News

Jury trials are under threat in England and Wales following the announcement of a review into the criminal courts, to be led by Sir Brian Leveson. Newly released statistics show that the Crown Court backlog has reached a record high.

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. 'More than 300' Israeli air strikes in Syria since fall of Assad, says war monitor

A feminist barrister who criticised a judge's ruling in her case as having "echoes of the 'boys' club'" has been cleared of misconduct by an English tribunal. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) brought Dr Charlotte Proudman before its disciplinary tribunal after she posted a series of tweets about the ju

Rapper Ludacris narrowly avoided being recognised after being summoned for jury service in his home town of Atlanta, Georgia. In a video posted to Instagram, the three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper and actor shows off his cunning disguise of a mask, sunglasses and hood as he walks out of the cour

Judges are to consider a proposal to increase the value of personal injury awards by 16.7 per cent to reflect the impact of inflation. The Judicial Council's personal injuries guidelines committee has drafted the first proposed update to the personal injuries guidelines since they came into force in

Former presidential candidate Peter Casey has been awarded €140,000 in damages after he was defamed on Facebook by an anti-immigration activist. Kim McMenamin made "defamatory and malicious remarks" about Mr Casey's efforts to provide accommodation in Buncrana, Co Donegal for refugees fleeing t

Northern Ireland victims of the Post Office scandal have begun to receive redress payments, according to a lawyer. Belfast-based Madden & Finucane Solicitors said an interim payment of £200,000 had been paid to a client whose 2003 conviction was quashed by the Post Office (Horizon Sys

Research on sentencing in domestic violence cases before the District Court and a report on the use of community-based sanctions have been published by the Judicial Council. The publication of the reports is a milestone for the Judicial Council's sentencing guidelines and information committee, whic

RTÉ cannot refuse to disclose details of its spending on clothing on the basis that it constitutes an "editorial decision", the FOI watchdog has ruled. The public broadcaster argued that wardrobe purchasing was exempt from freedom of information legislation because it is "programme-related" i

Family lawyers have been encouraged to read the Law Society's updated guide on alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Keith Walsh SC, managing partner of Keith Walsh Solicitors, told Irish Legal News that the 2024 guide is a "must-read" for family lawyers in particular.

Motor liability injury claims are now covered by the mediation service offered by the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB). The new offering follows the roll-out in December 2023 of the IRB's mediation service for employer liability claims and its extension in May 2024 to cover public liability injury cl

Human rights experts have welcomed the Irish government's decision to intervene in cases alleging genocide by Israel and Myanmar in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin yesterday confirmed the government will intervene in South

A family is suing the makers of an AI chatbot which allegedly encouraged their teenager to murder them for restricting their internet access. The Character.AI chatbot allegedly told the 17-year-old: "You know sometimes I’m not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like 'child kills pare

Former Law Society president Michele O'Boyle SC and former Bar Council chairperson Paul McGarry SC are among six new appointments to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA). Tom Boland has been named as chairperson as the government announced six new appointments and two re-appointments to th

Irish businesses which fail to protect employees and customers from second-hand smoke could face costly legal action in the future, a lawyer has suggested. The UK government is planning to ban smoking outside of schools and hospitals in England, though recently backed off more ambitious plans to ban