Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's justice minister has set out plans to improve the experience of victims and witnesses navigating the justice system. Naomi Long said actions linked to Northern Ireland's new victims and witnesses strategy for 2026-2023 "will empower and support all victims and witnesses using a tr

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has upheld orders of the High Court quashing decisions providing for the early release on licence of Robert Clarke. Delivering judgment for the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Adrian Colton explained: “It would be an absurdity for a declaration of eligibi

A member of Irish-language rap group Kneecap will not face trial in England for an alleged terrorism offence following a court victory. The English High Court yesterday found that a judge was right to find that he had no jurisdiction to try a charge against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who perf

Northern Ireland's draft framework for race relations and delivery plan have gone out for consultation. The 12-week public consultation commences today and runs until 3 June 2026.

Personal injury lawyers have urged Northern Ireland's Department of Justice to avoid a scenario where severely injured people are under-compensated in comparison to those in England and Wales. The Department recently carried out a consultation on how inflation should be taken into account when the p

The Belfast Solicitors' Association (BSA) has secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the Bar of Northern Ireland in the legal profession's twice-yearly football match-up.

A large-scale investigation is taking place into a former PSNI officer suspected of committing rape and other sexual offences over the course of a decade. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has said it is "allocating all available resources" to the investigation and has warned that this may i

Northern Ireland lawyers must defend access to justice and the rule of law, the president of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) has said on a visit to Belfast. Steven Thiru was invited by the Law Society of Northern Ireland to discuss the threats to access to justice in Commonwealth cou

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice has launched a social media campaign to challenge common misconceptions about rape and sexual assault. The "Rape Myths = Real Harm" campaign aims to address issues identified in Sir John Gillen's 2019 review of sexual offence trials in Northern Ireland.

A new deputy chief commissioner and two new commissioners have been appointed to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Colin Kennedy, chief executive of Maplewood Estates Limited and chairman of Jordan's Gift, has been appointed as deputy chief commissioner for a three-year term.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a review of private dentistry in all four parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland. Demand for private dentistry has risen sharply in recent years, with one in five people in Great Britain using private dental care in 2024.

Northern Ireland firm Cleaver Fulton Rankin has welcomed Rebecca O'Flaherty as an associate director and Aisling Park as a paralegal. Ms O'Flaherty joins the firm's banking and finance team, bringing extensive experience advising clients across a broad range of sectors on complex corporate transacti

The Belfast Solicitors' Association (BSA) has named WAVE Trauma Centre as its charity partner for 2026. WAVE Trauma Centre is a leading Northern Ireland charity providing care and support to individuals and families bereaved, injured or traumatised as a result of the Troubles.

Two lay members have been appointed to the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC). Deirdre Toner and Mark Mitchell have been appointed for a four-year term until 24 February 2030.

Significant legislation on sentencing has been introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Sentencing Bill will increase the maximum sentences for a number of offences while also introducing a new framework for hate crime.