News

Children's Minister James Reilly Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has developed an "exit strategy" to phase out its dependence on the services of law firm Arthur Cox after the expected end of its contract next month.

Government minister Kathleen Lynch The Government's Judicial Council Bill has not yet been published because of "other pressing priorities in the legislative area", senators have been told.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has published draft legislation defining criminal offences in the area of attacks against information systems.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is expected to appear before a court in Belfast to give a statement on one of 56 legacy cases being reviewed by Lord Justice Weir.

Landmark reforms designed to "modernise family law" in Ireland may cause some cases to take significantly longer, The Irish Times reports. A spokesperson for the Courts Service of Ireland told the newspaper: "There will be more inquiries which courts have to make and more evidence to be gathered - i

A judge of the High Court has expressed doubts over whether a second Special Criminal Court will be established. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald announced the establishment of the second court, under section 38 (2) of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, last October.

A judge of the High Court has warned employers that they face unlimited fines and prison time if they refuse to pay workers serving on a jury, The Irish Times reports. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy made the remarks after a woman who was sworn in as a juror for a three-day sexual assault case told the

Aidan Flahavan Aidan Flahavan, associate solicitor in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution department at Beauchamps Solicitors, is set to speak at a major medical conference in Dublin this month.

Belfast commercial law firm Tughans has advised Boston-based merchant services provider Cayan, trading as Merchant Warehouse, on its major expansion in Belfast. Caya has taken a 10 year lease of almost 23,000 sq ft in City Quays 1 on the Harbour Estate to accommodate its growth.

Lord Justice Weir The senior judge undertaking a two-week review into 56 legacy cases has suggested the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is responsible for encouraging soldiers to seek anonymity.

Northern Ireland's human rights commissioner discussed legacy issues and plans to scrap the UK's Human Rights Act 1998 at a meeting in Belfast yesterday.

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin Almost 300 pieces of obsolete legislation are set to be revoked by the Government, including the WWII-era Emergency Powers Act 1939.

House prices in Northern Ireland increased by 4.6 per cent over the year to November 2015 to reach an average of £158,000. The latest House Price Index (HPI) from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed increases across the UK, with a dramatic 8.3 per cent rise in England.

A young woman has had her sentence for a single count of assault contrary to s.3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act reduced, with the Court of Appeal finding that insufficient attention was given to the young age of the woman at the time of the offence. The offence, to which the woman

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has signed an order commencing key provisions of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 relating to guardianship, custody and access.