News

A bid to legalise assisted dying in Scotland has failed after it was rejected in a parliamentary vote which was widely seen as too close to call. The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill would have allowed terminally-ill adults to lawfully request and be provided with assistance

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice has begun consulting on its draft equality and disability action plans for 2025 to 2030. The consultation was launched this week in line with the Department's statutory obligations under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Disability Discrimin

Law students at Dublin City University (DCU) have presented an inaugural award recognising women in the law to Dr Brenda Daly, associate professor in the DCU School of Law and Government. The Bláthnaid Hamilton Award is named after the first woman chairperson of the DCU Law Society, Blá

Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) is strengthening how courts in Zambia respond to victims and vulnerable witnesses through trauma-informed judicial training. Through peer exchange between Irish and Zambian justice experts, members of the Zambian judiciary have participated in training designed

The UK's advertising watchdog has banned an AI app advert which gave "the impression that the app could be used to create nude images for sexual gratification". Saeta Tech Ltd t/a PixVideo – AI Video Maker said the app could not in fact be used to remove women's clothing from images without th

Cork-based J.W. O'Donovan LLP has amalgamated with Eamon Murray & Company Solicitors, boosting its headcount by 40 per cent to create a combined firm of 35 staff, including 20 solicitors. The merger represents the next phase of growth for J.W. O’Donovan, which relocated in late 2024 to lar

Police have announced a successful operation which led to the seizure of cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, cash – and stolen cornflakes. West Yorkshire Police said a raid on six addresses led to the seizure of drugs with a street value of £750,000 (around €868,000), as well as an estimat

A landmark EU court ruling on legal gender recognition "double underlines" the incompatibility of a controversial UK Supreme Court ruling with EU law, meaning it cannot be implemented in Northern Ireland, Irish Legal News has been told. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) last week rul

Cork-based O'Flynn Exhams LLP Solicitors has promoted litigation and dispute resolution lawyer William Hanly to partner. Mr Hanly joined the firm's litigation and dispute resolution team in 2021 and works across civil and commercial litigation, personal injuries litigation and employment law. He has

Legal academics at University College Dublin and Maynooth University are among 21 new members appointed to the Young Academy of Ireland (YAI). The all-island network of early career researchers and innovators (ECRIs) welcomed 21 new members following a competitive selection process launched by the R

An English judge has rebuked a claimant who she found was being coached through a pair of smart glasses while giving evidence. Laimonas Jakštys was asked to remove the glasses during proceedings before an Insolvency and Companies Court (ICC) judge in the High Court in London.

Payments made from Ireland's mother and baby institutions payment scheme to UK-based survivors are to be disregarded in means tests for benefits across the United Kingdom. The Irish and UK governments jointly announced the measure on Friday following a sustained campaign for an extension to the UK o

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought against a New York City taqueria by a German tourist who complained its salsa was too spicy. Faycal Manz sought $100,000 in damages (around €87,350 or £75,470) from Los Tacos No. 1, USA Today reports.

The Irish government has now published draft legislation aimed at enabling co-operation with the UK's Omagh bombing inquiry. The International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 was published on Friday following government approval earlier in the week.

Anne-Marie Linehan has been appointed as managing partner of Cork firm J.W. O'Donovan LLP. Ms Linehan takes over the role from Jerome O'Sullivan, who will continue to lead the firm's commercial real estate team.