A group of legal academics from across Ireland have called on the Governor of the Central Bank to immediately prohibit the marketing and sale of Israeli state bonds in or from Ireland, and to refuse to re-approve the bond prospectus on the renewal date of 2 September. In a letter sent yesterda
Appointments
See all articlesDr Muiris O Ceidigh Solicitor has been appointed to the Heritage Council. Mr O Ceidigh, a governance expert, is currently a governor of Belfast Metropolitan College, a member of the Property Services Appeals Board and a director at the Irish Architectural Archive. He holds a doctorate in governance
Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) has appointed Dunia Mphande as deputy country director for Malawi. Ms Mphande is a seasoned development and governance professional with over 15 years’ experience leading programmes in gender equality, social inclusion, climate resilience, health, and eco
Professor Shashikala Gurpur has been appointed as an honorary professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights and the University of Galway School of Law. The Indian academic is a distinguished international scholar and the recipient of multiple awards for her leadership role in legal education and in
Intellectual property law expert Dr Richard Bunworth has joined Trinity College Dublin School of Law as an assistant professor. Dr Bunworth will lecture on intellectual property law, industrial property and related subjects, as well as supervising dissertations on intellectual property, technology,
Northern Ireland firm Armstrong Solicitors has promoted Jonathan Scullion to director. "Since joining us in 2022, Jonny's conscientiousness, hard work and commitment have been plain for all to see, and he has continued to build a significant following based on returning clients and recommendations a
Barrister Patrick Barrett BL has joined the Irish Writers Centre's board of directors. Mr Barrett is one of seven new directors spanning the literary, financial, legal, healthcare, sustainability, publishing and cultural sectors.
Northern Ireland
See all articlesRace hate crime has reached a record level in Northern Ireland, according to new figures from the PSNI. There were 1,329 crimes with a race motivation In the 12 months to the end of June, a rise of 434 year-on-year and the highest figure since records began in 2004.
Paediatricians have called on Northern Ireland to follow neighbouring jurisdictions in banning child smacking. At present, the law in Northern Ireland and in England allows parents to rely on a defence of "reasonable punishment" where accused of assaulting their child.
Carson McDowell solicitor Sophie Hunter examines an English court decision with implications for the accommodation of asylum seekers across the UK, including in Northern Ireland. Epping Forest District Council have secured an interim injunction requiring the owners of the Bell Hotel to stop using, o
A&L Goodbody (ALG) has renewed its partnership with Ulster Rugby, continuing as official sponsor A&L Goodbody Lounge at the Affidea Stadium for the next three years. The A&L Goodbody lounge is a focal point for corporate hospitality, accommodating up to 500 guests on match nights.
New routes to qualifying as a solicitor in Northern Ireland are set to be introduced in a bid to make the profession more accessible, inclusive and future-focused. The Law Society of Northern Ireland this week published the findings of a consultation it undertook between December 2024 and March 2025
Universities
See all articlesProfessor Shashikala Gurpur has been appointed as an honorary professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights and the University of Galway School of Law. The Indian academic is a distinguished international scholar and the recipient of multiple awards for her leadership role in legal education and in
Restaurants and bars across Ireland are offering "bottomless brunches" in breach of the law, a new study has found. A new paper by researchers at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) highlights "numerous examples" of venues offering unlimited alcohol for a fixed price over a set time period
Trinity College Dublin law student Omotolani Sogbetun has been awarded the 2025 Matheson Cara Scholarship. The scholarship, delivered as part of Matheson's impactful business programme, is named in honour of the firm's late partner, Cara O'Hagan.
Intellectual property law expert Dr Richard Bunworth has joined Trinity College Dublin School of Law as an assistant professor. Dr Bunworth will lecture on intellectual property law, industrial property and related subjects, as well as supervising dissertations on intellectual property, technology,
Irish Legal News presents the latest in a series of articles facilitating dialogue between criminal justice policymakers, practitioners and academic researchers. In this piece, Dr Sophie van der Valk summarises the key findings and practical implications of her recent book, Overseeing Rights in Pris
Interviews
See all articlesThe quest for knowledge has advanced beyond imagination in the millennia since Plato and Aristotle first proposed their theories of epistemology. For legal firms at the leading edge of meeting today’s exacting demands, ‘knowledge’ now involves a multitude of practical applications,
A solicitor who was forced out of her home by a relentless campaign of criminal harassment has urged legal professionals to break the “taboo” of speaking out about abuse. Emma Lyons, who runs a family and criminal law practice in west Belfast, joined the Law Society of Northern Ireland&r

It’s certainly been an eventful summer for partner Darragh Mackin at Belfast solicitors Phoenix Law. Many of the firm’s cases have been in the public eye, and probably none so much as the discrimination case successfully brought by Irish language rap group Kneecap against the UK governme

Paddy Kelly’s energetic leadership of the Children’s Law Centre (CLC) in Northern Ireland has seen it assume a pivotal role in advancing the rights and best interests of children and young people. When Ms Kelly, its founder and CEO, steps down at the end of this month, the most important

Ailish Finnerty has had only had some six weeks to become accustomed to her role as the new chair at Arthur Cox. She has, though, an air of calm assurance — the consequence of her history with the firm, one that stretches back to her becoming a trainee there after taking a BCL and LLM at UCC a
