Northern Ireland

Proposals to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland, which currently stands at 10 years of age, are under consideration by ministers. Justice Minister Naomi Long has confirmed in response to a written Assembly question that she wrote to her Executive colleagues last

Retired solicitor and politician David Cook, who became the first non-unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast in the late 1970s, passed away yesterday.

Consideration should be given to including a specific freedom of expression defence in hate crime laws, the PSNI has suggested. In the force's response to the consultation on hate crime laws, it said legislation "should equally balance the human rights of all within society".

Belfast-based Cleaver Fulton Rankin has been shortlisted by Investors in People (IIP) for a prestigious international employment award. The firm is competing against eight other companies from across the globe for the "Employer of the Year: Accredited 50-249" award. The winner will be named at

New powers to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking could be introduced in Northern Ireland following new evidence of their use in Great Britain. Dame Sara Thornton, the UK's independent anti-slavery commissioner, has urged Justice Minister Naomi Long to introduce slavery and trafficking risk

A law firm set up by Lurgan solicitor Harry McCourt at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic has expanded to form McCourt McGlone Solicitors. Founded as McCourt Solicitors in June, the firm has moved from strength to strength with the appointment of new partner Ciaran McGlone, who has extensive experi

Case processing times improved across all courts in the year ending April 2020, according to new figures. The Department of Justice has published new statistics on the average case processing time for criminal cases in the Crown and magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland between 1 April 2019 and 31

Barrister Peter Coll QC is leading the investigation into Belfast City Council's handling of the controversial cremation of Bobby Storey, according to reports. Mr Coll had earlier been named as the council's preferred choice late last month, but the council has only now confirmed that he has been ap

The Bar of Northern Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to the maintenance of the rule of law in a short statement issued in the wake of the UK government's U-turn on Brexit. Earlier this week, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told MPs that provisions in the Internal Market Bill would "bre

New adult safeguarding legislation to help protect care home residents and other vulnerable members of society is set to be brought to Stormont under plans announced yesterday. Health Minister Robin Swann pledged to bring forward the new Adult Safeguarding Bill in response to the first report&n

The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, has warned that the UK government's declared plan to break international law may undermine trust in the government and the administration of justice. Northern Ireland's top judge was sharply critical of government ministers in an interview due to be br

Tasers should be made more widely available to frontline PSNI officers despite the force failing to record its use of force accurately, a watchdog has said. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) today published its report on the PSNI's treatment of its workforce and the people of N

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced that he is calling a statutory public inquiry into the abuse reported at Muckamore Abbey Hospital. The inquiry follows two reports into the abuse at the hospital, and comes alongside an ongoing major police investigation.

Conversion therapy for LGBT people is set to be banned in Northern Ireland under plans agreed between ministers yesterday. Communities Minister Carál Ni Chuilín yesterday agreed to take the policy lead on the issue at a meeting with colleagues Health Minister Robin Swann and Justice Mi

Human rights campaigners have warned the UK government not to use the Northern Ireland peace process as a "bargaining chip" in the latest round of Brexit negotiations. The intervention comes after Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told MPs yesterday that provisions in the Internal Market Bill