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Tom O'Malley, a law lecturer and barrister with expertise in criminal law, sentencing, criminal procedure and constitutional law, considers whether the use of non-jury trials in Ireland can be expanded. It has recently been reported that the Bar Council of Ireland has been considering whether ordina

A legal challenge has been brought against the decision to simply delay the 2020 round of transfer tests for Primary 6 pupils in Northern Ireland. A mother has instructed Belfast firm Phoenix Law on behalf of her 10-year-old daughter to challenge the decision to delay the exams for two to three week

The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) has more than tripled its output of decisions in two years, according to its latest annual report. Chairperson Hilkka Becker said last year "could be considered the tribunal’s first year of reaching full operational capacity with the tribuna

A large-scale strategic housing development in Limerick has been refused planning permission after environmental objections were raised. The development at Canal Bank, Corbally would have comprised seven separate blocks of build-to-rent and student apartments, ranging in height from six to 10 storey

A man who stole a 2,000-year-old Roman relic has returned it as he believes "the end of the world is near” and wants to clear his conscience. Moshe Manies, who returned the 'ballista stone' on behalf of the man who stole it, posted about the relic on Facebook.

Far-right activists John Waters and Gemma O'Doherty have been refused leave for a judicial review of the emergency coronavirus laws. In a judgment handed down by the High Court this morning, Mr Justice Charles Meenan said the applicants "have made no arguable case against the notice parties".

A judge has complained that she is struggling to hear through thick screens installed in the Four Courts in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Perspex screens, around half-an-inch in thickness, have been installed in front of the bench in some courtrooms to protect public health.

Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has won a UK Supreme Court appeal against his two convictions in 1975 for attempting to escape from detention. In the judgment delivered this morning, the Supreme Court unanimously held that the interim custody order (ICO) made in respect of Mr Adams in

Over a quarter of applications to the interim payment scheme set up by the legal aid agency in response to the coronavirus pandemic have been rejected. As of Monday night, the Legal Services Agency (LSA) had processed 264 requests under the COVID-19 interim payments scheme which came into operation

A number of undefended divorces are set to be heard via remote hearings under a new pilot in Belfast. The announcement from the Recorder of Belfast, Judge David McFarland, comes less than a week after the first divorces were granted in remote hearings south of the border.

A round-up of deals involving Irish law firms. Submit your deals to newsdesk@irishlegal.com. Arthur Cox has advised Illumina Ventures and HLM Venture Partners on their investment in a company aiming to produce and supply at-home COVID-19 testing kits.

The Court of Appeal in Belfast has clarified the circumstances in which an Enhanced Combination Order (ECO) can be imposed on sex offenders. In a recent judgment, Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice, found that two offenders who admitted sexual assault by penetration contrary to article 6(1) o

Over £2 million in legal aid fees has not yet been paid to lawyers because their claims have not been resubmitted after being queried by the Legal Services Agency (LSA). There were 1,767 queries with a total value of £2.24 million awaiting replies and resubmission from 139 different firm

Attorney General John Larkin QC will appear before MLAs tomorrow to provide evidence on legal issues relating to the emergency coronavirus laws. Mr Larkin will appear for over an hour and a half as a witness before the Stormont justice committee, which is meeting tomorrow at 11am in the Senate Chamb

The law firm used by celebrities including Robert De Niro and Madonna has reportedly been hacked. Hackers claim to have 756 gigabytes of data taken from Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, including emails and contracts.