Criminal

2hrs in prison for answering phone in court

2hrs in prison for answering phone in court

9th May 2012

Paddy Sweeney, of Marlborough Terrace in Derry, Northern Ireland, was put in a prison cell for two hours for answering his mobile phone during a sitting at Londonderry Magistrates Court. Mr... Read more

Public Prosecution Service accepts Manslaughter plea

2nd May 2012

Gary Moane, 36, from Lisolvan Park, entered a plea of guilty to the manslaughter of Ciaran Woods in Tempo in July 2010. Mr Moane was originally charged with murder... Read more

Northern Ireland criminal courts not to be televised

2nd May 2012

The Justice Minister David Ford has announced Northern Ireland will not follow Scotland in televising any aspect of criminal trials at this time. His comments came following an assembly... Read more

Prison sentence for racist Twitter comments

27th March 2012

A student who made racially offensive comments on Twitter about Fabrice Muamba, the footballer who suffered a cardiac arrest during a match and is now in hospital, has been given... Read more

Newry woman given 14yrs for murder of homeless man

23rd March 2012

A second person has been given a prison sentence in connection with the 'horrific' murder of a homeless Polish man, Marek Muszynski, in 2009. Newry woman Lindsay White, aged 23, was... Read more

MP charged with assault

1st March 2012

MP Eric Joyce was arrested on Wednesday night following an incident at a House of Commons bar. Mr Joyce is a Labour MP representing Falkirk. The disturbance allegedly... Read more

30% of NI prison sentences involve non-payment of fines

14th February 2012

David Ford faced questions in the Assembly yesterday on the numbers of people who are in prison in Northern as a result of non-payment of fines.  Questions were raised of... Read more

Northern Ireland legal aid reform proposed

3rd February 2012

A reform of the Northern Ireland legal aid system has been proposed by Justice Minister David Ford that would see defendants deemed to be of 'sufficient means' having to pay... Read more

Northern Ireland criminal cases criticised as too slow

24th January 2012

A report has criticised the speed of justice in Northern Ireland, noting that some cases take twice as long to dispose of as in England and Wales.  The report calls... Read more

Protesters occupy vacant former bank in Belfast

16th January 2012

A Belfast city centre property which was formerly a Bank of Ireland building has been occupied by a dozen protesters from the 'Occupy Belfast' group. Police have not yet attempted to... Read more

New criminal powers used by police over 4000 times

13th January 2012

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that it has used new powers to deal with minor criminal offences more than 4,000 times to date. The new powers enable... Read more

Celebrity chef cautioned by police for shoplifting

10th January 2012

Anthony Worrall Thompson, one of the most well known celebrity chefs in the UK, has been cautioned by police after being arrested for shoplifting at a Tesco store in Reading.... Read more

Woman given jail sentence following manslaughter conviction

6th January 2012

Caroline Meeking, the woman found guilty of causing the death of her husband Alan Meeking, has been sentenced to serve two years in prison. Mrs Meeking had been found guilty... Read more

Stats on non-payment of criminal fines released

19th December 2011

Northern Ireland news website The Detail has published figures that show the high number of people being imprisoned for the non-payment of criminal fines. The results highlight the fact that... Read more

Legal Aid paid to Northern Ireland Criminal Solicitors criticised

23rd November 2011

Stormont’s Public Accounts Committee has criticised a number of groups including the Legal Services Commission (“LSC”) and criminal solicitors in relation to the criminal legal aid spend in Northern Ireland. ... Read more

Ex-security chief urges discussions to decriminalise cannabis

18th November 2011

The former head of MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller will use a speech to the all-party parliamentary drugs group to call for the decriminalisation of cannabis. Baroness Manningham-Buller joins a long list... Read more

Court Clerk first person convicted under Bribery Act

18th November 2011

Munir Yakub Patel, a former court clerk at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court, has been jailed for 6 years for accepting a bribe to avoid logging details of a parking offence on... Read more

Police investigate assault on man during football match violence

17th November 2011

Following the scenes of violence that marred the Tyrone county football league final between Carrickmore and Dromore last Sunday the police have confirmed that they are investigating an assault of... Read more

