News

Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, George Hamilton One man and three women have been arrested in a police operation which could lead to the first prosecution under a Northern Ireland law that criminalises the purchase of sex.

First Minister Peter Robinson A Belfast property developer has lodged a formal complaint alleging criminal misfeasance in public office by First Minister Peter Robinson.

Deirdre Duffy, deputy director of the ICCL Ireland's signature of a Council of Europe convention against domestic violence and violence against women has been welcomed by human rights groups.

Professor Mark Tushnet of Harvard Law School The Irish Society of Comparative Law (ISCL) has issued a call for papers from members, academics and graduate students ahead of its annual conference next year.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald The €175,000 secretary general position at the Department of Justice may not be filled during the current Government's tenure, reports the Irish Independent.

Madam Justice Denise McBride The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan, has appointed Madam Justice Denise McBride to be deputy chair of the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Minister of State for New Communities, Culture and Equality Irish government minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has announced details of the second phase of consultation for the new National Disability Inclusion Strategy.

The Supreme Court of Mexico has ruled that the growing, possession and smoking of marijuana for recreational purposes is legal – but only for the four plaintiffs in the case it considered. Five justices ruled 4-1 in favour of the argument that smoking marijuana is a right under “free development

Darragh Mackin A Belfast solicitor has called for an inquest into the killing of INLA member Thomas Trainor, who was shot dead by the UVF in 1978.

Frances Fitzgerald TD The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD has today welcomed the signature by Ireland of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin The Oireachtas justice committee has unanimously recommended the effective decriminalisation of drug possession for personal use in a landmark report published today.

Brendan McGuigan A report into Northern Ireland's high security Maghaberry Prison has described it as the most dangerous prison ever inspected by Her Majesty's Chief Inspectorate of Prisons in England and Wales.

Re-possession proceedings against a Dublin couple were struck out at the Circuit Civil Court yesterday after a judge refused to amend the proceedings to remove references to a dead defendant, the Irish Independent reports. AIB Mortgage Bank, which issued proceedings against Richard Birchall and Anne

Pictured (l-r): Patrick McEnroe, Noelle Galvan, Melvin Smyth

Dermot Conway A maritime lawyer has threatened to take legal action against the Guardian newspaper after it made allegations of widespread labour exploitation in the Irish fishing industry.