News

A barrister and two solicitors have been nominated by ministers for appointment to judicial posts. Elva Duffy SC has been nominated for appointment as a Circuit Court judge, filling the vacancy arising from the retirement of Judge Patrick Meghan earlier this month.

A court in Germany has ruled that a British undercover policeman who spied on environmental campaigners did so unlawfully during his time in Germany. The ruling brings to an end the legal case that was begun by one of the campaginers who was spied on by Mark Kennedy.

Justices in the UK Supreme Court has been urged to throw out the case on whether Scotland can hold an independence referendum without Westminster's consent. Lawyers for the UK government said that Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, Scotland's chief legal officer, had given an answer on the competency of

A Japanese woman has become the victim of a romance scam that is out of this world. The 65-year-old struck up an interaction with a man on Instagram who told her he needed thousands of dollars – to return to Earth.

Belfast-based Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors provided trauma informed training for its staff recently. The training was facilitated by Wave Trauma Centre and included the following:

A new podcast, The Fifth Court, has been launched, to cover Irish legal issues. Presented by Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL, editor of Decisis, the guest for the first episode is Mr Justice Gerard Hogan.

The Government has approved the publication of the Review of the Atypical Scheme for non-EEA Crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet. This report and its recommendations follow an extensive consultation process with stakeholders involved in the scheme.

More than 1,200 people have made an application to the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) for their birth information since the launch of services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 one week ago. Of 1,288 applications made to the AAI from October 3 to October 10, there were 1,176 from

Fergal McGoldrick, a senior associate in Carson McDowell’s media, communications & reputation team, casts his eye over the new Northern Irish “Pre-Action Protocol for Defamation and Other Media and Communication Claims” and its implications for the kaleidoscope of 21st century

The Belfast Solicitors Association (BSA) recently gifted the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association (DSBA) a commemorative trophy on 27 September at Luttrellstown Castle Golf Club, County Dublin to mark the 50th Anniversary of the DSBA presenting the BSA with the BSA chair chain of office in 1972.

Mills Selig continues to grow with the appointment of three new solicitors across its corporate, litigation and climate and energy teams. Two of the appointments are newly qualified solicitors who completed their training contract with Mills Selig: Christopher Fairfield, and Aveen McGahon. Mr Fairfi

Pictured (L-R): Gareth Jones, LSMS mediator; Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland; Brian Speers, chair of LSMS and Rosalind Dunlop, LSMS mediator The importance of mediation in settling legal disputes in Northern Ireland has been highlighted this week with the launch of a new

New Zealand's government has proposed taxing farmers on the greenhouse gases produced by burping and peeing animals. The government said that the levy was a world first and that farmers could pass the cost on by charging more for green products.

The United Kingdom Constitution Monitoring Group (UKCMG) has warned that the UK constitution is under increasing strain, threatening the quality and stability of our democracy.

Belfast law firm McKees has announced six new appointments.