News

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.

A man is set to face trial for the alleged assault of a retired District Court judge. Jamie O'Connor, 44, has been charged with assault causing harm contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

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

A funeral service for the late Mr Justice Declan Budd will take place this afternoon. Mr Justice Budd passed away on Thursday 21 August at the age of 81.

FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) is seeking lawyers to support its free legal advice clinics by volunteering as little as two hours a month. The independent legal, human rights and equality organisation is hosting its next volunteer induction on Tuesday 30 September.

Scotland is to begin livestreaming appeals heard by its supreme criminal court following a successful pilot in the civil courts. The Appeal Court of the High Court of Justiciary is to become the first criminal court in Scotland with a regular livestreaming service, allowing hearings to be viewed onl

Archaic prison rules are forcing inmates in part of the US prison system to rely on floppy disks to work on their appeals. Jorge Luis Alvarado, a New Jersey prisoner writing for the Prison Journalism Project (PJP), compares the situation to "1985, where we rely on out-of-date word processors, electr

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.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has signed a new data-sharing agreement with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to enhance regulatory oversight of social media platforms. The agreement will enable the ASA to share information it receives through its online reporting

DLA Piper's annual "Know Your Rights" programme for asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland is returning next month. Delivered in partnership with the Irish Refuge Council and Deloitte, the free eight-week legal education course seeks to empower people seeking protection and refugees to better unders

The UK government is planning a major shake-up of the asylum appeals system in a bid to reduce the number of appellants being housed in hotels while they await rulings. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said she would establish a new body staffed by independent adjudicators to address what she called &ld

A federal judge has ordered the closure of Donald Trump’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention camp in Florida, ruling that the facility is causing severe and irreparable damage to the Everglades. US district judge Kathleen Williams issued an 82-page ruling banning new detain

Tens of thousands of offenders in England and Wales, including sex offenders, shoplifters, drug dealers and violent criminals, will avoid prison under sweeping sentencing reforms to be put before MPs next month. The Sentencing Bill will require judges to presume against custodial sentences of less t

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.

The European Commission has invited feedback on proposed revisions to guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring non-financial undertakings in difficulty. The Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines set out the conditions under which aid to non-financial undertakings in difficulty may be con