Northern Ireland

A law graduate from Queen's University Belfast has spoken about going from childhood prison visits to interning at the US Congress. The university is sharing the story of Ellie-Jo Taylor, 21, who graduated with a law degree earlier this month.

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal against a decision of the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland to direct the release of a prisoner on licence. Delivering judgment for the Court of Appeal of Northern Ireland, Mr Justice Adrian Colton explained: “What is not l

Northern Ireland's Pro Bono Choir has raised £8,000 for charity at its annual carol service in Belfast. Senior legal and judicial figures were in attendance for the service on Tuesday 9 December at the Good Shepherd Church, Belfast, held under the musical direction of Sheelagh Greer, accompani

Northern Ireland firm Tughans has expanded its real estate team with the appointment of Catriona Sharkey as of counsel. Ms Sharkey joins Tughans from Sheehan in Dublin, bringing more than 15 years’ specialist experience advising on a broad range of commercial property matters across both

Global law firm Baker McKenzie has appointed Helena Woodward as executive director of its centre in Belfast. The firm's Belfast centre provides business and professional services support to its clients and offices around the world. Established in 2014, it now employs around 500 people.

A former internee's conviction for escaping lawful custody could be quashed by Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal due to doubts about the authenticity of a government minister's purported signature. Henry O'Rawe, who died in 2010, was convicted more than 50 years ago, on 25 March 1975, at Belfast Ci

A former sales assistant at JD Sports has settled a sexual harassment case against her former employer for £65,000 with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Jayla Boyd worked part-time in a Belfast store while studying for her A-Levels. During a shift, Ms Boyd was slapped

Funding of £119 million has been set aside by the Northern Ireland Executive to cover costs relating to a major PSNI data breach. An unprecedented PSNI data breach in August 2023 saw the names, roles and other personal details of all serving police officers and civilian staff inadvertently pub

Judge Philip Gilpin has been appointed by the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland as presiding County Court judge and recorder of Belfast. His appointment to the senior judicial posts took effect yesterday and will be for a period of five years.

The UK Supreme Court has upheld an appeal against judgments of the High Court and Court of Appeal in relation to the disclosure in a Troubles-related inquest of “gists” of sensitive information over which public interest immunity was claimed. Delivering judgment for the UK Supreme Court,

Human rights campaigners have expressed disappointment after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the disclosure of evidence in a Troubles-related inquest could be blocked on national security grounds. Judges today handed down their unanimous judgment in a case concerning a decision by a coroner to discl

The UK government has accepted the recommendations of an independent review of the post-Brexit Windsor Framework. Lord Murphy of Torfaen was commissioned by the government in January to lead an independent review of the deal, which was published in September.

A pair of aspiring lawyers have been awarded the Gateley Legal Northern Ireland prize by Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Law. Students Robin Clarke and Tara McFeely split this year’s award, which is given to the student from the Masters in Law course who scored the highest o

A legally comprehensive study of Lord MacDermott, former law lord and Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, has been published for the first time. Lord MacDermott was first appointed to the bench in 1944 and retired from Northern Ireland's top judicial post in 1971, though continued to sit in vari

Northern Ireland's justice minister, Naomi Long, has responded harshly to criminal barristers' strike plans, branding demands for legal aid fee increases "unrealistic and unaffordable". The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) last week confirmed plans to withdraw from all Crown Court cases early next mon