Former Police Officer pleads guilty to forging witness statement

16th November 2011

Former policeman Gary Paul Millar has admitted perverting the course of justice and forging a witness statement.  The 32 year old former officer failed to investigate a complaint of assault... Read more

Son of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour released from prison

15th November 2011

Charlie Gilmore, the son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, who was jailed for 16 months for violent disorder has been released from prison. The criminal conviction relates to offences... Read more

10 years jail for fraudulent VAT claims of fake company

14th November 2011

Former policeman Nigel Cranswick has been jailed for 10 years at Newcastle Crown Court for conspiracy to cheat the public revenue. Several other co-defendants have also received similar sentences for... Read more

Criminal conviction for husband who waived loaded gun at love rival

11th November 2011

A husband who waived a loaded shotgun in a threatening manner at his estranged wife and the man with whom he suspected she was having an affair with has been... Read more

Police clamp down on bail breaches and court absentees

11th November 2011

The PSNI have confirmed that 130 people have been arrested in the Derry area within the last month for evading court and breaching their bail conditions. ‘Operation Relentless’ was launched... Read more

Police Ombudsman receives 16,000 complaints in 5 years

11th November 2011

The Police Ombudsman has released an equality report tracking trends in the make up of the 16,000 complaints he has received since 2006.  The report showed young men are the... Read more

Measures to tackle gang and youth criminality

7th November 2011

The Home Office have published their plans to tackle gang and youth violence in the UK. The growing number of young persons involved in criminal behaviour was particularly apparent during... Read more

Two men stand trial for Antrim barracks murders

7th November 2011

The trial of two men charged with murder at a Northern Ireland army barracks began today.  Colin Duffy, 43, and Brian Shivers, 45, have been charged with the murder of... Read more

Northern Ireland Criminal Solicitor becomes head of the PPS

7th November 2011

Sir Alastair Fraser has been succeeded as director of public prosecutions by Northern Ireland criminal solicitor Barra McGrory QC.  The post has been vacant since Sir Fraser retired over a... Read more

Legal Aid increased for Northern Ireland Criminal Solicitors

4th November 2011

The High Court has increased the level of legal aid paid to two firms of Northern Irish Criminal Solicitors and their QC for acting in two criminal appeals.  Mr Justice... Read more

Prosecution delay leads to bank theft charges being dropped

3rd November 2011

  Charges brought against Coalisland man Ciaran Devlin relating to the alleged theft of £7,000 from a County Tyrone Ulster Bank branch have been dismissed at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court.   District Judge John... Read more

Kimberley-Clark plead guilty to health and safety breaches

2nd November 2011

Kimberley-Clark has pleaded guilty at Barrow Magistrates’ Court to charges relating to health and safety breaches at their factory in Barrow. The charges follow the death in 2007 of factory... Read more

Questioning continues over murder allegation in Derry

31st October 2011

A man, aged 31, is still being questioned on suspicion of murder after the stabbing to death of a man in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Christopher McGaughey, aged 56, was attacked at... Read more

Two men charged with Possession with Intent to Supply in Belfast

26th October 2011

Eight thousand ecstasy tablets with an estimated street value of £80,000 were marked MTV, a court has heard.  Police claim the drugs were destined for distribution during the MTV Music... Read more

Judge warns jury in Cardy murder trial

25th October 2011

The Judge hearing the Jennifer Cardy murder trial, Mr Justice Weatherup, has warned the jury in the trial that they should not focus on the accused Robert Black’s past convictions... Read more

Closing speeches in Joanna Yeates murder trial

25th October 2011

Barristers for the prosecution and defence will address the jury in the Joanna Yeates murder trial for the last time today.  The trial judge, Mr Justice Fields, is expected to... Read more

Bribery Act 2010: First Conviction

25th October 2011

Following the commencement of the Bribery Act in July of this year a former Magistrates’ Court official, Munir Patel, has become the first person to be successfully prosecuted under the... Read more

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