Northern Ireland

The Chief Constable of the PSNI must take steps to secure the practical independence of investigators concerned with the further investigation into the death of 24-year-old Jean Smyth, who was shot in Belfast in 1972. Finding that the Chief Constable had not demonstrated the independence of the Lega

Belfast firm Ó Muirigh Solicitors, which specialises in human rights law, has appointed Paul Duffy as a solicitor. Mr Duffy, a graduate of Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and Northumbria University, brings a wealth of experience in litigation and road traffic collisions.

Belfast solicitor Adam Curry, a former partner at Mills Selig, has passed away. A graduate of Queen's University Belfast (QUB), Mr Curry was admitted as a solicitor in Northern Ireland in 1990.

Republican and loyalist paramilitary prisoners in separated regimes should be offered the same level of education and other constructive activities as those in the general prison population, a new report has said. A three-person review team was appointed to examine constructive activity in separated

A man who killed his dad’s partner on Christmas Day 2017 has been sentenced to a minimum period of 17 years before he can be considered for release by the Parole Commissioners. The man had “planned to trap and torture her”, and had purchased handcuffs, duct tape, masks, and two mac

Lawyers for the family of a Bloody Sunday victim have contacted the Attorney General for Northern Ireland to complain about comments made by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. Mr Williamson, speaking after prosecutors announced that one former British soldier would face trial in connection with Blo

The Council of Europe has reiterated its "serious concerns" about the delays in establishing the Historical Investigations Unit and other legacy institutions dealing with deaths during the Troubles. The Council's Committee of Ministers examined the issue during its latest regular review of the imple

Northern Ireland prosecutors have announced that one former British soldier is to be charged with two murders and four attempted murders on Bloody Sunday in 1972. Lawyers for the families of those killed and wounded on Bloody Sunday have welcomed the prosecution, but voiced their disappointment that

Criminology lecturer Michael Davidson has been appointed as a Trustee of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation. Mr Davidson joined the criminology team at Ulster University in 2016, and his research and teaching interests are in the areas of law enforcement, terrorism and political v

Young barristers addressed A-level students in Belfast this month on the challenges they've faced while training and working as barristers. Five members of the Young Bar Association (YBA) took part in a panel discussion at the 28th Annual Inter-Schools Sixth Form Law Conference hosted by Methodist C

Belfast solicitor Laura Banks, who acted for Siobhan McLaughlin in her UK Supreme Court challenge to the rules governing the payment of a Widowed Parent’s Allowance, recently addressed members of UK charity Widowed and Young (WAY). Ms Banks, of Francis Hanna & Co. Solicitors, and Ms McLaug

The UK Government has announced that temporary import tariffs to be imposed in the event of a no-deal Brexit will not apply to goods crossing from Ireland into Northern Ireland. The details of the tariff regime were published today ahead of a vote in the House of Commons on whether or not to rule ou

A man who pleaded guilty shortly before trial to offences of attempted murder, criminal damage, and resisting police, has had his sentence for attempted murder increased after the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions that the initial sentence was unduly le

Two of the most prominent women judges in Ireland and Britain addressed a sold-out Belfast event to mark International Women's Day 2019 last week. Lady Arden of the UK Supreme Court and Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan of the Supreme Court of Ireland addressed judges, barristers, solicitors and academics

Representatives of the Law Society of Northern Ireland travelled to Edinburgh for the Law Society of Scotland's annual dinner.