Northern Ireland

The number of out-of-court disposals handed down in Northern Ireland, typically to low-level or first-time offenders, has fallen for a sixth consecutive year. Out-of-court disposals include cautionary disposals, informed warnings, completion of PPS-ordered youth conferencing plans and resolution thr

A legal row has developed between Belfast residents and the Chinese embassy over the construction of a new wall at the Chinese consulate in Belfast. Residents living near the Chinese consulate in Belfast have secured an injunction in the High Court against the construction of a new wall on the site.

The PSNI is facing renewed calls to suspend its use of spit hoods following new evidence that they provide no protection from COVID-19 and could in fact increase the risk of infection. The controversial restraint devices were made more widely available to officers at the end of March by Chief C

The Law Society of Northern Ireland has written to solicitors to urge them to apply for two vacant positions on the High Court. Rowan White, president of the Law Society, said the appointment of Mr Justice Ian Huddleston in January 2019 "clearly demonstrates" that court advocacy "is not an essential

It is a "myth" that claimants in Northern Ireland are being disadvantaged by the current personal injury discount rate, the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) has said. The Department of Justice recently launched a consultation on how the discount rate or "real rate of return", used by the courts to

A judicial review brought in response to a decision to reduce the number of inspections in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic has been withdrawn following a U-turn by the Department of Health. Belfast firm KRW LAW LLP was instructed by Keith Gray, son of care home resident Briege Gray, to chall

The Law Society of Northern Ireland has donated £10,000 to the Access to Justice Foundation's Community Justice Fund. The fund was set up to make grants of up to £100,000 available to specialist social welfare law advice agencies dealing with the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has launched an investigation into the PSNI's enforcement of public health regulations at large public gatherings, including recent Black Lives Matter protests. The investigation will consider whether police have been consistent in their approach to issuing

Retired solicitor John R. Sullivan has passed away, the Law Society of Northern Ireland has said. Mr Sullivan was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1977, having previously pursued a career in teaching and youth employment.

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice is taking a "wholly unfair" approach to the personal injury discount rate, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has said. The Department recently launched a consultation on how the discount rate or "real rate of return", used by the courts to det

A consultation on an adult restorative justice strategy for Northern Ireland has been launched today. The Department of Justice is consulting on its plans to make restorative justice "second nature, not separate nature, within the criminal justice system and its accredited partner organisations".

The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland has held that comments made by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in his public statement about the Loughinisland massacre “overstepped the mark” by amounting to findings that members of the police force had committed criminal offences. The

Up to four new High Court judges are being sought in Northern Ireland at a time when low pay, pension cuts and the increasingly demanding and unsociable nature of the job are driving a judicial recruitment crisis. The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC) is currently advertising

Belfast solicitor Maria McCloskey has been selected to chair the Law Society of Northern Ireland's new human rights and equality group. Ms McCloskey, an experienced immigration solicitor with the Children's Law Centre and a prominent campaigner for the protection of refugees, will help the group to

The Belfast head of global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has been appointed to a new advisory group established to help rebuild the Northern Ireland economy after COVID-19. Lisa McLaughlin, who was recently promoted to the firm's global partnership, is one of 11 members of the new economic adviso