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Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin has been appointed as an honorary King's Counsel in recognition of her contribution to the law. A professor of law at Queen's University Belfast, she was nominated for her work in advising the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and civil society, inf

Stealing a dog or a cat is to become a specific criminal offence in Northern Ireland under plans backed by the UK government. The Pet Abduction Bill, a private member's bill introduced at Westminster by Southend West MP Anna Firth and now formally backed by government ministers, proposes to create a

Trade union law firm Thompsons Solicitors Northern Ireland has announced the formation of a new employment law team led by Carol McClean.

The Times has published an obituary of Sir Michael Nicholson, the Northern Ireland judge who passed away in October last year. Sir Michael, who was 90, took silk in 1971 and was first appointed as a deputy County Court judge in 1983. He was later appointed as a High Court judge in 1986 and elevated

The Irish government has formally lodged its inter-state case against the UK with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The application, challenging the UK's controversial Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, was lodged on 17 January 2024 and registered under no. 185

Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell was welcomed to Galway yesterday evening for a live interview organised by the University of Galway Law Review in collaboration with University of Galway School of Law. Galway mayor Eddie Hoare led a delegation welcoming the Chief Justice to the O’Donoghue Centre

A proposed EU directive on combating violence against women will not address rape after member states failed to reach a consensus on its legal definition. The European Council took the decision to exclude rape from the forthcoming Directive on Combatting Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence

Researchers north and south of the border have launched a new network to connect those working on sexual violence across the island of Ireland. The All-Ireland Network on Sexual Violence Research (AINSVR) is a collaboration between Queen's University Belfast and the University of Limerick, led by Dr

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Will new criminal bills turn India into a police state ahead of 2024 vote?

Arnold Schwarzenegger spent several hours being detained by German customs officials in a row over a luxury watch. The action movie star turned climate change campaigner allegedly failed to declare a custom-made watch by Audemars Piguet, which he intended to auction to raise funds for The Schwarzene

Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC), which provides free legal advice and representation to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, has welcomed Kate Heffernan as a solicitor. Ms Heffernan was previously an associate in Arthur Cox's litigation, dispute resolution and investigations dep

Global law firm Eversheds Sutherland has appointed employment law specialist Marie Claire Scullion as a partner in the firm's commercial department in Dublin. Ms Scullion, who brings over 18 years' experience, provides strategic and practical advice to domestic and international clients on all aspec

Women can claim asylum in EU countries on the basis they face gender-based violence in their country of origin, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled. The court this week handed down judgment in a case referred by a Bulgarian court concerning a Kurdish woman who said she feared

Ireland is the "world's de facto data police" enforcing the lion's share of the €1.78 billion in GDPR fines imposed across Europe last year, according to new analysis by DLA Piper. The 2023 figure includes a €1.2 billion fine imposed on Meta in Ireland, which is now the highest fine ever i

New legislation is to be brought forward to strengthen the State's ability to seize criminal assets. The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2024 aims to reduce the length of time between the High Court's determination that an asset is a proceed of crime and its eventual seizure from seven years to t