Barrister Profile

Main Areas of Practice

Coroners or Inquests
Criminal Law
Immigration
Public Inquiries

Biography

Analytical,energetic, and detail-oriented barrister with broad and deep experience. Ciaran was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland 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. 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 specialises in advising corporate clients, Government Departments and individuals in the most complex and challenging cases. He has a multi-jurisdictional practise, regularly appearing in both the Criminal and Civil Divisions of the Court of Appeal, the Crown Court, the High Court and a range of Tribunal jurisdictions.

He has been instructed in a number of the most serious and complex criminal cases over the last 25 years and is regularly instructed to provide strategic advice in advance of charge or prosecution. In addition, he has significant expertise in the area of proceeds of crime, including confiscation, restraint and Account Freezing Orders. He is a leading practitioner in crime dealing with the most serious cases.

Ciaran is developed vetted to counter terrorist level and has dealt with cases relating to national security and has particular expertise in relation to disclosure issues. Ciaran has made PII applications and conducted closed hearings on notice, dealing with matters of national security relating to Covert Human Intelligence Sources, agents. Ciaran has acted in scheduled offences and conducted “Diplock” trials under the Terrorist Act.

Qualifications

1997 LLB (Honours) Queen’s University Belfast

1999 Certificate in professional Legal Studies IPLS at Queen’s University Belfast

1999 Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland

2024 Called to the Bar of Ireland

Experience

Experience current and recent cases:

Public Inquiries

Junior Counsel for 3 families in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry: Date 2000 -2004

Junior Counsel for Rosemary Nelson’s family in the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry. Date 2007 -2011

Junior Counsel for the De La Salle Order and individual members of religious orders at the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry 2014-2017

Ciaran acted in a series of Judicial reviews relating to anonymity and screening arising out of the Inquiries

Crime

R v Grimes, Ciaran recently prosecuted a very difficult and complex historical sexual offences case. The case had very complex Bad Character/Sexual Conduct/Hearsay/Complaint evidence issues. The defendant was convicted and Ciaran appeared in the Court of Appeal where the conviction was upheld. R v DG is now the leading authority on correcting counsel in Northern Ireland.

R v McCaffrey, Ciaran recently prosecuted a substantial fraud case. There had been considerable delay in investigating (approx. 10 years). Banking records were no longer available and the defendant submitted that his defence had been prejudiced the learned trial judge acceded to the stay. Ciaran appealed and drafted a written grounds of appeal and skeleton argument. The Court of Appeal overturned the decision and set aside the stay, the matter was returned to the Crown Court and the defendant was convicted on all counts.

Ciaran has an appreciation of the human side to criminal justice and the importance of “justice being seen to be done.” In a recent case, R v McCullough, the now elderly defendant had sexually abused his young niece 40 years earlier. He had suffered a catastrophic brain injury and was in a care home. He was unfit to stand trial. Having consulted with the victim, Ciaran formed the view that a “trial on the facts” was required rather than simply leaving the case on the books. It was clear that the victim needed the vindication of having her day in court.

R v Coyle, 2024, a “purple file” case (These are cases with complainants under the age of 13 who are vulnerable), Ciaran ended up prosecuting this case due to the unavailability of senior counsel. The case was complex and required all counsel to comply with the Vulnerable Witness protocols. A registered intermediary was required. The trial ran over two weeks and the defendant was convicted. These cases are often very difficult because they require the child’s evidence to be taken in a child centric manner. They require the lawyers to be highly adaptable. Ciaran has accepted instructions from the PPS to represent them in the Court of Appeal.

In R v Toher & Phair, Ciaran defended in a highly complex factual and legal trial. Phair had dealt drugs to Toher and had then “stroked” him by not supplying the drugs. Toher happened upon Phair in his car. There resulted an horrendous chase at speeds in excess of 100 mph with bumping. Toher pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Phair fought “dangerous driving causing death” asserting Duress of Necessity as a defence. Based upon prosecution legal argument and a number of “gang” cases in England and Wales. Ciaran appeared in the Court of Appeal and the sentence imposed was reduced from 12 to 11 years because of the defendant’s remorse and admissions to the manslaughter of Natasha Carruthers.

