News

Prosecutors would find it harder to use rap lyrics as evidence of alleged crimes under legislation proposed in New York. Two members of the New York State Senate have proposed a bill following controversy over the conviction of rappers in trials where their lyrics were used as evidence.

Seven more convictions of former subpostmasters linked to a flawed Post Office computer system have been overturned. Subpostmasters were victims of a scandal which saw the Post Office use its private prosecution powers over a 15-year period from 2000 onwards to prosecute and convict them of crimes.

Family lawyer Karen Connolly has been appointed to a steering group set up by Women's Aid to raise awareness about the impact of domestic abuse on women aged 55 and over. Ms Connolly, a partner at Belfast-based Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors, will help guide and support the Older But No Safer pro

A tribunal has found against the Department of Finance for twice refusing to backdate an appellant’s Disabled Person's Allowance. The tribunal found that the Department's repeated and categorical refusal was an unfair misstatement of the law. The Northern Ireland Valuation Tribunal (NIVT) reli

Family lawyer Ken Breen has joined human rights firm KOD Lyons in Dublin. Mr Breen brings over 25 years of experience to the firm, having qualified as a solicitor in 1995 after graduating from the University of Limerick.

Ireland's controversial wardship system will be ended by June 2022 under plans set out by ministers today. The government has announced that the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will be amended before being commenced in full by June 2022.

An international consultation is set to take place on proposals for Irish grass-fed beef to receive protected geographic indication (PGI) status within the EU. An application for PGI status was submitted by Bord Bia on behalf of Irish farmers and is expected to be published by the European Commissio

The Court of Appeal has ruled that the offence of sexual exploitation of a child is a standalone offence and does not require proof that the child was trafficked. The question arose following the acquittal of two men accused of sexual exploitation, who had argued that the offence only applied in the

Scotland is to introduce 'sobriety tags' for offenders who commit alcohol-fuelled crimes. Offenders guilty of such crimes will have to wear the tags upon their release. The devices will trigger an alarm if the wearer has a drink during their probation period.

The UK government must address ethical, legal, logistical and political challenges arising from new border checks due to launch next year that will affect UK residents travelling to the EU, according to the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee. In a letter to the Home Secretary, the com

Justice secretary Dominic Raab has been attacked by the bar over claims he is ignoring the problems in the criminal courts, The Times reports. Mr Raab was accused of snubbing the Bar Council's annual conference over the weekend after he failed to make a speech in person. He sent a pre-recorded video

New homes and buildings such as supermarkets and workplaces, as well as those undergoing major renovation, will be required to install electric vehicle charge points from next year, under new UK government legislation announced today. Up to 145,000 extra charge points will be installed across Englan

A senior politician charged with cleaning up Norway's expenses system has resigned a month in after being embroiled in an expenses scandal. Eva Kristin Hansen, 48, was elected as president of the Storting, Norway's parliament, just six weeks ago, but is now facing a police investigation for alleged

The Law Society of Ireland has presented cheques worth €215,000 in total to the Calcutta Run's charity partners, Peter McVerry Trust and the Hope Foundation.

Legacy gifts to the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland can be matched at 50 per cent under the first initiative of its kind in Northern Ireland.