News

Landmark new legislation to combat hate crime and hate speech — with a new provision designed to explicitly protect freedom of expression — has been published. The Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences Bill 2022 published today includes a number of key changes since the gene

A cannabis company in the US is facing a class action lawsuit from dissatisfied customers over claims its products aren't as potent as promised. California-based DreamFields Brands sells premium products advertised as having a higher level of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBS News reports

Employment solicitor Máille Brady Bates has joined Facebook owner Meta as lead counsel for labour and employment in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Ms Bates was previously a senior associate in the employment team at Arthur Cox LLP in Dublin, where she trained and qualified as a so

Proposals to allow coroners in Northern Ireland to hold inquests into deaths abroad have gone out for consultation. The consultation, which will run until 22 December 2022, seeks views on whether current legislation should be changed to allow an inquest to be held when a death has occurred abroad an

A former subpostmaster convicted in connection with the Post Office Horizon scandal has become the first in Northern Ireland to have his conviction quashed. Alan McLaughlin, a subpostmaster in Belfast, was convicted in February 2005 of false accounting offences over an alleged discrepancy of around

Controversial UK government plans to end criminal prosecutions for killings linked to the Troubles are "unlikely" to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights, a Westminster committee has said. The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation Bill) proposes to create a new independ

Our regular round-up of deals involving Irish law firms. Submit your deals to newsdesk@irishlegal.com. Dublin-headquartered Acacia Facilities Holdings Limited and its subsidiary Acacia Facilities Management Limited are to be acquired by the Apleona Group.

Women barristers in England and Wales earn almost 35 per cent less than men in the profession, figures from the Bar Council show. Men earned on average about £86,000 annually in fee income. For women, the figure was a mere £57,000.

An internet meme originating from a 1960s Spider-Man cartoon has been included in a court judgment — potentially making legal history. The widely-recognised image is included in a judgment handed down by Judge Mark E. Walker, a US federal judge in Florida, during the summer.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss — Dominic Raab and Suella Braverman KC have returned to the UK government as justice and home secretaries in Rishi Sunak's new cabinet. Mr Raab was previously Lord Chancellor and justice secretary from September 2021 to September 2022, presiding over the

Stephen Keogh and Darren Lehane SC have been appointed to the board of the Charities Regulator. Mr Keogh is a practising solicitor and the managing partner of Sellors LLP, while Mr Lehane is a senior counsel practising in the areas of public law, commercial law and chancery law.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) must investigate unlawful attacks committed during Israel's August assault on the Gaza Strip as war crimes, Amnesty International has said. A major new report from the international human rights organisation reconstructs the circumstances around three specific

Fiona Gallagher, partner at Rochford Gallagher & Company LLP, has been elected as president of the Sligo Solicitors Bar Association. She is joined on the new committee by John Anderson of McGovern Walsh & Co Solicitors LLP as secretary, Caroline McLaughlin of Callan Tansey Solicitors LLP as

Russia and Belarus have been removed from the list of countries whose nationals can avail of the short-stay visa waiver programme to travel to Ireland. The programme allows nationals of certain countries who have entered the UK on foot of certain UK short-stay visas to travel to Ireland without need

The Bar of Northern Ireland, with the support of Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan, has launched a new Legal Diversity Project aimed at promoting equality, inclusion and social mobility throughout the legal profession. An inaugural event which took place at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfas