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The Bar of Northern Ireland’s rule of law committee has announced the commencement of a new series of events and discussions, the “Advancing the Rule of Law Series”. The aim of the “Advancing The Rule of Law Series” is to encourage awareness of the importance of the rul

The chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, Jacqui Durkin, has called for a "fundamental reset" within the PSNI and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to improve the quality of prosecution files and speed of case progression. Ms Durkin said clear objectives coupled with governance

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice has published a summary of responses to a recent public consultation on increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility. The 12-week consultation launched by then-justice minister Naomi Long in October 2022 sought views on whether the age at which a chi

Ogier Leman partner Bláthnaid Evans has been recognised at the third annual Irish Women's Awards.

McCann FitzGerald LLP has announced a number of new and extended family support policies for its staff of more than 600 people in Ireland. The policies extend the firm's existing supports for maternity, paternity and compassionate leave, and introduce new supports for those undergoing fertility trea

Belfast-based Diamond Heron Solicitors has promoted Cherry Hill to associate solicitor. Ms Hill specialises in property, with experience selling new build properties on behalf of local property developers and acting for private clients in the sale and purchase of residential properties, remortgages,

An employer was entitled to sack a man who spent up to six hours of his daily eight-hour shift in the bathroom, a court has ruled. In one week, company records showed that the employee took 22 bathroom breaks ranging in length from 47 to 196 minutes.

The European Commission has confirmed that it will bring legal proceedings against the Polish government over a controversial new law ostensibly aimed at curbing Russian influence in the country. The decision comes two days after Poland's justice minister condemned the Court of Justice of the Europe

Legislation allowing for the general and indiscriminate retention of communications traffic and location data on national security grounds, subject to judicial approval, is to come into force. Having returned from maternity leave, justice minister Helen McEntee yesterday signed a commencement order

Helen McEntee has returned to her post as justice minister following a six-month period of maternity leave. She previously became the first Irish government minister to give birth in office when her first child was born in April 2021, after which she took six months' maternity leave under a novel ad

Northern Ireland's criminal justice system is "not fit for purpose", the commissioner designate for victims of crime has said. Geraldine Hanna, who was appointed to the post a year ago, told the BBC that victims of crime are withdrawing from cases as a result of court delays.

Rosemary Connolly Solicitors has secured a settlement for former Newsline presenter Donna Traynor in her tribunal case against BBC NI and its director Adam Smyth. Ms Traynor contended that she had suffered unlawful discrimination on grounds of age, gender and disability.

Dungannon-based P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors has announced a new partnership with charity Cruse Bereavement Support and community group Memory Stones of Love.

International law firm K&L Gates LLP has announced three further appointments to its new Dublin office, which was formally launched earlier this month. Áine Ni Rian has joined the firm as a senior associate, while Lucy Deane and Louisa Hayes have joined the firm as associates, all in the

Human rights lawyers Hala Ahed Deeb and Olivier Bahemuke Ndoole met with representatives of the Law Society of Ireland and the Bar of Ireland on a recent visit to Dublin to receive a prestigious award. Ms Deeb, from Jordan, and Mr Ndoole, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, travelled to Dublin as