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Judge Patrick Kinney has been appointed and sworn into office as a High Court judge in Northern Ireland in one of three new judicial appointments. Alongside the appointment of Mr Justice Kinney, Judge Mark McGarrity and Mark Reel have been appointed as County Court judges.

Ireland should decriminalise the possession of drugs for personal consumption as part of a shift towards a "health-led" approach to drug use and misuse, the Oireachtas justice committee has recommended. The justice committee published its report on drug laws this week after hearing evidence from a r

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Iran protests: 400 people sentenced to prison over Tehran unrest

There will be a judge-led inquiry into allegations that the SAS killed civilians in Afghanistan, the UK's Ministry of Defence has announced. Defence secretary Ben Wallace said that the inquiry would look at the conduct of British forces between mid-2010 and mid-2013 in the wake of reports of summary

A person dressed as a Christmas tree who slashed car tires at a meat warehouse is being sought by police.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has rejected a proposed acquisition of pharmacy solutions business Navi Group by healthcare services provider Uniphar. The competition watchdog said the acquisition may not be put into effect on the grounds that the result of the proposed acq

A single application procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions is set to be introduced. At present, a person from outside the European Economic Area who is seeking to work in Ireland has to first make an application to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a work

Bar Council chair Sara Phelan SC has urged public expenditure and reform minister Michael McGrath to make a decision on fee restoration for barristers ahead of the coming government reshuffle. The Bar has called repeatedly for the reversal of cuts to professional fees paid to barristers practising c

The Law Reform Commission has published a consultation paper on the liability of clubs, societies and other unincorporated associations. The new consultation paper, which forms part of the body's fifth programme of law reform, examines issues relating to civil and criminal liability, including matte

The Department for Communities has launched a call for evidence to explore the establishment of a debt respite scheme in Northern Ireland. The primary aim of the pre-consultation is to build on evidence already gathered and source further insight from the debt advice sector, creditors and individual

The Law Society of Northern Ireland has raised over £1,300 for Include Youth's Christmas appeal. Established over 40 years ago, Include Youth is an independent organisation which actively promotes the rights, best interests of and best practice with young people with care experience and young

A Northern Ireland woman has settled her case alleging sexual harassment at work for £90,000 with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Neither the woman nor her employer can be named in order to protect her identity, but the Equality Commission is highlighting the case as

The Immigrant Council of Ireland has joined calls on the government to provide clarity to those who applied for the Afghan admissions programme and have not yet received a decision. Only a small number of approvals have been issued under the Afghan admission programme despite 528 applications being

A police officer has been suspended on suspicion of producing and distributing pornography while on duty. Christian Goggans, a 30-year-old officer in the US state of Arizona, is accused of being pornstar "Rico Blaze" with over 27,000 online followers, Arizona's Family reports.

Comyn Kelleher Tobin (CKT) has presented a cheque for €3,300 to Cork charity The Crann Centre after a fundraising quiz. Trainees in the firm took the initiative to organise a table quiz for young legal professionals which raised the remarkable sum for The Crann Centre, a charity which helps the