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Author: Sam Nelson

Ten is Too Young Coalition Welcomes Tabling of Amendment to Raise the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility to 16

27 February 2026
Sam Nelson
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Categories: News, Press Release

26 February 2026

The Ten is Too Young Coalition has welcomed the tabling of an amendment to the Justice Bill that would raise Northern Ireland’s minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) from 10 to 16 years old, without exception.

The Coalition has once again reiterated its position that at 10 years old, Northern Ireland’s age of criminal responsibility is too young. It said the latest amendment that has been tabled is the most evidence-based and rights compliant, and marks an historic opportunity to finally end Northern Ireland’s status as having one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the world.

For more than 30 years, children’s organisations, experts in child development and human rights bodies have been calling for meaningful reform, with victims’ advocates now also joining the calls. The support to raise the age is now widespread.

Chris Quinn, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, said: “We strongly welcome the tabling of the amendment setting the age at 16 with no exceptions.

“For over 30 years, organisations working with children have been clear, Northern Ireland’s current age of 10 is indefensible. It is out of step with international standards, out of step with science and out of step with the values we claim to hold about protecting children.

“This is a once in a generation chance to make our justice system fairer, safer and more effective. We cannot look back in years to come and realise we missed it.”

Fergal McFerran, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Children’s Law Centre, said: “Raising the age of criminal responsibility to 16 is not only the most rights compliant option – it is the approach that provides the best opportunity to deliver better outcomes for children, families and communities.

“Over a decade of scientific evidence tells us that children under 16 simply do not have the cognitive maturity to be held criminally responsible in the same way as adults. Criminalising them at 10 years old is wholly inconsistent with what we know about child development, and how we treat children with respect to other laws.

“What’s more, criminalising children simply doesn’t work. We know that 10 is too young, and MLAs now need to grasp this opportunity to support the most child rights compliant change to legislation as possible.”

The Ten is Too Young Coalition stressed that while it welcomes all efforts to raise the age, 16 without exceptions is the only option fully aligned with international children’s rights standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment No. 24, which encourages states to move towards 15 or 16 in line with developmental science.

The Coalition also cautioned against introducing exceptions for certain offences, citing clear UN guidance that exceptions are not grounded in evidence and undermine the purpose of the reform.

The Ten is Too Young Coalition is urging all MLAs to:

  • Recognise that 10 is too young, and that criminalising children does not work.
  • Maximise this opportunity by supporting the strongest amendment available.
  • Recognise that children in conflict with the law are overwhelmingly vulnerable children, and those in need.
  • Prioritise approaches that reduce reoffending, prevent future victims and give children the chance to turn their lives around.

With multiple amendments now tabled – seeking to set the age at 12 in some cases, 14 in some cases, and most recently to 16 – the Coalition is urging MLAs to ensure this long overdue issue receives full and serious debate in the Assembly chamber.

Protecting Children’s Right to Healthcare

3 February 2026
Sam Nelson
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Categories: Press Release

The Children’s Law Centre is deeply concerned by the findings of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman’s Overview Report on the removal of patients from GP practice lists. The report makes clear that inappropriate deregistration is occurring in a range of circumstances, including removals without warning, removals linked to complaints and the automatic removal of family members, all of which breach statutory processes and professional guidance.

John O’Doherty, CEO at the Children’s Law Centre commented: “Access to primary healthcare is a fundamental right for every child. Ensuring that children can register with and remain registered with a GP is essential for safeguarding their health, wellbeing, and development. Losing access to primary care, even temporarily, can place children at immediate risk, particularly those with disabilities, long‑term conditions, mental ill-health or complex needs.

“The Northern Ireland health service and GP practices have a clear legal duty to follow the statutory procedures set out in the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (NI) 2004, including requirements for communication, warnings, verification, and proportionality before any removal takes place. The Ombudsman’s findings show that these safeguards are not consistently being applied, leading to avoidable harm, distress, and barriers to accessing essential healthcare.

“Children must never lose access to their GP because of administrative failings, misunderstandings, or actions taken against another family member. Professional guidance is explicit that relatives should not be removed solely due to another person’s behaviour.

“The Children’s Law Centre therefore calls on the Department of Health, GP practices and the Business Services Organisation to urgently strengthen guidance, verification processes and oversight, and to introduce an independent review mechanism for removal decisions, as recommended by the Ombudsman.

“Every child has the right to timely, accessible, and continuous healthcare. This right must be protected in practice, without exception.”

10 is Too Young Coalition Launches Renewed Calls for Increase in Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility

2 February 2026
Sam Nelson
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Categories: News

02 February 2026

At 10 years of age, Northern Ireland (NI) has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the world. Despite repeated, longstanding calls, internationally and nationally, no legislative progress has been made.

