Surge in number of solicitors withdrawing from legal aid rota
The number of solicitors withdrawing from legal aid schemes in police stations has quadrupled in three years, according to figures.
Courts
Social media updates in Irish court to be restricted to journalists and lawyers
Live social media updates are set to be banned in the Irish courts for all except journalists and lawyers involved in the case.
End Not Proven campaign aims to scrap ‘confusing’ verdict in Scotland
A woman who won a civil rape case is spearheading a new campaign to end the not proven verdict in Scottish criminal trials.
Women who sold fake diet pills and cancer treatments given £820k bill
Two women who sold fake diet pills and cancer treatments to vulnerable customers have been ordered to hand over a total of more than £820,000.
Former Celtic Boys Club coach jailed for historical child abuse
A former football coach has been jailed for six years after being convicted of historical child sex offences.
Four face jail over 22-second fatal stabbing of teenager
Four teenagers face years behind bars for fatally stabbing an 18-year-old while he was out walking with his girlfriend.
Alleged neo-Nazi terrorist pledged to ‘continue the fight’, court told
A father who named his baby after Hitler and is accused of being a “fanatical” neo-Nazi terrorist group member vowed to “continue the fight” despite it being outlawed, a court heard.
Self-confessed racist denies raising baby named after Hitler to be ‘miniature Nazi’
An alleged far-right terrorist who named his baby son after Hitler has told a jury it was not his goal to raise a “miniature Nazi”.
‘Evil’ drug-user who cut his grandmother’s throat jailed for life
A cocaine-user who murdered his grandmother by cutting her throat and stabbing her more than 40 times in an attack of “extraordinary ferocity” has been branded “evil” in court by his family.
‘Controlling bully’ who stabbed wife 49 times in front of son jailed for murder
An “arrogant, controlling bully” who strangled and then stabbed his wife 49 times in front of her young son has been jailed for life.
Woman in court over stabbing death of husband
A woman has appeared in court charged with murdering her husband.
Child killer given whole life term for 20-year campaign of sexual violence
A convicted child murderer has been told he will die in prison by a judge who described his “20-year campaign of rape and sexual assaults against children and women, fuelled by a sadistic desire to inflict pain for sexual gratification”.
Tory official not aware of forged signature on election expenses, court told
A Tory official has said she “wasn’t aware at all” that a colleague’s signature was forged on an election expenses form.
Rangers lose out in fresh court battle with Sports Direct
Bosses at Rangers Football Club have lost the latest round of a High Court fight over a merchandise deal with Sports Direct and Newcastle United boss Mike Ashley.
Tommy Robinson’s actions ‘put Huddersfield grooming trials at risk’
The Huddersfield grooming trials were allegedly put at risk by the antics of English Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson.
EDL founder Tommy Robinson’s case sent back to Attorney General
The contempt of court case of former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been sent back to the Attorney General after the “nature and extent of the controversies” emerged in a letter to the judge.
EDL founder Tommy Robinson says ‘I’ve already won’ as he returns to court
Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson claimed he had “already won” as he addressed a crowd of supporters ahead of his contempt of court case.
Crowds chant support for Tommy Robinson as former EDL leader returns to court
Crowds of supporters chanted “Oh Tommy Tommy” and blasted klaxons outside the Old Bailey as former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson returned for his contempt of court case.
Man jailed after attempting to set fire to Scottish Parliament building
A man who attempted to set fire to the Scottish Parliament, causing a “major security alert”, has been jailed for 30 months.
Grooming trials ‘put at risk’ by Tommy Robinson
The Huddersfield grooming trials were allegedly put at risk by the antics of English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson, who flouted reporting restrictions designed to ensure the proceedings were fair.