News

David Perry BL will deliver a talk next week on Ireland's current legislation on cannabis, including an overview of the decriminalisation and regulation of the production and sale of cannabis. Hosted by the Law Society of Ireland's younger members committee as part of its 2022 spring series, the fre

Arthur Cox's Belfast office has announced a new charity partnership with community-based care and support service L'Arche, which will see employees engage in a range of volunteering and fundraising initiatives. L'Arche creates opportunities for people who have learning disabilities to take up their

Global law firm Taylor Wessing has published an information guide for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland. The guide, available from the firm's website, includes legal and practical information on visas, transportation, employment rights and healthcare.

Singapore has executed an intellectually disabled man for smuggling heroin over a decade ago. Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, a 34-year-old Malaysian who had an IQ of 69, was hanged yesterday despite a widespread plea for clemency.

A prosecutor has apologised after controversially proposing an annual hunting season for feral cats. Bill Hayes, a county prosecutor in Ohio, made the comments as part of his campaign to be elected as county commissioner, a prominent post in local government.

Construction and insurance law specialist firm Beale & Co has announced the promotion of Fiona Mackey to senior associate in its Dublin office. Ms Mackey, who joined the firm in 2009, specialising in professional indemnity defence litigation, acting in particular for engineers, architects, solic

The UK government has been accused of undermining free and fair elections after securing support in the Lords for its plans to give ministers more control over the Electoral Commission. The Elections Bill will allow ministers to develop a strategy and policy statement for the UK's elections watchdog

Global legal business DWF has announced the appointment of Julie Galbraith as its new executive partner in Belfast. Ms Galbraith joined C & H Jefferson in 1998 as a trainee solicitor, and was a partner when the business merged with DWF in 2016. She is DWF's Northern Ireland head of real estate,

Prominent barrister Remy Farrell SC has been appointed to investigate allegations concerning a board member of An Bord Pleanála. The move is believed to relate to a series of reports published by website The Ditch which accuse the board's deputy chairperson Paul Hyde of conflicts of interest,

A judge has issued a stern warning about the "real and growing risk of expensive, time-wasting and wholly unmeritorious cases" coming before Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal as he dismissed a "hopeless and utterly groundless appeal" brought by a personal litigant. Lord Justice Treacy said it was "

Representatives from Northern Ireland's six largest political parties outlined their justice priorities at a pre-election event hosted by the Law Society of Northern Ireland yesterday. The panel discussion, chaired by broadcaster Mark Carutthers, included former justice minister David Ford from the

Foreign nationals and people from ethnic minority backgrounds are receiving longer prison sentences for drug offences and sexual offences than white Irish people, new research suggests. The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) today launched a new report on the rights, needs and experiences of foreign na

Mark Little, CEO and co-founder of Kinzen, will deliver the Law Society of Ireland's annual human rights lecture this year. Taking place on Wednesday 18 May at 6pm, Mr Little will speak on the "Complex Relationship Between Digital Misinformation and Fundamental Human Rights", exploring how the sprea

Westminster's justice committee has called on the UK government to do more to tackle the lengthy backlog facing the court system in England and Wales. In a report published today, the committee warns that while innovations in the court system are welcome it will require strategic planning and long-t

Belfast-based Elliott Duffy Garrett has appointed Aine O'Rourke, Francis Russell and Natalie Hayes as solicitors in the firm. Ms Hayes has joined the firm's private client team, Ms O'Rourke has joined the corporate and banking team, and Mr Russell has joined the dispute resolution and employment tea