Age Of Criminal Responsibility

A fresh proposal to increase Northern Ireland's minimum age of criminal responsibility, currently the lowest in Europe at just 10 years old, is to come before the Executive. Justice minister Naomi Long has previously spoken of her frustration at the lack of political consensus on raising the age (MA

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

Ireland should raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 years old and ensure that the detention of children is used only as a "last resort", the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has said. The general age of criminal responsibility in Ireland is 12 years, but there is al

Northern Ireland's minimum age of criminal responsibility should be increased to 14 years old, The Bar of Northern Ireland has said. The Department of Justice last year launched a consultation on increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) in Northern Ireland, which is currently jus

A public consultation has been launched to seek views on increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) in Northern Ireland, which is currently just 10 years of age. The MACR is the age from which a child can be held criminally responsible for their actions, and can subsequently face t

Dr Phil Anderson, consultant in child, adolescent and forensic psychiatry, makes the case for an increase in Northern Ireland's minimum age of criminal responsibility. The minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) is the lowest age at which a child is deemed to have the capacity to commit a crim

A new strategic framework for youth justice in Northern Ireland has identified a consultation on increasing the age of criminal responsibility – currently just 10 years old – as a priority issue. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) recommends that the age of criminal resp

Children's rights in Northern Ireland are being compromised by a failure to implement recommendations made by a youth justice review more than a decade ago, according to a new report. The Children's Law Centre, Include Youth, NIACRO and Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) commissioned youth justi

Proposals to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland from 10 to at least 12 have not progressed due to "a lack of political support", Justice Minister Naomi Long has said. Mrs Long yesterday gave a update on the implementation of the 31 recommendations of the 2011 Youth Justice

The High Court has found that the balance of justice lies in favour of the prosecution of a man who, while a minor, allegedly assaulted gardaí and damaged court property while attempting to escape custody. Background

Proposals to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland, which currently stands at 10 years of age, are under consideration by ministers. Justice Minister Naomi Long has confirmed in response to a written Assembly question that she wrote to her Executive colleagues last

The age of criminal responsibility in Ireland is too low and should be raised, an influential European committee has warned. The general age of criminal responsibility in Ireland is 12 years, but there is also provision for 10- and 11-year-old children charged with serious offences including murder,