Sexual Offences

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has set aside the convictions of 15 individuals for certain sexual offences as a result of a legislative error which caused them to be invalid. The PPS conducted a review of all cases potentially impacted after prosecutors became aware of a technical change

Human rights lawyer Noeline Blackwell, who heads Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), has been appointed to the governing body of University College Dublin (UCD) in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. Ms Blackwell's appointment was announced by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris

A human rights watchdog has published new research into how sexual history and bad character evidence is used in sexual offences trials in Scotland. The findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission have prompted calls for an urgent review of how courts and prosecutors respond when complainan

Legislation to make "upskirting" a specific criminal offence in Northern Ireland will be brought before the Assembly early next year, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said. "Subject to Executive approval, I intend to bring forward legislative proposals to make upskirting a specific offence in a Justi

The Law Society of Ireland has welcomed the recommendations of review of protections for vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences. A number of the recommendations in the Law Society's submission to the review last May have been incorporated in its final report, pu

Downing Street is planning to set prosecution targets in rape cases for police and lawyers, according to reports. The Prime Minister's crime and justice taskforce is to set targets for police to refer evidentially strong rape cases to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), The Guardian reports.

The long-awaited review of protections for vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences has backed proposals for anonymity to be extended to defendants in all sexual assault trials, as well as greater supports for complainants. The review, chaired by Tom O’Malle

The Bar Council of Ireland's response to the long-awaited review of protections for vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences is reproduced in full below. We welcome the publication this morning of the Report on the Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witness

The full implementation of Sir John Gillen's recommendations for improving serious sexual offence trials in Northern Ireland will be complete by the end of 2022 under a plan published today. According to the implementation plan, 11 per cent of the 253 recommendations made in Sir John's final report,

A long-awaited review of the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences in Ireland will be published within weeks, according to reports. The review, chaired by Tom O’Malley SC and announced in the wake of the high-profile Belfast rugby rape trial, was originally meant to be completed by

Comedian Sil Fox has instructed KRW LAW LLP to bring proceedings against the State following the collapse of a sexual assault case brought against him. The criminal case against the 87-year-old was dismissed by a judge last month after CCTV footage contradicted the complainant's evidence.

The findings of an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment by a senior Australian judge have prompted urgent reviews into how the country's courts deal with sexual misconduct. Lawyers for Dyson Heydon, a former judge of the High Court of Australia, have said their client denies "any allegation

Scottish lawyers who visited Ireland to learn about the conduct of sexual offence trials here have called for complainants in Scotland to be given their own legal representation when applications are made to lead evidence of bad character or sexual history. Solicitors Eamon Keane and Tony Conve

The Irish courts are “not fit for purpose” as far as dealing with violence against women is concerned, experts have said. The legal process frequently re-traumatises women, a UN special rapporteur and NGO leaders told viewers in a webinar hosted by Orla O’Connor of the National Wom

A new book presents an in-depth comparative study of sentencing practice for rape in six common law jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.