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A legal challenge brought by more than 250 sex workers against France's ban on the purchase of sex is to be heard by the European Court of Human Rights. The ECtHR today decided by a majority that the applications brought by 261 men and women who say they are "habitually engaged in prostitution, in a

Draft planning guidelines aimed at creating "more sustainable and compact settlements" have gone out to consultation. The draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities expand on the National Planning Framework in relation to compact growth and in relation to the creat

Proposals to compel criminals in England and Wales to appear in the dock for sentencing could do more harm than good, the father of one victim has said. Criminals will be forced to attend their sentencing and face a longer period behind bars if they refuse to appear under legislation proposed by the

Women in the UK will continue to have the right to equal pay with men even after an EU protection expires at the end of the year, the UK government has confirmed. The law, designed to assist workers whose jobs have been outsourced, was removed in a post-Brexit elimination of EU laws. However, t

An Australian judge has been ordered to personally pay damages to a man he imprisoned for contempt following "a parody of a court hearing". The Federal Court of Australia yesterday awarded over $300,000 AUD (around €180,000 or £150,000) to the man, identified by the pseudonym "Mr Stradfor

The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has found there were "significant failings" in the PSNI investigation into the murder of Gerard Lawlor in 2002, but no evidence police could have prevented his murder nor of collusive behaviours. Mr Lawlor, 19, was the last of a number of Catholic men attack

A new immersive virtual reality experience to be launched next week invites visitors to step back in time and experience the history of Ireland's last witch trial.

Rugby World Cup organisers have threatened legal action against Greenpeace over a new video narrated by Irish comedian Seán Burke which takes aim at fossil fuel sponsorship of major sporting events. The campaign group today released the short video, which highlights the sponsorship of the 202

A PSNI decision to discipline two junior officers following a controversial arrest at a wreath-laying event during the pandemic was unlawful, Northern Ireland's High Court has ruled. Mr Justice Scoffield said he was persuaded that the decision was taken because of a fear, "whether real or perceived"

The Court of Appeal of England and Wales has ruled that a secondary school could not be held liable for tortious acts committed by a former pupil undertaking a work experience placement (WEP) in the PE department, after an appeal was brought against a High Court decision to that effect. Claimant and

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to retained direct EU legislation. DAERA is considering changes to retained EU legislation providing for intervention in agricultural markets and the provisio

The Dáil should be made up of 174 TDs elected from 43 constituencies, Ireland's newly-established statutory electoral commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, has recommended. In a report published today, the body proposed an increase in the size of the Dáil — currently

Controversial UK government plans to offer amnesties for killings during the Troubles will have to be reconsidered if ruled to be incompatible with European human rights law, Sir Declan Morgan has said. Sir Declan, a former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, is to serve as the chief commissione

A former Algerian defence minister is to face trial in Switzerland for allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity over his participation in the Algerian civil war, which raged from 1991 to 2002. Khaled Nezzar, 85, served as Algeria's defence minister from 1990 to 1993 and was a member of

Burger King is being sued by disgruntled US customers who say the chain's famous Whopper isn't as big in real life as it is in adverts. A judge in Miami, Florida last week granted permission for the class-action lawsuit — alleging the burgers are advertised as "approximately 35 per cent larger