Northern Ireland

The trial of Pastor James McConnell over alleged offences under the Communications Act 2003 has begun in Belfast Magistrates Court. The 78-year-old preacher faces two charges related to a speech which was broadcast live over the Internet, in which he described Islam as "satanic", "heathen" and "spaw

Northern Ireland's Justice Minister David Ford celebrated the start of the Christmas season with members of the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast yesterday. Mr Ford joined the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Fionnuala O'Boyle, at the service organised by the NIPS Cen

Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers Groups representing the families of more than 150 victims of the Troubles have used a full-page advertisement in the Irish News to criticise the UK government and call for the establishment of an independent Historical Investigations Unit (HIU).

Lawyers acting for the family of the late Denis Donaldson are to launch legal proceedings against An Garda Síochána in the European Court of Justice. Mr Donaldson, once a leading member of Sinn Féin, was killed in April 2006 shortly after being exposed as an informer for police and British securi

Justice Minister David Ford Northern Ireland's Justice Minister David Ford has welcomed the UK government's announcement that an enhanced UK-wide "modern slavery" helpline will be launched next year.

Louis Maguire has lost his appeal against his conviction for murder and arson with intent to endanger life, after arguing that he had not received a fair trial, due in part to being unrepresented for a large part of the trial. Mr Maguire was found guilty in 2006 of the murder of Mr David Barnes, and

A Social Security Tribunal has agreed that a new rule that people must be resident in the Common Travel Area for three months to access Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is contrary to EU law in some cases. Law Centre (NI) has represented a number of people from Northern Ireland this year who have had pro

The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service has been authorised to recruit "investigative support" to help support inquests into historical killings. Justice Minister David Ford, speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday, criticised political agreements between Northern Ireland polit

Paul Tweed Belfast solicitor Paul Tweed acted for First Minister Peter Robinson in a successful libel claim against Private Eye, which reported that Mr Robinson had been blocked from the House of Lords.

Patrick Allen, senior partner at Hodge Jones & Allen

Northern Ireland's health minister has confirmed plans to amend proposed legislation to include a ban on smoking in cars where children are passengers. The legislation, if passed, would bring Northern Ireland in line with the Republic of Ireland, where the Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Sm

Pupils from across Northern Ireland took on the roles of barristers and witnesses at the 24th National Mock Trial Competition in the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast.

Justice Minister David Ford Northern Ireland's Department of Justice has cracked down on business crime in conjunction with the PSNI over the past financial year, Justice Minister David Ford has said.

A judgment in two major challenges to Northern Ireland's ban on same-sex marriages will be delivered after Christmas, the High Court has heard. The court was asked to rule whether marriage rules in Northern Ireland violated article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights after a challenge was b

The High Court in Belfast has granted Margaret McQuillan leave to seek a judicial review against the PSNI over alleged failures by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in the investigation of her sister's death. Ms McQuillan's sister, Jean Symth-Campbell, was shot dead in west Belfast in June 1972 at