News

Former Banbridge solicitor Paul Downey has avoided jail after admitting he took over £70,000 from a dead client's estate to fund the running of his practice. Judge Gordon Kerr KC, sitting in Newry Crown Court, yesterday sentenced Mr Downey to 27 months' imprisonment suspended for three years,

The European Commission has called on member states to take action to combat commercial-scale online piracy of sports and other live events, such as concerts and theatre performances. The Commission has adopted a recommendation encouraging member states, authorities, holders of rights and providers

The Italian government is facing calls to crack down on "questionable mozzarella" made abroad and marketed as Italian. A product purporting to be sliced mozzarella, produced in Austria by a Chinese-headquarted company but featuring the Leaning Tower of Pisa on its packaging, has been reported to min

More cases brought before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) are being resolved with the use of mediation, according to its annual report for 2022. There was a 30 per cent increase in parties willing to engage in mediation in 2022, during which the WRC broadened its service model to deliver me

Midlands firm Tormeys Solicitors LLP is piloting a four-day working week as part of a global initiative aimed at improving productivity and employee wellbeing.

Employment law solicitor Sarah Havlin has been appointed as chair of Northern Ireland's Industrial Court. The Industrial Court is a tribunal which adjudicates on applications about legal recognition and derecognition of trade unions for collective bargaining purposes, where such recognition or derec

Proposals to enhance the Companies Act 2014 have gone out for public consultation. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is seeking views on a proposed Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2023 which will focus primarily on four areas of company l

Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has promoted Caoimhe Powell to associate director in Belfast. Ms Powell takes on overall responsibility for HSF's alternative legal services (ALT) disputes practice across the UK, US and EMEA region.

An obituary of well-known criminal law solicitor Robert Purcell, who passed away in February, has been published by The Irish Times. Mr Purcell, originally from Co Galway, was a partner at M.E. Hanahoe Solicitors.

A wanted man was identified and arrested after police officers spotted a tattoo of his name on his neck. Francisco Mahon, 40, was caught after officers in the US city of Boston saw his neck tattoo which clearly reads "Francisco", local TV station WHDH reports.

The arrests of dozens of anti-monarchist and climate justice protesters on the day of the coronation marks a "dangerous new era of authoritarian policing" in the UK, human rights campaigners have said. The Metropolitan Police made 64 arrests in London on Saturday, including senior staff members of c

Holmes has promoted debt recovery specialist Jacci Fox to director. Ms Fox joined the firm in a support role in the commercial unit in 1988 before moving to a legal executive role two years later. She took over management of the recovery unit in 2000 and, having completed the Smart Choice leadership

The High Court has been asked to strike down an alleged secret agreement allowing the UK's Royal Air Force to intercept hostile aircraft in Irish airspace, according to reports. Independent Senator Gerard Graughwell is taking the legal action aimed at having the agreement declared unconstitutional a

Beauchamps has renewed its sponsorship of the Dublin Devils FC, an inclusive LGBTQ+ football club that welcomes anyone and everyone who loves the game.

The new B Division at Limerick Prison has been officially opened by justice minister Simon Harris.