Northern Ireland

Same-sex couples in Northern Ireland can give notice of their intent to form a civil marriage to the General Register Office for Northern Ireland from today following a change in the law last summer. The first same-sex weddings are expected to take place from 10 February 2020, following the minimum

Over 100 new apprentice solicitors have been welcomed by the Law Society of Northern Ireland this week.

Families bereaved and injured in IRA bombings allegedly using Libyan-supplied Semtex have launched civil claims aimed at the State of Libya. Belfast firm KRW Law is acting for a number of families affected by fatal explosions in Belfast, Enniskillen, Derry, Newry and London between 1987 and 1994.

Stricter new anti-money laundering (AML) regulations have come into force across the UK with effect from today. The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019 update the UK's AML regime to incorporate international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) an

Proposals to reform family reunification rules for people in Northern Ireland have been welcomed by immigration rights campaigner Emma DeSouza. Speaking to Irish Legal News, Mrs DeSouza said the proposed changes would "lift a tremendous weight off many families", but warned that the proposals did no

The introduction of domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) in Northern Ireland has moved forward with the launch of a recruitment process for three independent chairs. The DHR process was introduced in England and Wales in 2011 under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crimes and Victims Act 2004 and its

A landmark case concerning the circumstances in which a border poll will be held in Northern Ireland will be heard by the Court of Appeal in Belfast today. Victims' rights campaigner Raymond McCord is appealing the High Court's June 2018 ruling that the Northern Ireland Secretary does not have to ma

A consultation paper on strengthening Northern Ireland's hate crime laws has been launched. Judge Desmond Marrinan was appointed last summer to lead an independent review of hate crime laws, fulfilling a commitment given by former Justice Minister Claire Sugden and following calls from across the cr

Mallon McCormick Solicitors has raised over £4,500 for NI Chest Heart and Stroke in a pilot run of the charity's will-writing initiative. Solicitors at the Maghera-based firm waived their fees for will writing services during November and instead invited clients to donate to NICHS.

Employment tribunal claimants in Northern Ireland will have to consider the option of early conciliation before formally lodging their claim under a law taking effect later this month. From 27 January 2020, anyone who wishes to lodge a claim with the Industrial Tribunal or Fair Employment Tribunal m

The High Court in Belfast has reserved judgment in a case concerning whether a teenager suffered discrimination when he was named as a criminal suspect by media outlets. JKL, from Co Antrim, was arrested in October 2015 when he was 15 years old in connection with the high-profile TalkTalk hack.

Northern Ireland's health system lacks the resources and facilities to deal with defendants with mental health issues, a Crown Court judge has said. Judge Philip Babington, the Recorder of Derry, hit out at the "shambles" as he ruled on an appeal in Londonderry County Court involving a 38-year-old w

Cheryl Lamont, chief executive of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI), has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The probation chief was recognised in the New Year Honours list for services to criminal justice.

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

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