Donal Coffey
Just received a notice from Apple saying that it has found X to be in breach of the App Store rules due to its nudification functions.
January 29, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Just received a notice from Apple saying that it has found X to be in breach of the App Store rules due to its nudification functions.
