News

NIHRC Chief Commissioner Les Allamby The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has expressed its disappointment at the failure of NI political parties to reach agreement on legacy issues, and urged consideration of "economic and social rights" in mitigating the outcome of welfare reform.

Brendan McGuigan, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland A new report from Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) has found that fewer than 60 per cent of the recommendations of the 2011 Youth Justice Review have been implemented.

Clare Bailey, deputy leader of the Green Party Ten prosecutors based in Belfast are set to form a new crime unit aimed at improving the quality of evidence in rape cases before they go before the courts, The Irish News reports.

Legislation governing surrogacy and assisted reproduction will not be presented to the Oireachtas before the next Irish general election, the Irish Independent reports. Health Minister Leo Varadkar was directed by the Cabinet to draft new legislation in the wake of a high-profile Supreme Court rulin

Government minister Simon Harris A private member's bill that would provide for an automatic inquest into every maternal death in Ireland will not be opposed by the Government.

The trial of Pastor James McConnell over alleged offences under the Communications Act 2003 has begun in Belfast Magistrates Court. The 78-year-old preacher faces two charges related to a speech which was broadcast live over the Internet, in which he described Islam as "satanic", "heathen" and "spaw

A long-standing judge of the District Court has said dishonest drivers who commit road traffic offences are evading justice because vehicle registration information is not properly verified, The Irish Times reports. Judge William Hamill, addressing the Law Reform Commission, said drivers were able t

Northern Ireland's Justice Minister David Ford celebrated the start of the Christmas season with members of the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast yesterday. Mr Ford joined the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Fionnuala O'Boyle, at the service organised by the NIPS Cen

in complex and lengthy mediation, meant that an Order was in this case inappropriate.

Children's Minister James Reilly Ireland's Children's Minister James Reilly has signed a statutory instrument removing the common law defence of "reasonable chastisement" in cases of corporal punishment.

Tánaiste Joan Burton Tánaiste Joan Burton has led renewed calls for the introduction of a new system of unpaid fine collection in Ireland following the brief and controversial imprisonment of two independent TDs.

Senator Katherine Zappone, report rapporteur An Oireachtas sub-committee has recommended revising the Charities Act 2009 to include "the advancement of human rights" in its list of charitable purpose.

Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers Groups representing the families of more than 150 victims of the Troubles have used a full-page advertisement in the Irish News to criticise the UK government and call for the establishment of an independent Historical Investigations Unit (HIU).

Members of the Oireachtas banking inquiry committee are not guaranteed legal security if court action is taken against their final report, The Irish Times reports. Sara Moorhead SC attended yesterday's committee meeting to offer legal advice on the content of the report, which is due to be distribut

Lawyers acting for the family of the late Denis Donaldson are to launch legal proceedings against An Garda Síochána in the European Court of Justice. Mr Donaldson, once a leading member of Sinn Féin, was killed in April 2006 shortly after being exposed as an informer for police and British securi