We’re Hiring!
We are currently looking for a Conveyancing Solicitor with 1-3 years PQE to join our expanding practice.
This is an excellent opportunity for a Conveyancing Solicitor to handle a full caseload of residential matters and to assist in commercial transactions. Read more
MTB Sponsored Andrew Wilson finishes T32 at The Open Championship
With the dust settling on The 148th Open Championship, which took place last week in Portrush, MTB Solicitors would like to congratulate England’s Andrew Wilson on his finish in T32 place with a score of 1 over par. Read more
Changes to the law in NI in respect of same sex marriage
On 9th July 2019 a Labour MP, originally from Northern Ireland, put forward a proposal to the Northern Ireland Executive Formation Bill to legislate for same sex marriage if Stormont was not restored by 21st October 2019. Read more
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is unfortunately a very common problem which is prevalent in all walks of life in Northern Ireland. The police are often at the coal face of complaints of domestic violence. The PSNI reported that between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2018, there were 31,008 domestic abuse incidents recorded. Read more
A great day at NIYSA Tag Rugby Tournament for The Leagles
MTB’s tag rugby team, The Leagles, dusted off their boots and competed in the annual NIYSA Tag Tournament at Malone RFC on Friday 28th June. It was a great day out in the sunshine but, despite our best efforts, we lost out on top spot to Tughans Solicitors on points difference. Read more
Health and Safety in the Workplace
The American manufacturing company, Terex GB Limited, has been fined £150,000, after one of its employees, Steven McTeague, died following an accident at a plant in Omagh. The Company pleaded guilty to charges of failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees; failing to ensure others were not exposed to risk, and failing to make suitable and sufficient risk assessments,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-48783427
In November 2018 The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) published its Annual Report which showed a decrease in the number of workplace fatalities for that year. Read more
Pensions and Age Discrimination – What does the Firefighters case mean for Northern Ireland?
The Supreme Court has refused the Government’s application for permission to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling that a change to firefighters’ pensions in 2015 was unlawful on the grounds of age discrimination. The 2015 change meant that older firefighters could stay in the existing and better scheme and younger firefighters had to transfer to a new and worse scheme causing a financial loss. Read more
What’s in a name?
A name is a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed, or referred. Recently, there has been a trend for people to legally change their names.
There are certain rules which have been enforced throughout the world. Read more
MTB’s staff and partners enjoy BSA Gala Dinner
The magnificent setting of the fantastic Titanic building was the setting for the Belfast Solicitors Association gala dinner. The drinks reception on the sixth floor offered views of Belfast Lough and the Titanic slipways as well as Black Mountain, Divis Mountain and Cave Hill. Read more
Holiday Pay – everything you need to know!
Partner and Head of the MTB Employment Department, John McShane, has recently succeeded in an unlawful deduction of wages claim in respect of holiday pay for Police Officers and Civilian PSNI staff. The decision from the Court of Appeal will have far reaching implications for employers and employees if the employee does regular overtime and is not paid their ‘normal pay’ when they take annual leave, ie to include overtime. Read more
What is a coroner?
One will have undoubtedly heard reference to coroners in TV shows relating to murders being investigated by grey-haired policemen in an area plagued by suspicious deaths.
A coroner is an independent judicial officer who deals with matters relating to deaths that might require further investigation to establish the cause of death. Read more
PSNI and NI Policing Board Appeal Dismissed – Settlement for Unpaid Holiday Pay now estimated at £40million
The Court of Appeal of Northern Ireland has today dismissed an appeal against a previous tribunal decision on a class action brought by a group representing 3,700 police officers and civilian support staff of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Read more
Injury reforms to be fast tracked by the Irish Government
The government has announced plans for a panel of seven judges to be appointed to recalibrate personal injury awards in Ireland, with one judge from each court elected to the committee along with two others. It is anticipated that a new book of quantum will be prepared before the end of this year and will be reviewed every three years thereafter. Read more
Court of Appeal extends MIB liability to cover RTCs on private land
The Court of Appeal in England recently handed down their decision in the case of Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) v Michael Lewis . This appeal was brought by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) to seek clarification on a preliminary point namely; whether the EU Directive 2009/103/EC (relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles and the enforcement of the obligation to insure against such liability https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/103/oj had a direct effect against the MIB as an emanation of the state-or to put it another way, whether the MIB had to pay compensation for injuries caused by an uninsured driver for a collision that occurred on private land. Read more
Law Society Walk / Run 2019
A large number of MTB staff ran, walked and even cycled (Enda Lavery you rebel!) in the Legal Walk Run 2019 on Friday 17th May. Over 200 participants from all branches of the legal profession undertook the 5k route, which started at our office and took in the sights of the Titanic Quarter. Read more
Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it’s a Will……Or is it?!
Following the death of the famous soul singer Aretha Franklin, the family have unearthed what they believe may be three hand-written Wills.
https://apple.news/Ae0tFUZcxQR-3RQK8e1PhxA
At the time of her death, the family believed that she died without having made a Will but it has now been reported that three documents have been found, two in a locked cabinet and one, believe it or not, down the back a sofa! Read more
Beckham Given 6 Month Driving Ban
David Beckham has been banned from driving for six months following a conviction for using a mobile phone whilst driving. Beckham was given the sentence at Bromley Magistrates’ Court last week, having previously pleaded guilty to the offence. Read more
ACNI Chief Executive awarded £12,000 for Age Discrimination
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) has settled an age discrimination case with its own chief executive for £12,000.
Roisin McDonagh alleged that she had been on the receiving end of age discrimination and victimisation from the public body. Read more
High Court In Dublin Approves €32m Settlement
A High Court Judge in Dublin has approved a total settlement of more than €32m in a case involving a severely brain damaged 9 year old boy. The settlement, the largest of this kind to be approved by the Irish Courts, results from the failure to diagnose an infection when the boy was a baby. Read more
