Barrister Profile

Main Areas of Practice

Commercial Law
Criminal Law
Immigration
Public Inquiries

Biography

Ciaran’s practice focuses on the provision of advice and advocacy in cases of commercial law, fraud, serious crime, and regulatory law. As well as representing individuals, he is also sought out by regulated professionals for cases arising in the workplace. A leading silk described Ciaran as “extremely bright and a wonderful communicator with excellent oral and written skills”. He thinks quickly, is great on his feet and cares passionately about his clients, bringing positive solutions to their problems. Solicitors describe him as charismatic and charming and he is popular with Judges and Juries

Qualifications

1997 LL.B (Honours) Queen’s University Belfast

1999 Called to Bar of Northern Ireland

2019 Appointed as a Presiding member of the Civil Legal Aid Appeals Panel

2024 Called to the Bar of Ireland

Experience

Ciaran was called to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1999 and the Bar of Ireland in 2024. He has been a practising Barrister acting mostly in the area of criminal law, defending and prosecuting serious crime in the Crown Court. He regularly appears in the Court of Appeal. In more recent years he has transferred his skills to commercial litigation in the commercial court. In addition, he has acted in a number of high profile Public Inquiries including the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry and the Historical Abuse Inquiry. Ciaran has forged a stellar legal career honed in court over 25 years. A Senior prosecutor noted that Ciaran has the gravitas that you would expect from a skilled operator at the top of his game. Described by a leading solicitor as having “a phenomenal court presence”

A former Chairman of the Bar Council noted that Ciaran has very impressively transferred the skills learnt at the coalface of the Crown Court to the commercial sphere and has successfully represented Royal County Down Golf Club, Strabane Property Group and AWJ Property Group, securing significant victories for each organisation. He brings real criminal cross-examination techniques to the commercial bar, and is therefore absolutely devastating in cross-examination. A senior commercial solicitor at a large multinational firm noted that Ciaran enjoys that rare gift of being… “exceptionally bright but also he is wonderful with people. He thinks outside the box and provides innovative solutions to complex problems, simplifying issues bringing real value to commercially savvy clients, he is a real asset.”