Northern Ireland

The families of Bloody Sunday victims have welcomed proposals to allow them to remotely observe the murder trial of the former British soldier known as "Soldier F". Soldier F was charged last year with the murder of James Wray and William McKinney, and the attempted murder of Joseph Friel, Michael Q

A proposed new legal right for employees to work from home would be difficult to meaningfully enforce, a Belfast solicitor has said. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is currently considering the introduction of a new statutory right to work from home in order to s

A legal challenge has been brought against the decision to simply delay the 2020 round of transfer tests for Primary 6 pupils in Northern Ireland. A mother has instructed Belfast firm Phoenix Law on behalf of her 10-year-old daughter to challenge the decision to delay the exams for two to three week

Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has won a UK Supreme Court appeal against his two convictions in 1975 for attempting to escape from detention. In the judgment delivered this morning, the Supreme Court unanimously held that the interim custody order (ICO) made in respect of Mr Adams in

Over a quarter of applications to the interim payment scheme set up by the legal aid agency in response to the coronavirus pandemic have been rejected. As of Monday night, the Legal Services Agency (LSA) had processed 264 requests under the COVID-19 interim payments scheme which came into operation

A number of undefended divorces are set to be heard via remote hearings under a new pilot in Belfast. The announcement from the Recorder of Belfast, Judge David McFarland, comes less than a week after the first divorces were granted in remote hearings south of the border.

The Court of Appeal in Belfast has clarified the circumstances in which an Enhanced Combination Order (ECO) can be imposed on sex offenders. In a recent judgment, Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice, found that two offenders who admitted sexual assault by penetration contrary to article 6(1) o

Over £2 million in legal aid fees has not yet been paid to lawyers because their claims have not been resubmitted after being queried by the Legal Services Agency (LSA). There were 1,767 queries with a total value of £2.24 million awaiting replies and resubmission from 139 different firm

Attorney General John Larkin QC will appear before MLAs tomorrow to provide evidence on legal issues relating to the emergency coronavirus laws. Mr Larkin will appear for over an hour and a half as a witness before the Stormont justice committee, which is meeting tomorrow at 11am in the Senate Chamb

TLT's former managing partner David Pester has started a new role as head of strategic growth at the UK firm, which has an office in Belfast. After 19 years as managing partner, he will work with the leadership team to deliver a strategic growth programme to support existing clients and develop new

A coroner has held a preliminary hearing by conference call in a Northern Ireland first. According to the Belfast Telegraph, the hearing marks the first time that legal proceedings in Northern Ireland have been conducted by phone rather than video-conferencing.

Most Northern Ireland barristers will be unable to sustain their practice if there is no increase in court business or additional government support by September, a new survey suggests. A survey carried out by The Bar of Northern Ireland in April, with responses from nearly two-thirds (60 per cent)

The practice direction underpinning the operation of the Commercial Hub of the High Court is being amended to allow for remote hearings, the commercial judge has announced. In a statement, Mr Justice Horner said the Hub would remain "open for business" in spite of coronavirus restrictions and their

A man convicted of murder and possession of firearms nearly four decades ago has had his convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal. Kevin Barry Artt was convicted in 1983 in connection with the 1978 killing of Albert Miles, deputy governor of the Maze Prison.

A personal injury lawyer has urged businesses to co-operate with the PSNI and insurance claims investigators amid a reported increase in hit-and-run incidents during the lockdown. Olivia Meehan, legal services director of JMK Solicitors, made the comments in response to reports from auto body repair