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in the decision making process”. As such, the Directive should not be construed in the most onerous manner possible, and that the Courts should be “astute to ensure the objectives of the Directive are met but not in an overly pedantic way”.

Justices in the Supreme Court have held that an Act of Parliament is required to authorise ministers to give Notice of the decision of the UK to withdraw from the European Union, dismissing the appeal of the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union by a majority of 8 to 3. On the devolution

Justice Minister Claire Sugden Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Claire Sugden has announced a pilot scheme to pre-record the cross-examination of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald Plans to introduce a statutory definition of consent are set to be approved by Cabinet today, The Irish Times reports.

Representatives from the Law Societies in each of the four legal jurisdictions in the UK and Ireland met in Belfast today.

Aoife McShane Aoife McShane has been named chairperson of Newry and Banbridge Solicitors Association for 2017.

Struck-off Mullingar solicitor David Walsh has failed in his High Court bid to be re-admitted to the Roll of Solicitors, The Irish Times reports. Mr Justice Peter Kelly ruled that Mr Walsh, formerly of David Walsh & Co Solicitors, was “not a fit and proper person” to practise as a solicitor.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire The UK government is considering legislation to protect elderly British soldiers from prosecution for their actions during the Troubles, the News Letter reports.

A former solicitor jailed for stealing €260,000 from her clients has seen her 12-month prison sentence halved on appeal. Mr Justice George Birmingham, giving judgment in the Court of Appeal, said the sentence for Jacqueline Durcan, 47, could have been less than 12 months.

A man who complained to the Law Society about the conduct of a solicitor in a failed property transaction has been unsuccessful in his bid to appeal the decision of the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal found that there was no prima facie case against the solicitor, and the man faile

Irish prisoners received a total of almost €3 million in daily allowances last year, according to the Irish Prison Service. The figures were released to The Irish Times following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the newspaper.

Prison officers in Northern Ireland are set to be fitted with Body Worn Cameras by March in a bid to improve prison safety. The move follows a successful pilot in parts of the Northern Ireland prison estate.

The final report of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry has been published. Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Claire Sugden thanked Sir Anthony Hart, a retired High Court judge, for his work on the inquiry, which was set up in 2013.

Pictured (l-r): Sarah Field, Stephen O'Flynn and Mary Hassan Dublin firm KOD Lyons has welcomed trainees Sarah Field, Stephen O'Flynn and Mary Hassan to its team.

Mark Ward, head of M&A at A&L Goodbody A&L Goodbody has been ranked Ireland's number one law firm for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by deal volume in 2016, after advising on more M&A deals in 2016 than any other firm.