Donaldson Mcconnell & Co

21/07/2026

I was delighted to contribute to the panel talk yesterday evening at Lisburn Féile
Joined by Allison Morris, Vicki Kearney and Declan McNally there was a lively, animated debate about the scourge of violence towards women and girls. At all times thought provoking the conversation was at times sad and frightening.

These discussions should be taking place in every town and city in N Ireland.

15/07/2026

Given the horrendous news from Ballymena this week we wanted to publish this poster, created by Women’s Aid. If you need help you can reach out in total confidence to any of the offices, to the police and to any family Solictor.

If you think your friend, sister, daughter, niece or mother needs this please reach out to them. It could only take your encouragement to help them get out.

06/07/2026

We will be closing for the annual 12th holiday on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th July.

The office reopens on Wednesday 15th but please remember your favourite Solicitor may well have taken some extra time off.

It has been an extraordinarily busy 6 months so far this year so thank you all.

Have a safe and restful break!

22/06/2026

Today was a good day for heroes who we sometimes call victims.

It is never too late to report abuse of any kind to the police.

I hope many many heroes take courage from today - that Justice can be done, even in the most difficult of situations.

🩵💜

21/06/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy82wq9jdygo

Great news that extra protections are finally going through at the NI Assembly.

Working in retail is hard enough without having to worry about threat or assault.

The increase and specifications now of offences such as these on retail workers will afford all workers the ability to do their job in a more protected atmosphere.

If you are someone who thinks you can mistreat a person who is simply trying to help think again - your conviction will be swift and your sentence higher!

A new sentencing bill introduced to the Stormont assembly in Marcg will make it a specific offence to assault a public facing worker.

11/06/2026

Quite unbelievably yesterday Solicitors in NI who do immigration and asylum work were threatened on social media Their details were published and set out clearly on a message which invited “patriots” to do what they wished with the information. Anyone who thinks this is anything other than a thr...

16/05/2026

Big shout out to our newest top fans! 💎

Linda Kennedy, Gerry Brennan

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community, fans

09/05/2026

I was very pleased to be asked to attend before the Justice Committee this week to give evidence on a topic that not many people other than lawyers would know about - Taxation. Not of the HMRC variety though.

Taxation is a method by which lawyers have their costs independently and judicially assessed by a judge called a Master of the High Court. Myself and Eoghan McKenna were there to answer questions about reform of the system.

One area of particular concern is that of what hourly rate the DOJ are saying would be applicable after proposed reform.

It is currently set by the Taxation Judge but the DOJ want to change that for legal aid work, and to allow the DOJ to set it. To what we don’t know because they did not say either how they would assess nor how often. ( it is of note that only last year did family practitioners in NI receive a 16% increase in some family fees - the first increase since 1996)

My fear? Well no doubt many would say being paid less I suppose and yes that is correct. Anyone who does legal aid work will know that practitioners are not appropriately remunerated. It is well documented.

In this situation though the fear is that the DOJ would reduce payment levels for work that is so important to a level where it would be economically impossible for many smaller, local Solictor firms to continue to do legally aided work.

Work like care work for vulnerable parents, where the risk is that they will have children removed. Work like care work for children, who risk being removed from their parents and placed elsewhere. Work for individuals who are divorcing, and trying to sort their finances out. All work very often for the most vulnerable in society and statistically work that would indirectly discriminate against women more ( divorce and mat work)

Creating a 2 tier system of payment which is what we fear will happen will do nothing to help and assist local people. Legal aid continues to be attacked on all fronts, making access to justice more difficult for all who try to use it.

Being given the opportunity to inform the Justice Committee on Thursday about our fears was certainly worthwhile and essential. They will no doubt take the information provided back to the DOJ where hopefully further debate and discussion will result in a better outcome for us all.

27/04/2026

Another week starts with brighter skies and warmer temperatures but for many still the same problems and issues.

This first 4 months of our year at DMC have seen a massive increase in the numbers of matrimonial clients seeking urgent help and assistance. This year already we have covered injunctions, far too many applications for NMOs and occupation orders, supported far too many victims/survivors through criminal trials and it is relentless.
Whilst there is some reassurance in numbers coming forward looking for help (and I assume it because the spotlight is firmly place on domestic violence and its effect on women and girls), I cannot help but feel that little has been achieved in the first year of the “The Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls” (EVAWG)

I understand that £5million has already been spent - I appreciate as a citizen I would not have access to where and when and how it has been spent. I would however like to know - if anyone can help direct me to the answer?

I have to ask though given the Monday mornings we have experienced this year so far is the message getting through? In some ways I would say yes given the increase in numbers seeking help but with proposals being put forward by DOJ to cut the access to justice in the family court and for divorce and financial remedy I cannot help but think what is given loudly with publicity on the one hand is being quietly removed without fanfare by the other.

11/04/2026

I would like your help please. I am undertaking some very unscientific and informal research to satisfy a professional curiosity.
Could you answer the question below in the comments please?

Do you know what a non molestation order is?

Y for yes
N for no

Thank you - it would help me greatly.

Janice.