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Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald yesterday announced details of planned spending in the justice and equality sector next year, including the provision of an extra €89 million in current expenditure.

Over 11,000 drivers have avoided conviction after being summoned to court for using their mobile phone while driving, according to the Courts Service of Ireland. The new figures show that more than 15,000 drivers received a court summons after failing to pay fixed-charge fines between January 2013-M

Two women who claimed their estranged husbands hid the true extent of their finances and that they were entitled to more money in their divorce settlements have won their appeals at the UK Supreme Court. In both cases, President of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, sitting with Deputy President Lad

The average house price in Northern Ireland was £151,000 in August 2015, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Prices in August were up by 3 per cent compared to the same month in the previous year, but remain 43 per cent lower than their peak in 2007.

Jo-Anne Dobson MLA A private member's bill that would introduce a "soft opt-out" system for organ donation in Northern Ireland has passed its first hurdle in Stormont.

The Wilson doctrine protecting MPs from surveillance is a "political statement" with no legal effect, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has ruled. The tribunal said it was satisfied that assurances given around the surveillance of MPs by prime minister Harold Wilson in the 1960s, which have be

Lord Justice Leveson, president of the Queen's Bench Division Using quotas to boost the number of women and ethnic minority members of the judiciary would be the "antithesis of appointment on merit", a senior UK judge has said.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned UK internet users to protect themselves against a significant strain of malicious software which has enabled criminals to steal millions of pounds from UK bank accounts. Dridex malware, also known as Bugat and Cridex, has been developed by technically skill

A man who was caught with almost €3,000 worth of cocaine a decade ago has been told he can avoid a conviction by making a charitable donation. Rory Linnane, 36, returned from Australia to face the long-standing charges at Tallaght District Court after contacting a solicitor's firm in Dublin.

A television producer has been awarded “substantial damages” after a cable TV channel was held to be in “breach of contract” following a dispute involving singer and reality show star Peter Andre. A judge at the High Court in London ruled that ITV2 “wrongfully terminated” a production ag

Delays in bringing cases to court are leading judges to grant bail more frequently, a senior lawyer has said. Feargal Kavanagh SC, who specialises in criminal law, told the Irish Times that judges may be too uncomfortable refusing bail in cases which may not be heard for some time.

Arleen Elliott, president of the Law Society The Law Society of Northern Ireland has urged members of the public to stay vigilant following reports of fraudsters targeting solicitor firms and their clients.

Forensic accountants Harbinson Mulholland have announced an upcoming seminar providing critical insight into key areas of financial crime. The free Black Holes and Red Flags event is essential for anyone involved in the prosecution or defence of cases with POCA implications, organisers say.

Four women are launching High Court proceedings against the State after being refused access to a compensation scheme for Magdalene laundry survivors. The women claim they were used as forced labour in St Mary's Refuge Magdalene Laundry, but have been excluded from the redress scheme set up in 2013

Clare Bailey, deputy leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland's lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM) is being re-examined in the Northern Ireland Appeal Court.