Northern Ireland

Free public transport will be available from today for people fleeing domestic abuse, ministers have announced. The measure was first floated in May by Justice Minister Naomi Long and Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon after a similar free rail travel scheme was unveiled in England and Wales.

Lisa Bryson, partner and head of employment at Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast, considers the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in Northern Ireland. In some ways, it seems that the introduction of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the ‘Furlough’ scheme as its more commonly referred

Cleaver Fulton Rankin has become the first law firm in Northern Ireland to use a new web-based solution to facilitate online dispute resolution (ODR). The firm recently used the Consumer Code for Online Dispute Resolution (CCODR) platform to resolve a client dispute using remote mediation.

New proposals for the retention of DNA and fingerprints in Northern Ireland have been brought forward more than seven years after MLAs voted to introduce a new retention regime. Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the biometric provisions set out in Sche

Northern Ireland courts could have the power to depart from the acquis of EU law under proposals set out by the UK government yesterday. At present, only the UK Supreme Court and the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland will have this power from 31 December 2020.

Domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) will be introduced in Northern Ireland by the end of the year under plans published today. Justice Minister Naomi Long and Health Minister Robin Swann have jointly published their plan for year five of the seven-year domestic and sexual abuse strategy.

An emergency judicial review has been brought to the High Court over a district judge's refusal to extend non-molestation orders protecting victims of domestic abuse. Non-molestation orders under the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (NI) Order 1998 are designed to protect victims of domestic viole

Corporate and commercial law firm Mills Selig has announced the promotion of three senior associates to director. Richard Craig, Fiona McFall and Glenn Watterson have been promoted "in recognition of their continued excellence in their relevant fields and overall contribution to the firm".

MLAs will be asked to nominate Margaret Kelly for appointment as the new Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman. Ms Kelly has been identified by Stormont's corporate body, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, for nomination by the Assembly.

More than 6,000 charities are no longer registered in Northern Ireland following a court ruling earlier this year, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI) has confirmed. In a legal update issued today, the regulator said the registration of charities which were registered prior to May 201

A new online complaints portal has been launched by the Law Society of Northern Ireland to support clients seeking to make a complaint about their solicitor. The portal aims to provide clients with access to an online platform on which to submit their complaint, underscoring the Society’s comm

Solicitors have been invited to apply for membership of the Law Society of Northern Ireland's new human rights and equality group. Belfast solicitor Maria McCloskey was named last month as the chair of the new group, set up in response to international protests against racism and police violence.

The first tranche of legacy inquests due to be heard as part of a five-year plan may begin to be heard in October in unprecedented "hybrid" hearings following delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The presiding coroner for Northern Ireland, Mrs Justice Siobhan Keegan, who will soon be succeeded in

Proposals to double the amount of money that may be released to the beneficiary of a deceased person without probate from £10,000 to £20,000 have gone out to consultation. The Department of Finance said it believes that raising the sum would result in a quicker and more efficient process

UK law firm TLT, which employs around 100 people in Belfast, has agreed an alliance with Dutch firm Holla. TLT and Holla have a long history working together to support clients on a range of matters including complex disputes, employment, IP and corporate finance/M&A.