Reviewed case brief

McLoughlin v. O'Brian

[1983] 1 AC 410

[1983] 1 AC 410 · House of Lords (UK)

nervous-shocksecondary-victimproximitynegligence
Court
House of Lords (UK)
Year
1983
Subjects
Law of Torts
Reviewed
2026-08-02

Rule established

Secondary victims must establish close ties of love and affection with the primary victim, close physical and temporal proximity to the event or its immediate aftermath, and direct perception through their own senses.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        [1983] 1 AC 410

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.