Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland schools are failing to meet statutory human rights standards in their teaching of relationships and sexuality, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has concluded in a new report. The rights body carried out an investigation to assess the extent to which post-primary schools

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal which claimed that a sentence of four years’ imprisonment for hijacking a car was manifestly excessive. The court found that the trial court was correct to impose this sentence, given the seriousness of the circumstances of the c

The UK government has tabled new amendments to its controversial legacy bill — but human rights campaigners have said they "do nothing to address the fundamental flaws with the bill". The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill has already been approved by MPs and is current

Racism is "a normal part of day-to-day-life" for people in Northern Ireland from minority ethnic and migrant groups, according to new research commissioned by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The rights body commissioned independent think tank Pivotal to examine the actual, perceived, a

The UK government has been criticised again by the Council of Europe's committee of ministers over its proposed legacy bill's compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. The committee has responsibility for monitoring the implementation of judgments from the European Court of Human R

Queen's University Belfast School of Law has launched a new Global Intellectual Property and Technology Centre (G-IPTech) aimed at becoming a global hub of excellence for intellectual property and technology law. Professor Giancarlo Frosio has been appointed as director of the centre, an interdiscip

The Bar of Northern Ireland’s rule of law committee has announced the commencement of a new series of events and discussions, the “Advancing the Rule of Law Series”. The aim of the “Advancing The Rule of Law Series” is to encourage awareness of the importance of the rul

The chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland, Jacqui Durkin, has called for a "fundamental reset" within the PSNI and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to improve the quality of prosecution files and speed of case progression. Ms Durkin said clear objectives coupled with governance

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice has published a summary of responses to a recent public consultation on increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility. The 12-week consultation launched by then-justice minister Naomi Long in October 2022 sought views on whether the age at which a chi

Belfast-based Diamond Heron Solicitors has promoted Cherry Hill to associate solicitor. Ms Hill specialises in property, with experience selling new build properties on behalf of local property developers and acting for private clients in the sale and purchase of residential properties, remortgages,

Northern Ireland's criminal justice system is "not fit for purpose", the commissioner designate for victims of crime has said. Geraldine Hanna, who was appointed to the post a year ago, told the BBC that victims of crime are withdrawing from cases as a result of court delays.

Rosemary Connolly Solicitors has secured a settlement for former Newsline presenter Donna Traynor in her tribunal case against BBC NI and its director Adam Smyth. Ms Traynor contended that she had suffered unlawful discrimination on grounds of age, gender and disability.

Dungannon-based P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors has announced a new partnership with charity Cruse Bereavement Support and community group Memory Stones of Love.

A&L Goodbody (ALG) has announced a new partnership with homelessness charity Simon Community NI. The leading homelessness charity in Northern Ireland, Simon Community NI offers specialist support services including homelessness prevention, accommodation services, health, well-being and practice

Retired Northern Ireland judge Sir Liam McCollum KC has passed away at the age of 90. Born in Derry, Sir Liam took silk in 1971 and was appointed as a High Court judge in 1987. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 1997.