Module: Law of Torts

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Law of Torts
Module Code	LAW1014 (ITS: LG216)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The course aims to acquaint students with the role of tort law as either apportioning blame or compensating for loss and injury. The module will cover the most common causes of action litigated in the courts and will consider the underlying rules both of the common law and of statute which govern such suits.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the key principles of tort in Ireland
2. Distinguish liability in tort from other areas of the law
3. Apply the rules and principles of tort in Ireland to solve common legal problems which are governed by the law of tort
4. Critique the law of tort as a mechanism for compensating intentional and accidental injuries
5. Identify the individual principles and rules which govern different causes of action in the tort system
6. Locate, classify and summarise relevant legal materials in respect of the law of tort

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	51	Reading Course Texts
Independent Study	50	Library / Online Research
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10885	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Beatrice Monciunskaite	Module Teacher	David Keane, Niall Moran

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	n/a	30%	Week 1
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	70%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction
Nature of the law of tort; tort distinguished from other areas of law; historical developments of the law of tort; role and function of tort in the compensation system.

Negligence
Development of the duty of care; the standard of care; causation; remoteness of damage, defences to negligence

Negligence: Forms of Loss
Pure economic loss, psychiatric damage and negligent misstatement.

Professional Negligence
The development of the professional standard of care; medicine and the law of tort; negligence actions against solicitors and barristers.

Defamation
The Defamation Act 2009; case law on definition of defamation.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

E Quill: 2009, Torts in Ireland, 3rd edn, Gill and MacMillan, Dublin,
J Helay: 2006, Principles of Irish Torts, 1st edn, Clarus Press,
B McMahon and W Binchy: 2014, Irish Law of Torts, 3rd edn, Tottel, Dublin,
U Connolly and S Quinlivan: 2006, Tort, Cases and Materials, Thomson Round hall,
B McMahon and W Binchy: 2005, Casebook on the Irish Law of Torts, 3rd edn, Tottel,
S Deakin, A Johnston, B Markesini: 2008, Tort Law, 6th edn, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
W Rogers: 2007, Winfield and Jolowicz on Tort, 17th edn, Sweet and Maxwell, London,

Articles:

R Byrne and W Binchy: 0, Annual Review of Irish Law, 521353
0: Irish Tort Law Quarterly, 521354, 1
Irish Law Times:

Other Resources

None