Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) has announced a review of access to books within Northern Ireland prisons following a public controversy. Dr Marisa McGlinchey criticised the service after it emerged that prisoners were not allowed copies of her recently-published book, Unfinished Business

The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland has held that a District Judge in the Magistrates’ Courts was not correct in refusing to hear an application made by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) asserting public interest immunity of a document sought for disclosure. Delivering the judgment of t

Three Northern Ireland solicitors will compete against their colleagues from south of the border in exhaustive physical challenges to raise funds for solicitors and their families during difficult times. The solicitors are part of the Law Society of Northern Ireland team in the inaugural Iron Law Tr

The Department of Justice and Probation Board NI (PBNI) will complete an assessment of a domestic violence pilot at Londonderry Magistrates' Court by September under the updated domestic and sexual violence and abuse strategy. Since last March, judges in Derry have been allowed to refer those convic

Roger McMillan and Neasa Quigley have today taken over the responsibilities of managing partner at Carson McDowell, succeeding Michael Johnston after eight years in the role. Mr McMillan has formally become the new managing partner, with a primary focus on the internal running of the firm and core o

The criminal justice system requires "urgent reforms" to improve outcomes for older victims of crime, according to a new report from the Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland. The Crime and Justice report, launched by Commissioner Eddie Lynch at Queen's University Belfast today, sets out

The use of non-jury trials in Northern Ireland will continue for a further two years, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has confirmed. In its response to a three-month consultation which closed in February, the NIO said a majority of respondents "mainly support, or at least accept the need for, an e

Two people have been arrested in connection with suspected human trafficking for the purpose of domestic servitude in a PSNI first. Detectives from the PSNI's modern slavery and human trafficking unit (MSHTU) arrested a 33-year-old man in East Belfast yesterday.

Professor Daithí Mac Síthigh, a law professor at Queen's University Belfast, is among 14 professionals selected to participate in a six-week international leadership programme beginning tomorrow. The 2019 Island of Ireland Programme, organised by Eisenhower Fellowships, will see seven

Barrister Jacqueline Simpson QC and Barbara Creed, partner at A&L Goodbody, are set to deliver the next Women in Law lecture in Belfast. The next event in the lecture series, organised by The Bar of Northern Ireland in conjunction with the Law Society of Northern Ireland, focuses on "Commercial

UK law firm TLT, with offices in Belfast, has announced a new partnership with asset management and fact-finding experts to provide a resolution for interest-only mortgage product lenders. The new partnership, with Spicerhaart Corporate Sales and Excel, is aimed at assisting interest-only mortgage b

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a District Judge of the Magistrates' Court did not have the power to refuse jurisdiction and commit an accused who had already pleaded guilty to the Crown Court. Lord Justice Seamus Treacy stated that, in circumstances where the accused had already elected for summ

More than £9 million has been paid in compensation to 16 people who were wrongfully convicted of crimes in the Northern Ireland courts over a decade. Figures obtained by BBC News NI show that 84 people were wrongfully convicted between 2007 and 2017 of crimes including murder and rape.

Prominent barrister Michael Lavery QC, who represented the families of many Bloody Sunday victims at the Saville Inquiry, has passed away at the age of 84. Mr Lavery, who called to the Bar in 1956 and took silk in 1971, retired in 2017 after a six-decade career.

Solicitor Hannah Holmes of Belfast firm Mills Selig is running in the London Marathon to raise money for the Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm (PIPS). Over 35,000 people are expected to take part in the marathon in central London this weekend.