Northern Ireland

A rise in the number of hate crimes reported to the PSNI in the past year has been described as "deeply worrying" by human rights campaigners. The PSNI and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) today published hate crime figures covering the period from 1 April 2022 and 31 Marc

A new fixed penalty notice of £100 and three penalty points has been introduced to help tackle careless driving in Northern Ireland. The new penalty has introduced by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) through secondary legislation using its powers under Article 57(2) of the Road Traffic

Dr Evelyn Collins CBE, former chief executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, has been appointed as an honorary professor in Queen's University Belfast School of Law. Her expertise in equality law in Northern Ireland and across Europe aligns with the School's focus on human rights,

Northern Ireland’s High Court has dismissed an application to judicially review a compassionate bail application. The court found that the prisoner’s request to attend his sister's funeral was not a "criminal cause or matter" which could be appealed to the UK Supreme Court. The applicant

Belfast-based Millar McCall Wylie (MMW) has welcomed Luke Thompson as a solicitor in its real estate team. Mr Thompson is an experienced lawyer with expertise in all areas of real estate law, particularly landlord and tenant work, commercial property acquisitions and developments.

Claire Edgar of Belfast-based Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors examines a recent Northern Ireland court ruling on non-molestation order applications. The High Court of Northern Ireland recently handed down judgment in the judicial review case of JR231. The judgment explores the legal test to be app

Sir Declan Morgan, former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, has been selected for appointment as chief commissioner of the proposed Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). The creation of the body is a key component of the UK government's controversial North

Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has decided not to prosecute a former police officer in connection with the fatal shooting of Colum Marks in 1991. The retired officer was reported for consideration after an investigation by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland into the shoot

Former Banbridge solicitor Paul Downey has avoided jail after admitting he took over £70,000 from a dead client's estate to fund the running of his practice. Judge Gordon Kerr KC, sitting in Newry Crown Court, yesterday sentenced Mr Downey to 27 months' imprisonment suspended for three years,

Employment law solicitor Sarah Havlin has been appointed as chair of Northern Ireland's Industrial Court. The Industrial Court is a tribunal which adjudicates on applications about legal recognition and derecognition of trade unions for collective bargaining purposes, where such recognition or derec

Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has promoted Caoimhe Powell to associate director in Belfast. Ms Powell takes on overall responsibility for HSF's alternative legal services (ALT) disputes practice across the UK, US and EMEA region.

Lord Carswell of Killeen, a former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and a Law Lord, has passed away at the age of 88. Born Robert Douglas Carswell, his legal career began when he was called to the Bar in 1957. He took silk in 1971 and was appointed to the High Court in 1984, before being eleva

Northern Ireland’s High Court has fined a Tyrone farmer £5,500 for contempt after he breached previous court undertakings on eight separate occasions. Despite the clear evidence of breaches, the court did not find that imprisonment for contempt was appropriate. This case involved two app

Northern Ireland’s High Court has sentenced John Brian Stelfox, a former practising solicitor, to six months' imprisonment for contempt following his failure to abide by a court maintenance order. Mr and Mrs Stelfox were married for more than 20 years and have four children. When they divorced

Over 100 organisations and individuals, led by the Children's Law Centre, have urged the Northern Ireland secretary to reverse cuts which will "cause serious harm" to children and young people. The letter, sent on behalf of 78 organisations and 23 individuals, states that budgetary decisions made by