Latest News
Conference, “Mapping the Rollback of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement”, April 26th, Great Hall, QUB
14 March 2013
CAJ in collaboration with the Transitional Justice institute and the Human Rights Centre Queens University Belfast invite you. Read more
CAJ comments ahead of debate on proposed National Crime Agency
04 February 2013
CAJ notes the Assembly will today, Monday 4 February 2013, debate the following motion: That this Assembly supports a Legislative Consent Motion [LCM] in relation to the Crime and Courts Bill to give effect to the proposed National Crime Agency operating in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Minister of Justice to progress this as a matter of… Read more
Human rights group welcomes Stormont decision not to introduce ‘British FBI’ as unaccountable police force into NI
29 January 2013
Human rights group the Committee on the Administration of Justice CAJ has welcomed the Northern Ireland Executives’ decision not to introduce the National Crime Agency (NCA) into Northern Ireland as an additional fully fledged police force, running its own informers and with full arrest and detention powers. The NCA would also have had powers to… Read more
CAJ welcomes recommencement of historic investigations
23 January 2013
CAJ welcomes the positive report by Criminal Justice Inspection into the Office of the Police Ombudsman and the recommendation that investigations into historic cases be re-started. CAJ brought to light the undermining of the independence of the Office under the previous Ombudsman and is pleased to see that many of the issues have now been… Read more
Human rights group welcomes the UK Bill of Rights Commission’s recognition of the separate and distinctive Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Process
18 December 2012
On Tuesday the 18 th of December the UK Bill of Rights Commission, set up to investigate the creation of a “UK Bill of Rights” in March 2011, delivered its long awaited report - A UK Bill of Rights? - The Choice Before Us – to the UK Government. The report recognizes the “ distinctive Northern Ireland Bill of Rights process and it’s… Read more
We still need a Finucane Public Inquiry
13 December 2012
In its response to the De Silva Report, the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) has quoted Judge Peter Cory: “In this case only a public inquiry will suffice. Without public scrutiny doubts based solely on myth and suspicion will linger long, fester and spread their malignant infection throughout the Northern Ireland community.”… Read more
The Policing You Don’t See
05 December 2012
Covert policing and the accountability gap: Five years on from the transfer of 'national security' primacy to MI5 Read more
Human right group concerned about suspension of “legacy” inquests
15 November 2012
The decision of the Senior Coroner, John Leckey, to suspend inquests into 14 past deaths where security forces were implicated, has shocked human rights activists. Under the “Right to Life” article of the European Convention on Human Rights, governments are obliged to conduct proper investigations into the use of lethal force. Properly organised… Read more
CAJ issues video Statement to the UNHRC
25 September 2012
CAJ recently had the opportunity to submit a video statement to United Nations Human Rights Council on the final Outcome Report of the UK’s Universal Periodic Review Speaking of the statement CAJ’s Adrienne Reilly said “There are a number of issues that CAJ would like to raise; the Bill of Rights, a single equality act and the promotion of… Read more
No more ‘Secret Evidence’ in Court
09 July 2012
As the Justice and Security Bill enters the Committee stage of the House of Lords today, local human rights organisation, the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) has expressed concern about some of the elements of the Bill and the specific impact they could have on justice issues in Northern Ireland. Daniel Holder, Deputy Director… Read more
T-Shirt design competition - Child category winner announced!
26 June 2012
We are delighted to announce that Merin Antony from St. Mary’s High School, Downpatrick has won the Children’s category of our T-shirt design competition! Merin is pictured below (left), with CAJ Human Rights Programme Officer, Adrienne Reilly (right) Read more
Loughinisland Massacre commemorative booklet launched
14 June 2012
A campaign booklet has been launched to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the Loughinisland Massacre. The Loughinisland Massacre occurred on 18th June 1994 in the small County Down hamlet . Six men lost their lives and another 5 were injured. No one one has ever been brought to justice for the deaths and there are growing concerns over… Read more
CAJ raises concerns about the impact of secret evidence law on Northern Ireland cases
13 June 2012
CAJ has providing information to members of the House of Lords which raises concerns about the impact of secret evidence law on Northern Ireland cases. Please view our submission which draws attention to a number of serious implications that the introduction of Closed Material Procedures will have on dealing with the legacy of the conflict in… Read more
CAJ volunteer receives certificate of recognition
08 June 2012
In celebration of Volunteer Week 1 – 7 th June, CAJ volunteer Mrs Rose Perry, received a certificate for her commitment to CAJ for over the last 21 years. Read more
CAJ writes open letter to NIO
07 June 2012
CAJ has written an open letter to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), contained within our submission to the consultation on the Future Operation of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. You can view the submission and letter here . Read more
T-Shirt design competition winner announced!
29 May 2012
We are delighted to announce that the over-18 section of our t-shirt competition has been won by Sinead Farry! Here is a photo of Sinead with her winning design. Pictured L-R are: Brian Gormally, CAJ Director, Adrienne Reilly, CAJ Human Rights Programme Officer, and Sinead Farry, competition winner. Read more
Agreement does not provide for Veto on Bill of Rights
23 April 2012
CAJ welcomes the call by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore at the weekend for the British Government to fulfil its obligations under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement by delivering a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The response of the Northern Ireland Office – that consensus is required in the Northern Ireland Assembly - is wrong, both in fact and in… Read more
CAJ Director blogs on RightsNI
11 April 2012
Brian Gormally, Director of CAJ has contributed towards the RightsNI blog, publishing an article on why human rights in Northern Ireland are still internationally important. You can read the blog post here Read more
CAJ gives evidence to Helsinki Commission
02 April 2012
Brian Gormally, Director of CAJ, was part of a delegation to Washington over the St Patrick’s Day period speaking to interested parties about human rights in Northern Ireland. Our focus this year was on the UK Government’s continuing breaches of Article 2 (“right to life”) of the European Convention in failing to properly investigate cases… Read more
13.03.2012 Spotlight, BBC Northern Ireland
13 March 2012
CAJ's Deputy Director, Daniel Holder, took part in a special Spotlight programme looking at supergrass Trials. Click here to view http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01dcy2w/Spotlight_13_03_2012/ Read more