News

Justice Minister Claire Sugden Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Claire Sugden has announced a major review of the legislative framework for sentencing.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald The Department of Justice may lodge an appeal against the High Court ruling which struck down laws governing the activation of suspended sentences, the Irish Independent reports.

Joachim Feldges, partner at Allen & Overy in Munich A year before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is set to launch, considerably more patent-heavy businesses believe the UPC will benefit their company (80 per cent) compared to only 36 per cent of those with small portfolios, according to a survey

A six-judge court has overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision on maximum sentences for indecent assault, The Irish Times reports. The Director of Public Prosecutions has won her Supreme Court bid to increase the maximum sentence available for any indecent assault carried out on males during the

Cori Crider, a lawyer for the two families at Reprieve UK government prosecutors investigating the kidnap and “rendition” of two families to Libya by MI6 and the CIA have announced their conclusions that a senior British intelligence official was involved in the operation and had – to a limite

Ciara Lagan, partner at Tughans Specialist solicitors at Belfast firm Tughans gave advice to Northern Ireland entrepreneurs and investors at the INVENT Mentor Day yesterday.

Pictured (l-r): Women in Business chief executive Roseann Kelly, First Minister Arlene Foster and Imelda McMillan Imelda McMillan, director at O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors in Belfast, hosted a major event attracting nearly 300 businesspeople who wanted to hear about inclusive growth and diversity.

Solicitors, barristers and members of the judiciary spun the wheels of justice at a CLIC Sargent fundraiser hosted by the Law Society of Northern Ireland yesterday. Twenty-five teams from the legal profession competed to see who could ride further on stationary bikes situated in front of the High Co

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal brought by a company found guilty of supplying alcohol to an underage person, in which they argued that amendments to the law which limited the defences available were unconstitutional. The specific issue in the appeal concerned the plain meaning of section

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has accepted a recommendation that the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner should be given a role in the prison inspection process.

UN experts have determined that a woman faced discriminating, inhumane and degrading treatment as a result of Ireland’s legal prohibition of abortion when forced to balance carrying a baby, which would not survive after birth, against seeking an abortion outside of Ireland. Experts from the Geneva

Insurance companies have claimed legal costs and high compensation awards in the country are the major reason for insurance premiums rising by around 34 per cent, The Irish Times reports. The defence comes after Fianna Fáil demanded a new national claims register to force companies to disclose all

The Police Ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire Collusion between police and loyalist paramilitaries was a "significant feature" of the Loughinisland murders in 1994, according to a report by the Police Ombudsman.

UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption In an address conference on family law held in London, UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption reflects on the problems caused by over specialisation in the legal profession, and the importance of cross-fertilisation between different areas of practice.

Nicola McCrudden, CIH director for Ireland and Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland Executive should conduct a review of legislation aimed at preventing homelessness, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has said.