R v Florin Nicolae, 2023. Ciaran successfully defended a Romanian national charged with Rape, due to the unavailability of senior counsel Ciaran cross-examined the complainant and the investigating police officers. During cross examination it emerged that the prosecution had misled the defence in relation to the important issue of compensation. In a difficult case an acquittal was obtained.

R v Steven Hegans, 2022. Ciaran successfully defended a gentleman charged with the offence of rape.

R v Robert Warnock, 2020 Ciaran appeared for a taxi driver charged with sexual offences on a child in care.

R v Brian Lynch, 2020 Ciaran prosecuted a case of Dangerous driving causing death where the defendant driving a cattle wagon drove through a red light killing a passenger in a vehicle. The defendant had no licence, no insurance and the vehicle’s breaks were defective.

R v Gerard McKenna, 2016, Ciaran prosecuted a trial and retrial of a defendant charged with historic sexual abuse of 3 young boys, it was complicated by bad character, hearsay and special measures.

R v Brendan McLaughlin and others, 2020, Ciaran prosecuted a complicated and serious case of GBH with intent involving an armed assault on a house by a criminal gang led by the defendant McLaughlin.

R v Joao Oliveria, Ciaran Prosecuted a serious child rape case committed by a foreign national.

R v Terry Donnelly, Ciaran prosecuted an historic rape case

R v Keenan, Ciaran prosecuted the trial and retrial of careless driving causing death, in which a driver caused the death of a motorcyclist when attempting an overtaking manoeuvre.

R v Fegan, this was a trial on the facts under the Mental Health Northern Ireland Order 1986, involving a sexual assault by a patient on a nurse.

R v Nicola Leonard, Ciaran acted in a complicated sentencing hearing of a vulnerable individual who had participated in gang violence

Coronial

Ciaran appeared for the family of Charles Patterson at the Inquest into his death. An inquest was directed by the Attorney general following an application to him. The Coroner determined that there had been individual and systemic failures which had led to the death of Mr. Patterson at the RVH Belfast following a serious adverse incident.

Commercial

Royal County Down Golf Club v HMRC, Ciaran acted for Royal County Down Golf Club in an action to recover over declared VAT in the amount of £229,872.

Strabane Property Group v Ulster Bank, Ciaran represented the Strabane property group.

AWJ Property Group v BHSCT. The matter went to Arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996.

Taggart Homes v Ulster Bank Ciaran defended an action in the High Court for Taggart brothers in an action arising out of breach of contract.

Ulster Bank v Bob Mullan Motors Ciaran defended an action in the High Court arising out of a breach of contract.

Close Brothers v O’Neill. Ciaran acted for the defendant in the High Court.

Tax

Tribunal Ciaran recently appeared for Royal County Down Golf Club (Appellant) in an action against The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (Respondents) appealing HMRC’s decision dated 18th July 2018 to disallow the Appellant’s claim made under Section 80 (1) (b) of the VAT Act (VATA) 1994. i.e. a claim to recover an amount over-declared as Output Tax. The claim related to the VAT period 03/09 to 12/10 (inclusive) in the amount of £229,872. The claim was disallowed as it was received outside the statutory time limit set down in Section 80 VATA 1994; paragraph (4) (b). The case is reported at Appeal number: TC/2018/06634

Violent Crime

R v Ethan Dorney and others, 2023, successful prosecution of a joint enterprise GBH aggravated by homophobic abuse.

R v Noel Quigley 2024, successful prosecution of an offence of attempted murder of a police officer a police officer was attacked with a knife, a police officer fired his gun in self-defence. Ciaran acted for the PPS at the Court of Appeal and the sentence of 3 years was upheld: Quigley v The King [2025] NICA 6

R v Patrick Sherry, 2024, successful prosecution of a serious domestic violence case, involving GBH, false imprisonment and Non fatal strangulation.

R v Gerard Quinn, 2024, successful prosecution of a man charged with possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances.

R v John McDonnell, prosecution of a man charged with possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances.

R v Canning, 2024, successful prosecution of a man charged with an episode of dangerous driving and using his vehicle as a weapon to attack serving police officers.

