Anurag Deb
@anuragdeb.bsky.social
PhD candidate at Queen's University Belfast. Looking at legislative drafting. Interested in devolution, public law, politics and climate change. Mostly unserious takes (anything on Stormont) + a few slightly serious ones (N. Tayto > S. Tayto). He/him
Pinned
Anurag Deb
@anuragdeb.bsky.social
· Nov 7
a woman with blood on her face is screaming with her mouth open
Alt: a woman with blood on her face is screaming with her mouth open. Scene from the 2015 gothic horror film, The Witch
media.tenor.com
So, hello new followers. I mostly post unserious takes on public law, occasionally changing it up with slightly serious takes on public law. Sometimes I incorporate the occult into these takes. Welcome
Today's view from the office
January 7, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Today's view from the office
The birthplace of the European Union*
*before it was the EU.
*before it was the EU.
January 6, 2026 at 9:49 PM
The birthplace of the European Union*
*before it was the EU.
*before it was the EU.
I once fell asleep (drunk) on a train from Den Haag, intending to get off at Rotterdam. I was woken up by railway staff in Eindhoven.
Please quote this with stories of your minor interactions with non-celebrities, e.g. “I once accidentally bumped into a man in the Wellingborough branch of Holland & Barrett”
December 30, 2025 at 11:46 AM
I once fell asleep (drunk) on a train from Den Haag, intending to get off at Rotterdam. I was woken up by railway staff in Eindhoven.
"interest in history"
JUST IN: The alleged J6 pipe bomber confessed, said he wanted to “speak up” for those who believed 2020 election was stolen, dislikes both parties and modeled his attack on the Troubles in Ireland.
Says he wasn’t targeting the joint session of Congress
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Says he wasn’t targeting the joint session of Congress
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 29, 2025 at 9:29 AM
"interest in history"
Reposted by Anurag Deb
I have a letter in today’s Irish Times about Ireland and the ECHR and the apparent shift in the Irish government’s position towards reform of the Convention signalled recently by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD #ECHR
December 20, 2025 at 6:55 AM
I have a letter in today’s Irish Times about Ireland and the ECHR and the apparent shift in the Irish government’s position towards reform of the Convention signalled recently by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD #ECHR
The third woman (Mrs Justice Smyth) joins the senior judiciary in NI, over a decade after the first two women (including the present Lady Chief Justice): m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
New NI High Court judge appointed
A new High Court judge has been appointed to serve in Northern Ireland.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The third woman (Mrs Justice Smyth) joins the senior judiciary in NI, over a decade after the first two women (including the present Lady Chief Justice): m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
Also featuring reflections on some difficult to follow reasoning on merits review in natsec contexts. Is it merits review? Is it reasonableness review? Does the court only care about whether executive decisions have been rubber stamped? 🤷
New post that I hope anyone who cares about human rights/the rule of law reads. If the UK Govt can use a 30 year old threat of terrorism to conceal the release of *outline* information about its agents' connection to murder, it really can act with impunity:
ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/18/a...
ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/18/a...
Anurag Deb, Colin Murray and Gabriel Tan: Legacy Issues: In re Secretary of State for Northern Ireland [2025] UKSC 47
Introduction It is a rare case where the UK Government initiates a judicial review against an independent public body. The Thompson case is just such a case. The Secretary of State for Northern Ire…
ukconstitutionallaw.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Also featuring reflections on some difficult to follow reasoning on merits review in natsec contexts. Is it merits review? Is it reasonableness review? Does the court only care about whether executive decisions have been rubber stamped? 🤷
Reposted by Anurag Deb
The Supreme Court has made a huge mess when it comes to the approach to be adopted in appeals to and from SIAC
The position is now so convoluted that it should be fundamentally reconsidered. How is anyone meant to apply the following? (Taken from today’s decision in Kolicaj [2025] UKSC 49):
The position is now so convoluted that it should be fundamentally reconsidered. How is anyone meant to apply the following? (Taken from today’s decision in Kolicaj [2025] UKSC 49):
December 18, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The Supreme Court has made a huge mess when it comes to the approach to be adopted in appeals to and from SIAC
The position is now so convoluted that it should be fundamentally reconsidered. How is anyone meant to apply the following? (Taken from today’s decision in Kolicaj [2025] UKSC 49):
The position is now so convoluted that it should be fundamentally reconsidered. How is anyone meant to apply the following? (Taken from today’s decision in Kolicaj [2025] UKSC 49):
Just in time for Christmas, a detailed look at the possible remedies for breaches of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. Launched today and ft. @aoifemod.bsky.social @colinmurray.bsky.social, @sylviademars.me, Eleni Frantziou and me. A great gift for the whole family 😊
nihrc.org/publication/...
nihrc.org/publication/...
