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The full implementation of Sir John Gillen's recommendations for improving serious sexual offence trials in Northern Ireland will be complete by the end of 2022 under a plan published today. According to the implementation plan, 11 per cent of the 253 recommendations made in Sir John's final report,

New hate crime legislation will not be brought to the Northern Ireland Assembly for at least two more years, Justice Minister Naomi Long has indicated. The justice minister confirmed this week that the independent review of hate crime legislation, led by Judge Desmond Marrinan, has been delayed

More than a third of women in Ireland feel unsafe walking in their neighbourhood at night, according to new research. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) yesterday published the findings of its Crime and Victimisation Survey 2019.

Over 170 Irish law firms have been authorised to operate as limited liability partnerships since the law was changed late last year. The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) began accepting applications for authorisation as an LLP last November following the commencement of chapter 3 of part 8

More than 70 legal, campaigning and civil society organisations are calling for an urgent public inquiry into the UK government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Between 43,000 and 65,000 people have died in the UK so far as a result of coronavirus - the figure represents one of the high

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has granted full sick pay to outsourced staff with COVID-19 symptoms, three months after the death of one of its cleaners. Outsourced cleaners who have already self-isolated due to COVID-19 symptoms will also receive a back payment from 1 April 2020.

Satanists have threatened to sue a US state if it pushes ahead with plans to put the words "In God We Trust" on its flag. The state of Mississippi last month agreed to replace its 120-year-old flag because it features Confederate symbols.

A terminally ill woman who was denied fast-track access to certain benefits has succeeded in a High Court challenge to the definition of "terminal illness" in Northern Ireland. In a decision handed down yesterday, Mr Justice Gerry McAlinden said the requirement for terminally ill claimants to demons

More than twice as many people received legal advice or representation from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) last year than the year before, the rights watchdog has revealed. The commission concluded legal advice assistance for 25 clients and concluded legal representation assi

Lawyers representing the family of an 18-year-old woman who was murdered in 1988 have called for an independent investigation following today's decision not to prosecute two suspects in the case. German national Inga-Maria Hauser was touring the UK as part of an interrailing holiday when she disappe

Retired solicitor Paul Kennedy has been nominated for appointment as the Northern Ireland Assembly's new commissioner for standards. Mr Kennedy qualified as a solicitor in 1983 and spent 32 years in private practice, including 28 years as principal in his own firm.

Former police officer Judith Gillespie has been appointed for a one-year term as the new independent chair on an inter-departmental working group on Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene laundries and historical clerical child abuse. Ms Gillespie is the third person named as chair of the troubled group,

Ronan Daly Jermyn partner Padraic Brennan and trainee solicitor Thomas McInerney review a recent High Court decision on professional negligence. A recent decision of the High Court serves as a reminder of the continuing relevance of the Supreme Court decision in Cooke v Cronin [1999] IESC 54, and th

Human trafficking laws in Northern Ireland will be updated to create a new statutory duty to assist potential victims under proposals now being put to consultation. The proposals would also relax the requirement for the Department of Justice to publish a human trafficking strategy every year, allowi

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has participated in a meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers for the first time, which addressed issues including hate speech, asylum and migration. The meeting was held in an informal format on Monday and Tuesday and was the first meeting of EU ministers und