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Prominent Belfast solicitor Niall Murphy was applauded by healthcare workers as he was wheeled out of intensive care following nearly two weeks of treatment for coronavirus. A video of the 43-year-old lawyer, a partner at KRW LAW LLP, leaving intensive care was posted on Twitter by Sinn Féin

High Court cases listed for a hearing next week should be adjourned for four weeks rather than eight weeks, the Lord Chief Justice has directed. Amended COVID-19 guidance issued to courts states that "in most cases the adjournment period will be one of eight weeks".

Retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, whose work investigating collusion during the Troubles led to a series of public inquiries, has passed away at the age of 94. Justice Cory, who served on the Supreme Court of Canada from 1989 to 1999, was appointed in 2001 under an agreement between the Irish and B

A new awareness campaign has been launched to ensure that victims of domestic abuse know services are still available in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. New TV and radio ads now airing reflect the particular issues raised for some by the need to stay at home because of restrictions introduced to

The Law Society of Ireland has launched a new mental health service designed to support solicitors. LegalMind is an independent, low-cost mental health service accessible to solicitors and their dependants across Ireland at any time of the day or night, provided on a confidential basis.

Ronan Hynes, partner at Sellors, considers how the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the transformation of the justice sector. COVID-19 has reminded us how globalised the world has become, how interconnected we all are and the role that technology will play in our future. The World Economic Forum

Ireland's human rights watchdog has called on political parties forming the next government to safeguard rights in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter sent to party leaders, acting chief commissioner Tony Geoghegan said Ireland's "legal human rights and equality norms" should "cont

Belfast-based legal academic Dr Cheryl Lawther will conduct research at Berkeley School of Law after winning a prestigious grant. Dr Lawther, a senior lecturer in law at Queen's University Belfast, won a Fulbright Irish Scholar Award, providing up to 12 months of funding for scholars to conduct rese

Virtual prison visits have been rolled out across Northern Ireland's prisons following the suspension of in-person visits during the coronavirus pandemic. The video-link facilities introduced at Maghaberry Prison, Magilligan Prison and Hydebank Wood allow for 20-minute "visits" between prisoners and

A man was caught impersonating a garda after attempting to pull over undercover officers, gardaí have said. The man, who has not been arrested, had blue lights on his vehicle and signalled another car to pull over without realising it was an unmarked patrol car, the Irish Independent reports.

The Supreme Court has allowed the appeal of a man who absconded from Shelton Abbey and lived “in plain sight” for five years before being apprehended and re-arrested by An Garda Síochána.  Background 

Solicitor MaryRose McGovern has been promoted to deputy financial services and pensions ombudsman. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe yesterday appointed Ms McGovern to take up the new role as deputy ombudsman from 20 April 2020, as well as reappointing Ger Deering as the ombudsman.

Proposals to limit legacy investigations in order to protect former British soldiers from "vexatious claims" are incompatible with the UK's human rights obligations, a new report has warned. Professor Kieran McEvoy of Queen's University Belfast School of Law has led work by a team of legal experts t

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has led tributes to children's rights advocate Norah Gibbons, who has passed away following illness. Ms Gibbons, a qualified social worker, played a key role in a number of child abuse inquiries and was the inaugural chair of Tusla from 2014 to 2018.

Faculty and students at Dublin City University (DCU) have paid tribute to Dr Aonghus Cheevers, who has passed away at the age of 43. Dr Cheevers, whose research focused on mediation, joined DCU School of Law and Government as assistant professor of private law in September 2019.