News

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Shifting alliances in Sudan’s Darfur as new civil war fears rise

It is entirely unacceptable that people with serious mental health problems are detained in prisons, the director of the Prison Service has said. Caron McCaffrey also admitted that overcrowding was a serious problem, but added there has been a notable increase in the imprisonment of people guilty of

An Bord Pleanála's interim chairperson Oonagh Buckley has apologised unreservedly for remarks she made over judicial review cases brought by lawyer Fred Logue, The Irish Examiner reports. It had been reported that Ms Buckley told the Irish Planning Institute conference that Mr Logue's firm ha

UK law firm TLT has promoted Nichola Coghlan to managing associate and Orla Kennedy, Niamh McDermott and Patrick McGirr to senior associate in its Belfast office. The four promotions in Belfast form part of a UK-wide promotions round which has seen the firm name 10 new partners, bringing its total n

Plans to create 400 new prison spaces over the next five years, accommodating at least 620 additional prisoners, have been set out by the justice minister. Simon Harris announced plans to increase capacity in existing prisons across the State as he addressed the Prison Officers' Association (POA) co

Equality and human rights law in Northern Ireland must keep pace with changes to equality and human rights law south of the border, a new joint report from three rights watchdogs has said. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Irish Human

ByrneWallace LLP has congratulated its seven newly-qualified solicitors on their admission to the roll of solicitors.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has prevented Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision over concerns the deal would alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come. The final decisi

One of the world's largest tobacco companies is to pay over $600 million to US authorities for selling cigarettes in North Korea in violation of sanctions. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is known to be a heavy smoker and is often pictured smoking at official events. The US has sought for years to l

Community Law & Mediation has launched two guides in partnership with Family Carers Ireland to mark the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Act 2015. The two guides, A Guide on the Legal Aspects of Caring and A Practical Guide for Family Carers on The Assisted Decision-Making C

Criminal defence solicitor Shalom Binchy has been nominated by ministers for appointment as an ordinary judge of the District Court. Ms Binchy will fill the vacancy arising from the retirement of Judge Brian J. Sheridan in March.

Staff at Higgins Hollywood Deazley are running in the Belfast City Relay Marathon on Sunday in aid of Inspire Wellbeing. Inspire is an all-island charity whose aim is wellbeing for all. Inspire works together with people living with mental ill health, intellectual disability, autism and addictions t

The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has said there was "collusive behaviour" in the original police investigation into the 1974 abduction and murder of Omagh councillor Patrick 'Patsy' Kelly. In a report published yesterday, Marie Anderson said Mr Kelly's family was "failed by police" as the r

Belfast-based Wilson Nesbitt has appointed private client and family lawyer Ciara Barlow as a director within the firm. Ms Barlow has extensive experience specialising in divorce, financial settlements, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, adoption, surrogacy and all family-related matters.

Northern Ireland's Law Society and Bar Council have warned of a looming "catastrophe for access to justice" in a joint letter to the Northern Ireland secretary and the Northern Ireland affairs committee. The letter warns that Northern Ireland's justice system is already in a poor state, with a court