Publication - Research: 'Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies’ | Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Research: 'Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies’- The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) is a national human rights institution with A status accreditation from the Unit...
nihrc.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Just in time for Christmas, a detailed look at the possible remedies for breaches of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. Launched today and ft. @aoifemod.bsky.social @colinmurray.bsky.social, @sylviademars.me, Eleni Frantziou and me. A great gift for the whole family 😊
nihrc.org/publication/...
nihrc.org/publication/...
Reposted by Anurag Deb
Closing remarks for the event are now being delivered by Éilis Haughey, Director of NIHRC’s Human Rights after EU Withdrawal unit.
December 16, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Closing remarks for the event are now being delivered by Éilis Haughey, Director of NIHRC’s Human Rights after EU Withdrawal unit.
Reposted by Anurag Deb
We’re now hearing from Rhys Davies, General Counsel at @ima-citrights.bsky.social, and Monye Anyadike-Danes KC, who are offering their reflections on the report.
December 16, 2025 at 12:28 PM
We’re now hearing from Rhys Davies, General Counsel at @ima-citrights.bsky.social, and Monye Anyadike-Danes KC, who are offering their reflections on the report.
Reposted by Anurag Deb
We’ve now opened the floor to a Q&A with the report authors Anurag Deb, Dr Sylvia de Mars, Professor Colin Murray and Professor Aoife O’Donoghue, chaired by NIHRC Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick. They are joined by Dr Claire McCann, Senior Policy and Research Officer at the NIHRC.
December 16, 2025 at 12:24 PM
We’ve now opened the floor to a Q&A with the report authors Anurag Deb, Dr Sylvia de Mars, Professor Colin Murray and Professor Aoife O’Donoghue, chaired by NIHRC Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick. They are joined by Dr Claire McCann, Senior Policy and Research Officer at the NIHRC.
Reposted by Anurag Deb
NIHRC Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick is introducing the research by outlining its analysis of how the EU Withdrawal Agreement and the Windsor Framework operate in practice to ensure the enforcement of, and remedies for breach of Windsor Framework Article 2.
December 16, 2025 at 11:20 AM
NIHRC Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick is introducing the research by outlining its analysis of how the EU Withdrawal Agreement and the Windsor Framework operate in practice to ensure the enforcement of, and remedies for breach of Windsor Framework Article 2.
Reposted by Anurag Deb
The launch event for our research, “Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies” has started with a welcome from Dr David Russell, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
December 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
The launch event for our research, “Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies” has started with a welcome from Dr David Russell, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
Reposted by Anurag Deb
The @nihrc.bsky.social are today launching a major new report, by @anuragdeb.bsky.social, @sylviademars.me, @aoifemod.bsky.social, Eleni Frantziou and me, on the novel arrangements for remedying breaches of the UK's obligations for rights and equality in NI under Art 2 WF:
nihrc.org/assets/uploa...
nihrc.org/assets/uploa...
nihrc.org
December 16, 2025 at 9:57 AM
The @nihrc.bsky.social are today launching a major new report, by @anuragdeb.bsky.social, @sylviademars.me, @aoifemod.bsky.social, Eleni Frantziou and me, on the novel arrangements for remedying breaches of the UK's obligations for rights and equality in NI under Art 2 WF:
nihrc.org/assets/uploa...
nihrc.org/assets/uploa...
😭
Went to Belfast for a weekend away with my wife. Saw a parade going past and assumed it would a great Gay Pride event. It turns out I know very little about Northern Ireland and the orange people don't want to be joined by lesbians. That said, we had a lovely weekend.
December 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
😭
Reposted by Anurag Deb
I would like to know what are the inhumane and degrading treatments the Minister believes should be legal.
European court interprets inhuman and degrading treatment too broadly, says O’Callaghan
European court interprets inhuman and degrading treatment too broadly, says O’Callaghan
Ireland shares concerns over challenges posed by convention on human rights in relation to migration and deporting criminals, Minister tells meeting
www.irishtimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I would like to know what are the inhumane and degrading treatments the Minister believes should be legal.
Reposted by Anurag Deb
So much of the commentary on the FWS judgment has been driven by reflexive responses to the outcome, but there are so many gaps and leaps in its reasoning that it will spawn litigation for years to come - @aoifemod.bsky.social and I flag some failings in judge craft:
nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/ni...
nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/ni...
