Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's inaugural Legal Services Oversight Commissioner (LSOC), whose powers have still not come into effect, has been reappointed for a second three-year term. Marian Cree was appointed to the role in April 2017, but secondary legislation to enact the LSOC's powers could not be introduce

Prominent Belfast solicitor Niall Murphy, who has spent almost two weeks in hospital with coronavirus, is showing signs of improvement, according to reports. Mr Murphy, 43, is a partner at KRW LAW LLP and is known for his work as a criminal defence lawyer and in representing victims of state violenc

Spitting on a police officer during the coronavirus pandemic should be prosecuted as actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm, a judge has said. Judge Mark Hamill, sitting in Belfast Magistrates' Court, said the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) should take a harsher attitude while police officers

The Northern Ireland Policing Board has said it will "oversee" the police use of emergency coronavirus legislation following the first meeting of the newly-constituted Board yesterday. The meeting took place via tele-conference call owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and elected Doug Garrett as chair an

The PSNI needs to carry out a "full audit" of its historical records to establish what material it may hold in relation to Troubles-related cases, a watchdog has said. The chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, Jacqui Durkin, has called on the PSNI and the Office of the Police Ombu

Legislation to create a new domestic abuse offence for Northern Ireland has been introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill 2020 aims to criminalise patterns of controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as physical abuse, against a partner, former p

The redress scheme for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland has opened for applications. The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act was passed in Westminster on the last day of the previous Parliament after MPs fast-tracked the law last November.

Cleaver Fulton Rankin has been shortlisted for an award in recognition of its talent management. The Northern Ireland law firm will compete for the Best Talent Management award at the CIPD NI HR Awards in October.

New measures allowing women in England to take abortion pills at home during the coronavirus pandemic should be extended to Northern Ireland, campaigners have said. The Department of Health in England yesterday confirmed that it would press ahead with previously withdrawn plans to allow women in Eng

A new book about Northern Ireland human rights lawyer Kevin Boyle is being promoted online in a "virtual book tour" because of the coronavirus pandemic. The recently-released book, "Are You With Me? Kevin Boyle and the Rise of the Human Rights Movement" by former CNN correspondent Mike Chinoy, explo

Up to 200 prisoners in Northern Ireland will be temporarily released before the end of their sentence under plans to tackle the spread of coronavirus. In a statement this morning, Justice Minister Naomi Long said the COVID-19 pandemic meant she had to "consider measures that only a few weeks ago wou

Prominent Belfast solicitor Niall Murphy has been hospitalised with coronavirus and remains in a critical but stable condition. Mr Murphy, 43, is a partner at KRW LAW LLP and is known for his work as a criminal defence lawyer and in representing victims of state violence during the Troubles.

New regulations allowing for access to abortion in Northern Ireland on request in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy have been laid in Parliament. Abortion will also be available up to 24 weeks where continuing the pregnancy would risk injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or gi

Over £2 million has been paid through the Northern Ireland courts under confiscation orders since last April, according to new figures. The total figure of £2.2 million, paid in the 2019/20 financial year up to 18 March 2020, is the highest in at least five years.

Northern Ireland prisons have moved to a "reduced regime", with all prisoners required to remain in their accommodation block, in order to halt the spread of coronavirus. One prisoner and 163 prison staff in Northern Ireland are self-isolating but there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, the