On Thursday 29th January, the 10 is too Young coalition, published their latest joint briefing, providing the evidence for raising the age in NI to 16, with no exceptions, holding a briefing event for stakeholders and organisations on why this must be raised as a matter of urgency, and encouraging organisations to support this key change.

The group, made up of  Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI), the Children’s Law Centre, Include Youth, Niacro, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) and the Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) have said that the Justice Bill presents the opportunity to finally deliver reform that has been promised, consulted on and supported for well over a decade. Failing to act now would mean knowingly continuing a system that does not wholly work in the best interests of our children and young people.

The 10 is too Young Coalition is encouraging Members of the NI Assembly to support an amendment to the Justice Bill to raise the age, with no exceptions, as a necessary, proportionate and principled reform to our justice system.

The briefing paper published is now available to download.

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Children’s Law Centre Urges MLAs: SEND Transformation Must Deliver Real Change for Children

3 December 2025
Sam Nelson
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Categories: News

03 December 2025

Appearing before the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Education Committee, on Wednesday 3rd December, as part of its inquiry into Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), the Children’s Law Centre (CLC) acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Department of Education and the Education Authority (EA) to transform the SEND system. However, CLC stressed that every step must be taken to ensure these reforms do not replicate the shortcomings of the past.

Despite years of work under the SEND transformation programme, many children still face delays in accessing the support they need. CLC warned that without meaningful change, the system risks rebranding old barriers rather than removing them.

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Speaking after appearing at the committee, Rachel Hogan BL, SEND Specialist Legal Adviser said: “The percentage of children on the SEN register who now require a statement has doubled in the last decade, rising from 22% in 2014/15 to 42% in 2024/25. This reflects a system where children’s needs are being left unmet for prolonged periods.

“We recognise the commitment to improving SEND provision, but transformation must lead to tangible outcomes for children. Too many families continue to experience prolonged waits for specialist support and this cannot become the norm. Every child has a right to education now, not in another decade.

“Despite the clear commitment, children with special educational needs are still being left without education. For some families being supported by CLC, the loss of education has stretched into years.

“In our work, we continue to see disabled children put on reduced timetables, sent home early, or simply left without any education at all. This is not acceptable under the law and it should never be acceptable in any society that values children’s rights.

“Continuing to build systems upon a shaky foundation with insufficient financial and human resources will not produce changed outcomes. Increasing capacity of pupil support services to respond directly to children through early intervention to meet their needs will enable the EA pupil support services to deliver positive change.”

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Children’s Law Centre and Queen’s University Mark 10 Years of Children’s Services Co-operation Act

24 November 2025
Sam Nelson
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Categories: News

24 November 2025

The Children’s Law Centre (CLC), in partnership with the Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s University Belfast, hosted a significant event on Monday 24th November 2025 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.

The event, From Promise to Practice: Realising the Vision of the Children’s Services Co-operation Act, brought together senior government officials, children’s services providers, academics and representatives from the voluntary and community sectors to reflect on the origins of the Act, assess progress to date, and explore what needs to change to fully realise its potential.

The Children’s Services Co-operation Act was introduced to improve the wellbeing of children and young people by requiring Government departments and key agencies to work together more effectively. Ten years on, the event took stock of achievements, highlighted barriers to implementation and renewed focus on enhancing cross-departmental co-operation for the benefit of children.

SEE THE EVENT PROGRAMME

Speaking before the event, Professor Bronagh Byrne, Director of the Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s, said: “This Act was born from a recognition that children’s lives do not sit neatly within departmental silos. A decade later, that truth remains unchanged. This is an important moment to reflect on how far we have come, to consider those most affected and to identify what more must be done to ensure meaningful, joined-up action that genuinely improves children’s lives. We are delighted to partner with the Children’s Law Centre in marking this significant milestone.”

Fergal McFerran, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Children’s Law Centre, said: “For ten years, the Children’s Services Co-operation Act has represented a clear legislative commitment to prioritising children’s wellbeing through co-operation. Yet too many children and young people are still experiencing the consequences of fragmented systems and missed opportunities for collaboration.

“Children have been failed because the systems meant to protect them did not work together. Ten years on, children are still falling through the same gaps. We can’t keep saying things will change. We need to see it happen.”

The programme included contributions from those involved in the development of the Act, duty bearers reflecting on progress and children’s sector organisations highlighting where the lack of effective implementation continues to impact specific groups of children and young people. The day concluded with facilitated discussions on how to strengthen co-operation across government and services in the years ahead.