December 15, 2025 at 10:02 AM
So much of the commentary on the FWS judgment has been driven by reflexive responses to the outcome, but there are so many gaps and leaps in its reasoning that it will spawn litigation for years to come - @aoifemod.bsky.social and I flag some failings in judge craft:
nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/ni...
nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/ni...
Reposted by Anurag Deb
#speirgorm if you are in the Clonliffe Road area please keep an eye out for our lovely former foster boy Ernie
December 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
#speirgorm if you are in the Clonliffe Road area please keep an eye out for our lovely former foster boy Ernie
And to think people say academia is dry.
An academic disliked an Oxford Very Short Introduction (145 pages) in his field so much that he wrote a 200 page book review attacking it. www.pierre-legrand.com/ewExternalFi...
December 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
And to think people say academia is dry.
Reposted by Anurag Deb
New article out in the @nilegalq.bsky.social in a significant special issue edited by @livunislsj.bsky.social's Katie Johnston. A wake up call for both the NI Bill of Rights debate and to public lawyers across the UK to watch out for developments under Scotland's UNCRC Act:
doi.org/10.53386/nil...
doi.org/10.53386/nil...
December 12, 2025 at 9:31 AM
New article out in the @nilegalq.bsky.social in a significant special issue edited by @livunislsj.bsky.social's Katie Johnston. A wake up call for both the NI Bill of Rights debate and to public lawyers across the UK to watch out for developments under Scotland's UNCRC Act:
doi.org/10.53386/nil...
doi.org/10.53386/nil...
We have been seeing a clear divergence between how the Chief Constable of the PSNI views the "neither confirm nor deny" policy and how the UKG views it. As the Chief Constable put it in an interesting speech last night, you can't keep using it like a "wall" around the Troubles. The UKG disagrees.
Hard to overstate the importance of next week's UKSC decision in Thompson for conflict legacy in NI. Either the UK Govt will be led, still grumbling, towards greater transparency in this historic security context, or the courts will help prop up a wall of silence:
supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...
supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...
In the matter of an application by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for Judicial Review (Appellant) - UK Supreme Court
What is the correct test to be applied when a court judicially reviews a decision by a coroner to disclose gists of information over which Public Interest Immunity (“PII”) is asserted by a Minister on...
supremecourt.uk
December 11, 2025 at 4:25 PM
We have been seeing a clear divergence between how the Chief Constable of the PSNI views the "neither confirm nor deny" policy and how the UKG views it. As the Chief Constable put it in an interesting speech last night, you can't keep using it like a "wall" around the Troubles. The UKG disagrees.
Reposted by Anurag Deb
Much ink has been spilt in discussing the reviewability of the Attorney General's discretionary powers in England and Wales. Northern Ireland is missing in that discourse. Here, I discuss why it ought to be seriously considered.
Reviewing the Attorney General: Northern Ireland should enter the chat administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/10/r...
Reviewing the Attorney General: Northern Ireland should enter the chat
Introduction On 1 July 2025, the Divisional Court (Stuart-Smith LJ and Chamberlain J) handed down judgment in R (Campbell) v Attorney General for England and Wales [2025] EWHC 1653 (Admin). Campbel…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Much ink has been spilt in discussing the reviewability of the Attorney General's discretionary powers in England and Wales. Northern Ireland is missing in that discourse. Here, I discuss why it ought to be seriously considered.
Much ink has been spilt in discussing the reviewability of the Attorney General's discretionary powers in England and Wales. Northern Ireland is missing in that discourse. Here, I discuss why it ought to be seriously considered.
Reviewing the Attorney General: Northern Ireland should enter the chat administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/10/r...
Reviewing the Attorney General: Northern Ireland should enter the chat
Introduction On 1 July 2025, the Divisional Court (Stuart-Smith LJ and Chamberlain J) handed down judgment in R (Campbell) v Attorney General for England and Wales [2025] EWHC 1653 (Admin). Campbel…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Much ink has been spilt in discussing the reviewability of the Attorney General's discretionary powers in England and Wales. Northern Ireland is missing in that discourse. Here, I discuss why it ought to be seriously considered.
Yikes.
So we've gone from "he never said anything Nazi" to "well he might have said something Nazi but not in a hurtful way" to "well okay he probably did say something Nazi in a hurtful way, but didn't we all?"
December 10, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Yikes.