News

A judge has released a CD of original songs he wrote based on his courtroom experiences. Judge Michael Thorpe said song-writing has "helped me think about these folks and deal with them a little differently".

A man who pleaded guilty to the murder of a retired teacher in Crumlin in 2018 must serve a minimum sentence of 16 years and six months before being considered for release on licence. Commenting that the victim was “a man who lived a blameless and worthy life”, Mr Justice Adrian Colton s

An opposition bill to strengthen bail laws will be blocked by the justice minister over constitutional concerns, the Department of Justice has confirmed. The Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017 was introduced as a private member's bill by Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson Jim O'Callaghan and cleared se

The family of a man who was fatally shot by a British soldier in 1972 has sought leave from the High Court to challenge the original inquest verdict of "misadventure". Thomas Burns, a father-of-four, was shot as he left the Glenpark Social Club in north Belfast on 12 July 1972 and he died from the g

More than 30 legal staff in the Office of the Attorney General were seconded to posts domestically and abroad during 2018. At the end of 2018, there were 24 advisory counsel seconded as legal advisers in 14 Government departments under the secondment programme started in 2006, according to the offic

Barristers Emer Gillen and Juliet Dwyer have joined the Courts Service of Ireland management team. Both Ms Gillen and Ms Dwyer are qualified practitioners who have worked in both private practice and public sector organisations, including the Courts Service.

Dr Michael Wardlow, chief commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, considers the future of welfare in Northern Ireland. The election is now over and, once again, there’s an attempt this week to restore a working government at Stormont. It is also now two years since the Eq

An airline is liable for the harm caused by a spilt cup of hot coffee and it is not necessary for that accident to relate to a hazard typically associated with flight, the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled. In its judgment, the Court of Justice clarifies that an airline’s liabil

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor is to investigate alleged war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was "satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation into the situation in Palestine".

Personal injury and road traffic specialist firm JMK Solicitors has presented cheques totalling £26,000 to their 2019 charity partners following a year-long staff fundraising programme.

UK Supreme Court president Lady Hale will guest edit a special episode of BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday 27 December, from 6-9am. Lady Hale's guest-edit will include a tour of the Supreme Court with BBC legal correspondent, Clive Coleman, as well as a tour of her beloved home town of Richmo

A round-up of deals involving Irish law firms. Submit your deals to newsdesk@irishlegal.com. Fieldfisher Ireland recently advised aerospace and industrial engineering company TEAM Accessories Limited on a €5 million funding deal.

And finally… handbags at dawn A fight between two men over who had reserved a sunbed on a cruise ship is set to be resolved in court.

Luke Skywalker has been arrested for possession of cannabis following a traffic stop. Officers in Garden Ridge in the US state of Texas pulled over the 19-year-old because his car lacked a front license plate.

A man who was found guilty on charges of rape and indecent assault in 2016, for offences which occurred in the 1970s, has lost an appeal against his conviction. By a 3:2 majority, the Supreme Court concluded that, in light of the strength of the prosecution case and an assessment of potentially miss