Northern Ireland

Gerry McAlinden QC, chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday gave its final approval to legislation designed to improve how complaints against lawyers are handled and overseen.

Lord Kerr, the former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, recently welcomed Mr Justice Deeny and Mr Justice Horner to the UK Supreme Court.

Inquests into 56 legacy cases relating to the Troubles could begin in September and be completed within five years, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland has said. The two-week review of cases relating to the killing of 97 people during the Troubles has found that all can proceed to inquest.

Pictured (l-r): Michael Humphreys QC, chairman of the Commercial Bar Association; Brett Lockhart QC; Jonathan Forrester, director at Cleaver Fulton Rankin; and Laura Gillespie, partner at Pinsent Masons Leading figures from Northern Ireland's commercial litigation sector have said a forthcoming comm

A judgment is expected from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) this week in the case of a former Northern Ireland prisoner's challenge to the lawfulness of his detention, the Irish Examiner reports. Christopher Doherty, 55, has complained that his human rights were breached due to the time t

Northern Ireland's Justice Minister David Ford Northern Ireland's Justice Minister David Ford has welcomed the appointment of Simon Pountain as the new independent reviewer of criminal record disclosures.

Justice Minister David Ford Criminal lawyers in Northern Ireland are returning to work today after the outcome of a process of mediation between the Department of Justice, the Bar Council and the Law Society.

Justice Minister David Ford Justice Minister David Ford has said Northern Ireland's abortion laws will remain "in limbo" for some time, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

MLAs have given their backing to a new revenge porn offence and stricter punishments for animal cruelty. Amendments to the Justice (No. 2) Bill approved this week add new provisions to the proposed law, including ones which relate to the disclosure of private sexual photographs and films with intent

Les Allamby, NIHRC chief commissioner Proposed amendments to the Justice (No. 2) Bill aimed at allowing abortion in the event of fatal foetal abnormality (FFA) and pregnancy as a consequence of sexual crime have fallen.

John Larkin QC The Attorney General for Northern Ireland has claimed changing the law to allow abortions in the event of fatal foetal abnormality (FFA) could contravene the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Catriona Gibson Dublin-based firm Arthur Cox has appointed Catriona Gibson as managing partner of its Northern Ireland practice in what it says is a first for women.

The Bar of Northern Ireland has criticised the Department of Justice's second Access to Justice review for focussing too greatly on cutting legal aid costs. In its response to the consultation on the Report of the Access to Justice Review Part II, published by Justice Minister David Ford late last y

The High Court in Belfast has ruled in favour of an unmarried mother who launched legal action over her inability to access a widowed parent's allowance. Siobhan McLaughlin won the action against the Department for Social Development (DSD) in a case that could have implications for the delivery of b

Olivia O'Kane, a media lawyer at Carson McDowell A senior lawyer at Belfast firm Carson McDowell has said the creation of a specific offence for revenge porn could encourage victims to seek legal recourse.