News

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has faced criticism over a decision to toughen sentences for brothel-keeping in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill.

Chief Constable George Hamilton The chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has told a human rights conference in Belfast that the "vast majority of cases" relating to the Troubles will not go to trial.

An inquest into whether soldiers acted proportionately in the Loughgall ambush in 1987 is likely to move forward, Belfast Magistrates' Court has heard. A barrister for the Ministry of Defence and the PSNI told the court that he now had a list of the names of the soldiers in Loughgall on that day.

Judges in the Court of Appeal in London have declared the so-called bedroom tax discriminatory following legal challenges made by the family of a seriously disabled teenager and a domestic violence victim. “A”, a single mother, lives in a three-bedroom council house which had a panic room instal

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald Family leave legislation will be amended to allow for the introduction of two weeks' paternity leave from September 2016, the Government has announced.

The High Court in Belfast has dismissed an application by Google to stop former Member of Parliament George Galloway from taking a case for damages against the search engine giant. Mr Galloway is taking legal action after allegedly libellous video footage was uploaded on YouTube and made accessible

A judge in Dublin Children's Court has identified drug use as the greatest contributor to "problems" heard by the court, the Irish Examiner reports. Judge John O'Connor made the remark while sentencing a 16-year-old first offender who pleaded guilty to possessing €200 worth of cannabis for sale or

The Law Reform Commission is seeking views on whether criminal law can effectively deal with serious wrongdoing by corporate bodies. An issues paper published as part of the Commission's Fourth Programme of Law Reform addresses the supervisory and enforcement powers of the State's main financial and

The Court of Appeal has found that the High Court erred in its interpretation of the facts in a case brought by a woman against the trustees of a rugby club in which she was assaulted. Ms Rowena Lynch brought the case against Patrick Cooney and Trevor Winckworth, in their capacity as trustees of Mul

Justice Minister David Ford Justice Minister David Ford has been told he must put forward "substantive proposals" over legal aid for criminal practitioners if he wants the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) to engage with his Department.

The Attorney General of Northern Ireland has lodged an appeal to a High Court ruling that found preventing access to abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities (FFA) and pregnancies as a consequence of sexual crimes is unlawful. A judicial review was brought against the Attorney General and the

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald The Government is today expected to agree on the provisions of the Family Leave Bill, which consolidates family leave law and allows for paid leave for fathers of newborn children.

Chief Commissioner Emily Logan

Managing partner Declan Black Dublin-based Mason Hayes & Curran (MHC) saw its revenue increase 20 per cent last year to reach €72 million, The Irish Times reports.

Lord Justice Weir Lord Justice Weir, the presiding judge of the Coroners' Service, has blamed the UK and Northern Ireland governments for failing to fund agencies involved in disclosure work.