News

A man accused of arson has said he set his apartment building on fire while trying to cremate his pet cat. Five people were displaced after the fire allegedly caused by 53-year-old Vince Hildestad, who went missing for a week afterwards.

The children's ombudsman has been forced to suspend visits to direct provision centres due to "insufficient resources". Correspondence released to The Irish Times under freedom of information legislation reveals that the ombudsman's office requested additional funding from the Department of Children

New guidance on protecting the personal data of vulnerable adults has been published by the Data Protection Commission (DPC).

A new website has been launched to support public engagement ahead of Ireland's implementation of landmark new EU legislation on nature restoration. The RestoreNature.ie website aims to act as a portal for public engagement with the development of Ireland's nature restoration plan.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has said it is weighing up whether to appeal after the Court of Appeal overturned a finding that the State breached international protection applicants' right to dignity. Mr Justice Anthony Collins yesterday ruled that while the State had failed to prov

Legislation allowing members of the Irish Defence Forces to be deployed overseas without a UN mandate requires additional safeguards, an Oireachtas committee has said. The joint committee on defence and national security has made 27 recommendations following pre-legislative scrutiny of the general s

So-called SLAPPs are being used in the UK to silence and intimidate people who expose or criticise the actions of authoritarian regimes including Russia and China, MPs have said. A new report published by Westminster's joint committee on human rights has called for stronger action to stop the growth

The Charities Regulator recorded a 14 per cent drop in concerns raised about registered Irish charities last year, according to its latest annual report. The regulator received 493 concerns in 2024, down from 574 in 2023, with governance issues accounting for the largest proportion of concerns raise

A local authority in England has voted to recognise the personhood rights of the River Test. Test Valley Borough Council now recognises rivers as vital, living ecosystems deserving of legal rights and stronger protection from pollution, development, over-abstraction, and habitat degradation.

A civil action brought in the High Court in connection with the 2005 murder of Irene White is set to continue despite the death of the original plaintiff. Belfast firm KRW LAW is acting for the widower of the late Anne Delcassian, who campaigned for years to bring those responsible for her late sist

Proposals to exempt small-scale development projects from requiring planning permission have been put out for consultation. Revised rules would relax requirements around the subdivision of existing dwellings and the creation of habitable accommodation within the boundary of a primary dwelling, as we

The Law Society of Northern Ireland has met with the justice minister, Naomi Long, as part of its campaign on solicitors' safety and is set to meet with the PSNI's chief constable tomorrow. Monday's meeting with Mrs Long was attended by the Law Society's president, Colin Mitchell, and chief executiv

Warrenpoint-based Rosemary Connolly Solicitors has welcomed Kelly Armstrong as a solicitor in its growing practice. Ms Armstrong has extensive experience in civil litigation and brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong track record in personal injury litigation, medical negligence and civil injunct

Fourteen substances including hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), which has similar effects to cannabis, have been banned in Ireland. HHC, which has been linked to episodes of psychosis and hospitalisation, has been categorised as a Schedule 1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, criminalising

Revenue has published new guidance on the VAT treatment of social media influencers in Ireland. There are "no special VAT rules for influencers", whose activity remains "subject to the ordinary VAT rules", the 15-page document states.