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Case processing times in Northern Ireland's Crown Court have increased, with the average time for a charge case increasing by five per cent to 561 days and the average time for a summons case increasing by 12 per cent to 1,150 days. The Department of Justice this week published its latest research a

An Garda Síochána sent delegations to Switzerland and France to help develop its approach to policing Ireland's first medically supervised injection facility (MSIF) for drug users. Injection facilities, also called drug consumption rooms or safe injection sites, have been implemented a

The Mental Health Commission (MHC) has invited lawyers to assist in the development of new guidance and training on a human rights-based approach to care for mental health services. The MHC has engaged the Munster Technological University and its UNESCO Chair research centre to support the developme

New York-based Irish lawyer Jane McCooey, executive director and chief operating officer for the global technology and data legal group at Morgan Stanley, has been recognised in Irish America's Business 100. The Business 100 honours the best and brightest Irish-American and Irish-born leaders repres

Organisations supporting victims of crime have been invited to apply for government funding for 2024. The Department of Justice provides annual support for organisations supporting victims of crime, including through the provision of support, information and advice on the rights of victims, court ac

Motorists were warned to keep their car windows closed after a truck spilled crates containing five million bees onto a road west of Toronto. Constable Ryan Anderson, who was at the scene, said: “Crates were literally on the road and swarms of bees were flying around. The initial beekeeper tha

The UK Supreme Court has received and determined applications for permission to cross-appeal in the following cases, often referred to as the Rwanda appeals: No further applications for permission to appeal are expected to be received.

England's Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been ordered to pay £75,000 in costs after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) found it made an "essential mistake of law" in its unsuccessful prosecution of solicitor Amie Tsang. Ms Tsang was accused of failing to advise hundreds of c

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Guatemala arrests anti-corruption lawyer, prompting international outcry | Al Jazeera

Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin has been elected to the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) for a five-year term. Established in 1952, the Commission plays a unique and prominent role in defending human rights and the rule of law worldwide. Served by a full-time staff with offices

A legal challenge brought by more than 250 sex workers against France's ban on the purchase of sex is to be heard by the European Court of Human Rights. The ECtHR today decided by a majority that the applications brought by 261 men and women who say they are "habitually engaged in prostitution, in a

Draft planning guidelines aimed at creating "more sustainable and compact settlements" have gone out to consultation. The draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities expand on the National Planning Framework in relation to compact growth and in relation to the creat

Proposals to compel criminals in England and Wales to appear in the dock for sentencing could do more harm than good, the father of one victim has said. Criminals will be forced to attend their sentencing and face a longer period behind bars if they refuse to appear under legislation proposed by the

Women in the UK will continue to have the right to equal pay with men even after an EU protection expires at the end of the year, the UK government has confirmed. The law, designed to assist workers whose jobs have been outsourced, was removed in a post-Brexit elimination of EU laws. However, t

An Australian judge has been ordered to personally pay damages to a man he imprisoned for contempt following "a parody of a court hearing". The Federal Court of Australia yesterday awarded over $300,000 AUD (around €180,000 or £150,000) to the man, identified by the pseudonym "Mr Stradfor