News

The Council of Europe has reopened its consideration of the Pat Finucane case following the UK government's refusal to order a fresh public inquiry into the Belfast solicitor's murder in 1998. The Supreme Court ruled in February 2019 that the state had failed to deliver an Article 2 compliant i

A politician has been fined €10,000 (£8,600) for offering a wolf's tail as a retirement present. Jean-Marie Bernard, of France's conservative Republican party, said the gift was a “friendly gesture” as well as a political act to support farmers whose livelihoods were endangere

A judge in the Outer House of the Court of Session has ruled that three former members of a centuries-old Aberdeen association who were expelled for an alleged rule breach were not immune to expulsion by virtue of a change in their membership status. Kevin Brown, Alan Davidson, and&nb

Once again serious shortcomings in Scotland's fatal accident inquiry (FAI) system have been highlighted with the release of FAI findings just days before the tenth anniversary of the tragedy concerned. Seaman Boguslaw Kopec died on 13 March 2011 following an accident aboard the Forth Guardsman, sout

Critics have warned that the hate crime legislation passed yesterday at Holyrood will result in vexatious and malicious complaints. MSPs passed the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill by 82 votes to 32.

The Supreme Court should be brought to heel in the wake of high-profile constitutional rulings, a former government lawyer has said. Sir Stephen Laws, former first parliamentary counsel, has called for curbs on the court's power and clarification of judges' powers.

Plans to incorporate human rights treaties into Scots law have been announced by Equalities Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville. Subject to the outcome of May's Holyrood election, a new Human Rights Bill will incorporate four United Nations human rights treaties into Scots law, including legislat

The Scottish Human Rights Commission has welcomed the passing of the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act at Holyrood. The legislation creates a new independent body, Redress Scotland, to administer a scheme making financial payments to survivors of historical child

Sibel Top, a PhD fellow of the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, considers whether EU extradition laws have passed the "Catalan test". On 8 March 2021, the European Parliament voted to lift the immunity of Catalan MEPs, Puigdemont, Comin and Ponsati. Although this

Black Chambers have welcomed Kenneth Cloggie to the stable. Mr Cloggie called to the bar last year, having previously practised as a solicitor advocate and as a partner in his own firm. 

From May the majority of domestic abuse summary trials in Aberdeen Sheriff Court will be conducted virtually, with only the accused person and their solicitor having to be present in the court premises, Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle has announced. This follows a pilot project which was conducted last

Agents report strong buyer demand for homes in Scotland despite the second lockdown ESPC agents across the southern half of Scotland are reporting significant buyer demand and enquiries for homes, despite the current lockdown restrictions. 

A Belfast man arrested for allegedly exposing himself in a Subway restaurant was found to have a Kinder Egg full of drugs concealed in his backside, police say. John Goddard, 48, was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and causing disturbances after reports he had exposed himself in a Subway in sou

A sheriff in Glasgow has made an order under the Forced Marriage etc. (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Act 2011 in order to prevent the parents of an Indian student studying in the UK from attempting to force her into a marriage. The pursuer, referred to as AB, alleged that he

Aberdein Considine has appointed senior finance specialist Stuart Hunter. Mr Hunter has joined the firm as its director with responsibility for training and competency following senior roles with a number of major financial institutions including CYBG (now Virgin Money), Prudential Financial Pl