Thomas Muinzer challenges accepted ownership claims of Lough Neagh, arguing legal errors and misinterpreted rulings distort its history.

Launch of the book, The Law Relating to Ownership of Lough Neagh: Contemporary and Historic Problems (2026)

Author: Dr Thomas L Muinzer, Reader, Reader in Energy Transition Law, University of Aberdeen, and graduate of the QUB School of Law

Where: The Canada Room, Queens University Belfast

When: Doors open at 18.00 for wine reception, followed by Panel at 19.00 on 24th September 2026

Panel List: Chair: Louise Cullen, BBC NI Agriculture and Environment Correspondent, Dr Tom Muinzer, Bernadette Devlin-McAliskey, Turlough O'Donnell SC, Dr Peter Doran

Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. It provides over 40% of Northern Ireland's drinking water, is an ecosystem of international importance, and supports many commercial businesses, including fisheries. Thomas Muinzer's book examines the law relating to ownership of the Lough. It places an emphasis on the lead ruling to date from the UK's highest court, Johnston v. O'Neill. It is demonstrated that this case has been internalised incorrectly into the UK legal order due to what the author conveys as a procedural technicality. Along the way, the book clarifies that alleged Seventeenth Century origins of Crown title to Lough Neagh are dubious at best, and that a supposed line of historical ownership flowing from this is beset with problems in law. The study includes new and original research from the author, clarifies that significant legal inaccuracy has attached to Lough Neagh over the course of modern history, and flags this as a matter of importance for the UK legal system in going forward.

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