Northern Ireland

Obstructing a school inspection is to become a criminal offence in Northern Ireland under proposals aimed at improving co-operation with the inspection process. The Department of Education has launched a public consultation on the proposals, which will run until 10 July 2025.

The Bar of Northern Ireland has unveiled a new display marking the opening for signatures of the new Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. The large visual design piece at the Bar Library building on Chichester Street has been installed just as both the UK and I

A&L Goodbody's Belfast office has announced a new two-year charity partnership with Northern Ireland Hospice. NI Hospice is the only service of its kind in Northern Ireland providing specialist palliative care for both children and adults with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses. The ho

Northern Ireland's High Court is to hear a damages claim from two of the "Hooded Men" after rejecting an application from the UK government to have their case dismissed. Liam Shannon and Jim Auld, represented by KRW LAW LLP, argue that there is new evidence pointing to torture which was not availabl

Prison experts and officials from around the world are convening this week at the Correctional Research Symposium, taking place in Belfast for the first time. The event is organised every two years by the European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris) and the International Corr

Carson McDowell has joined a prestigious list of Northern Ireland's top 100 companies for the first time. The independent law firm has secured position 66 in the Belfast Telegraph's Top 100 Companies list, making it the first Northern Ireland-based law firm to be featured.

Northern Ireland's justice minister has rowed back on plans for legislation requiring compensation settlements for injured children to be approved by judges. Sir John Gillen's 2017 review of civil justice recommended that minor settlements in personal injury cases where legal proceedings have not be

Belfast firm RP Crawford Solicitors has welcomed solicitor Aaron Murchan and paralegal Conor McKeown to its team. Mr Murchan brings broad experience across public law and litigation, having previously worked at firms in Northern Ireland and Australia.

Phoenix Law partner Darragh Mackin has appeared before the St Helena Court of Appeal in a case concerning access to justice for citizens of the British overseas territory. The Belfast lawyer has been instructed by St Helena's Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is intervening in the case, Pe

Sir John Gillen has been reappointed as independent assessor of PSNI recruitment vetting for a further four years. The retired judge, who sat on Northern Ireland's High Court from 1999 and the Court of Appeal from 2014 until his retirement in 2017, will serve for a second term until 30 April 2029.

Northern Ireland’s High Court has dismissed a woman’s challenge to her exclusion from receipt of Cost of Living Payments (COLPs) during a period when she was housed in temporary accommodation and was in receipt of Housing Benefit. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice David

The PSNI has been challenged over a bizarre decision to release a deliberately blurred image of suspects in an attempted murder. Belfast firm Phoenix Law said its client Sean O'Reilly was confused by the force's appeal for assistance in identifying two suspects while releasing CCTV images with their

Northern Ireland personal injury law firm JMK Solicitors has recognised the expertise of five team members by giving them new titles. Marie-Claire Meehan is now director of performance, while Susan Morrison is now costs consultant and Sinead Toal, Ailis McKeown and Wendy McIntosh are now senior asso

Northern Ireland prosecutors are to appeal a sentence imposed on a man convicted of sexually exploiting and trafficking vulnerable young women. Oliver MacCormack, 71, was sentenced on 10 April 2025 in Belfast Crown Court to seven years' imprisonment for 40 counts relating to nine female victims.

The High Court has granted orders recognising the entering into administration of a Northern Irish company and the powers of its joint administrators. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice Michael Quinn considered that there was a legitimate purpose for seeking recognition and added: "A