Top UK legal bigwigs were called to the Bar of Northern Ireland during a visit to Belfast, shining the spotlight on restorative justice.
Legal Heavyweights Called to Northern Ireland Bar
Victoria Prentis KC MP, Attorney General of England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland, took centre stage as she was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland. As the UK Government’s top legal adviser on Northern Ireland law, her presence marked a significant moment.
Alongside the Advocate General, the Solicitor General and other Law Officers met with key Northern Ireland legal figures including:
- Dame Siobhan Roisin Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
- Members of the Northern Ireland Bar
- Lawyers at the Crown Solicitor’s Office tackling critical government legal issues
Inside Northern Ireland Alternatives: Restorative Justice in Action
The Law Officers paid a visit to Northern Ireland Alternatives (NIA), a charity established in 1998 to curb paramilitary-style attacks through restorative justice.
With centres across Northern Ireland, NIA offers a government-backed programme focused on non-violent community responses to low-level crime and antisocial behaviour. The Greater Shankill site, visited by the Law Officers, works closely with the local community and runs outreach programmes in schools covering training, mentoring, and conflict resolution.
During the visit, Victoria Prentis met staff and young people involved in the Alternatives Programme.
Victoria Prentis KC MP, Advocate General, said: “Northern Ireland Alternatives has helped to transform the lives of young people by making them understand the harm that their crimes have caused and giving them the tools to make better choices.”
Restorative Justice: Changing Lives and Communities
The Law Officers learned how restorative justice at Greater Shankill helps reduce conflict, repair community relations, and steer youth away from crime.
Participants usually enter the scheme through referrals by the PSNI, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, or community groups. They receive ongoing training, mentoring, and commit to regular contact with their mentors throughout the programme.
Debbie Watters OBE, Co-Director of Northern Ireland Alternatives, said: “Northern Ireland Alternatives was delighted to host the Attorney General in Belfast and to allow her to hear first hand from a young man who had experienced paramilitary threat; the criminal justice system and restorative interventions.
Her commitment to and affirmation of restorative justice and the work of Alternatives means so much both to the organisation and to the community. It reinforces the need for partnerships between the justice system and community restorative justice programmes.”
