Northern Ireland

Tributes have been paid to esteemed barrister Ivor McAteer KC who passed away suddenly on Monday. Mr McAteer called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1990 and took silk in 2020. He was also qualified south of the border, calling to the Bar of Ireland in 1999.

A prisoner has launched judicial review proceedings over new X-ray body scanners recently introduced in Northern Ireland prisons. The Northern Ireland Prison Service announced in March that it had introduced new body scanners to tackle the trafficking of illegal contraband, including drugs.

A public consultation is seeking views on a prospective scheme of delegation for decisions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which was introduced in response to a Court of Appeal ruling in 2021, allows that the Department for Communities may m

A new policy adopted by Northern Ireland's Department of Health sets out expectations for minimising the use of restrictive interventions, restraint and seclusion in health and social care settings. Former health minister Robin Swann approved the new policy on restrictive practices in health and soc

A networking event hosted by QUB Women in Law brought together students starting their legal journey and women from various sectors of law to share their experiences and learn from each other. Dame Siobhan Keegan delivered the keynote speech at last week's event, sharing her journey to becoming the

Northern Ireland’s High Court has rejected an application challenging a 2021 decision of the justice minister to refuse to make a payment to an applicant out of an ex gratia compensation scheme. The court found that the refusal was rational and reasonable.

More small legal practices in Northern Ireland "will have to consider merging to remain economically viable" amid cost of living challenges, the president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland has warned. The latest edition of The Writ, the Law Society's magazine, includes a Q&A with Brian Arch

Belfast-based commercial law firm McMahon McKay has become the Northern Ireland office of UK-headquartered alternative law firm Spencer West under a new collaborative association. John McMahon and Danny McKay lead a seven-strong Belfast team specialising in corporate, commercial, real estate, financ

An increase in the limits for payments and awards to workers in employment rights cases in Northern Ireland will take effect next month. From 6 April 2023, the limit on the compensatory award for unfair dismissal will rise from £94,063 to £105,915, while the maximum amount of "a week&rsq

Lawyers have urged the Irish government to take the UK to the European Court of Human Rights over controversial plans to end criminal investigations and prosecutions linked to killings during the Troubles. In an open letter published yesterday, Belfast-based KRW LAW, which represents a significant n

An inflationary increase in planning fees in Northern Ireland will come into effect next month. The Department for Infrastructure confirmed that an increase of approximately 12.3 per cent, the first since 2019, will be applied across all planning application categories from Thursday 6 April 2023.

Nathan Campbell, employment and business immigration associate at Belfast-based Cleaver Fulton Rankin, reflects on recent changes to the Immigration Rules and considers how the amendments could impact businesses in Northern Ireland. A new statement of changes to the Immigration Rules has been publi

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has determined that a 12-year sentence in relation to cultivating cannabis was not excessive, given the scope and value of the operation, and the control exercised by the accused. However, the court did reduce a separate sentence which had been applied concur

JMK Solicitors has been named as Northern Ireland's busiest personal injury firm for a ninth consecutive year. The firm was instructed in 1,512 cases last year, more than double that of the next busiest firm, according to figures obtained from the Compensation Recovery Unit inside the Department for

A woman who complained of sexual harassment and victimisation after a staff Christmas party has been awarded £18,857 by the Industrial Tribunal. Shirley Lyons, who worked as a designer/sales consultant with Starplan in Portadown from June 2013 until April 2018, was supported by the Equality Co