Northern Ireland

Proposals to reform family reunification rules for people in Northern Ireland have been welcomed by immigration rights campaigner Emma DeSouza. Speaking to Irish Legal News, Mrs DeSouza said the proposed changes would "lift a tremendous weight off many families", but warned that the proposals did no

The introduction of domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) in Northern Ireland has moved forward with the launch of a recruitment process for three independent chairs. The DHR process was introduced in England and Wales in 2011 under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crimes and Victims Act 2004 and its

A landmark case concerning the circumstances in which a border poll will be held in Northern Ireland will be heard by the Court of Appeal in Belfast today. Victims' rights campaigner Raymond McCord is appealing the High Court's June 2018 ruling that the Northern Ireland Secretary does not have to ma

A consultation paper on strengthening Northern Ireland's hate crime laws has been launched. Judge Desmond Marrinan was appointed last summer to lead an independent review of hate crime laws, fulfilling a commitment given by former Justice Minister Claire Sugden and following calls from across the cr

Mallon McCormick Solicitors has raised over £4,500 for NI Chest Heart and Stroke in a pilot run of the charity's will-writing initiative. Solicitors at the Maghera-based firm waived their fees for will writing services during November and instead invited clients to donate to NICHS.

Employment tribunal claimants in Northern Ireland will have to consider the option of early conciliation before formally lodging their claim under a law taking effect later this month. From 27 January 2020, anyone who wishes to lodge a claim with the Industrial Tribunal or Fair Employment Tribunal m

The High Court in Belfast has reserved judgment in a case concerning whether a teenager suffered discrimination when he was named as a criminal suspect by media outlets. JKL, from Co Antrim, was arrested in October 2015 when he was 15 years old in connection with the high-profile TalkTalk hack.

Northern Ireland's health system lacks the resources and facilities to deal with defendants with mental health issues, a Crown Court judge has said. Judge Philip Babington, the Recorder of Derry, hit out at the "shambles" as he ruled on an appeal in Londonderry County Court involving a 38-year-old w

Cheryl Lamont, chief executive of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI), has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The probation chief was recognised in the New Year Honours list for services to criminal justice.

A man who pleaded guilty to the murder of a retired teacher in Crumlin in 2018 must serve a minimum sentence of 16 years and six months before being considered for release on licence. Commenting that the victim was “a man who lived a blameless and worthy life”, Mr Justice Adrian Colton s

The family of a man who was fatally shot by a British soldier in 1972 has sought leave from the High Court to challenge the original inquest verdict of "misadventure". Thomas Burns, a father-of-four, was shot as he left the Glenpark Social Club in north Belfast on 12 July 1972 and he died from the g

Dr Michael Wardlow, chief commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, considers the future of welfare in Northern Ireland. The election is now over and, once again, there’s an attempt this week to restore a working government at Stormont. It is also now two years since the Eq

Personal injury and road traffic specialist firm JMK Solicitors has presented cheques totalling £26,000 to their 2019 charity partners following a year-long staff fundraising programme.

Legal academics Professor Rory O'Connell and Dr Catherine O'Rourke have been appointed to the Peer Review College (PRC) of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Members of the PRC are involved in reviewing proposals received to the AHRC's various funding schemes and programmes.

Belfast man Brian Keenan, who spent four-and-a-half years as a hostage in Beirut, addressed inmates at Magilligan Prison during a creative writing awards ceremony. Mr Keenan was captured by the Islamic Jihad Organisation over 33 years ago on 11 April 1986 and spent nearly five years in a concrete ce