R v Dylan Devine, 2024, successful prosecution of a man charged with arson.

R v Caolan Hayden, 2024, successful prosecution of a serious domestic violence case.

R v Callaghan and others, 2024, successful prosecution of a joint enterprise gang attack, where a group entered the house of an elderly man and assaulted him with weapons and subsequently threatened him.

R v Craig Gow, Ciaran defended a man charged with 2021 Aggravated Burglary and Section 18 GBH

R v Graeme Smyth, Ciaran defended a man charged with GBH and Perverting the course of justice.

R v Patrick Rodgers GBH, 2020.

R v Anthony Shortt GBH, 2016.

R v Hann Ciaran successfully defended a man charged with Grievous Bodily Harm: Date 2009

Terrorism

R v Collins, 2024, attempted murder and possession of a petrol bomb.

R v Stewart Hill possession of firearms, 2017.

R v Lavelle successful defence of charges of conspiracy to cause explosions, and possession of items of use to terrorists. Date, 2005.

R v Caldwell and O’Carroll both men successfully appealed convictions for false imprisonment where it was alleged that they had been part of an IRA unit who had held a man prisoner and interrogated him. Date, 2010.

R v Cherry represented a member of a loyalist gang who participated in a robbery of a Post Office. Date, 2001.

Sexual offences

R v Paul Bryan, 2024, successful prosecution of a taxi driver for the offence of sexual assault by penetration of a vulnerable young lady. The passenger had crossed from Donegal into Derry and the defendant resided in Donegal. Considerable co-operation between the Gardai and the PSNI was required to achieve the conviction, and then further co-ordination was required with the probation services to obtain a report.

R v RB, prosecution of a historic sexual abuse of children.

R v O, successful prosecution of a foreign national charged with rape 2019.

R v O, 2022 successful prosecution of sexual abuse by a father on his 3 daughters.

R v KC, successful prosecution of sexual assault 2024

R v SM, 2019, successful prosecution of a historic child abuse case, the matter went to the Court of Appeal, the case was conducted by Ciaran alone in the Court of Appeal against a senior counsel for the defence.

R v L, successful prosecution of the rape by an older cousin, 2018.

R v M, successful prosecution of a rape by an uncle on his intoxicated and vulnerable niece, 2019.

R v G Mck, prosecution of child sexual offences, 2016.

R v DG prosecution child sexual offences, 2019.

R v D child sexual offences: Date 2013.

R v I child sexual Offences: Date 2012.

R v McConnell Ciaran successfully defended a man charged with rape and indecent assault. Date 2005.

R v B represented a Christian Brother charged with series of sexual offences against a family. Date, 2001.

PPS v Duffy allegations of indecent behaviour in the presence of children: Date, 2013.

PPS v Rooney child abduction case: Date 2010.

Fraud

R v Russell and Katrina Price 2012 to date. Ciaran is presently instructed in a novel and extraordinarily large and complex property fraud case. He appears for two individuals associated with a property company who provided investment opportunities in properties in the UK and Northern Cyprus in the late 2000s up to and including the crash in 2008.

R v Colin Glendenning successfully prosecuted a man charged with defrauding a religious charity in which he was the accountant and trustee. 2024.

R v McCaffrey, 2022 Ciaran successfully prosecuted a fraud on a vulnerable man, he appealed a decision of the trial judge to grant a stay. The decision of the LTJ was overturned on appeal and a retrial directed, a conviction obtained at the trial.

R v John Gaile and others Ciaran represented a man charged with a series of mortgage frauds.

R v Nurse defended a solicitor charged with a substantial fraud and a series of regulatory offences. [2010] NICC 3

R v Watson successfully represented a Bank Official charged with lodging a stolen cheque: Date, 2009.

R v Ng defended a businessman charged with a significant role in a highly organised sham marriage scheme and important role in assisting others to avoid immigration law. Date, 2013.

PPS v Wilson Benefit fraud: Date, 2011.

R v X benefit fraud : Date, 2010.

Immigration

Home Secretary v Olchov successfully challenged the decision of the Home Secretary to remove the respondent at the Lower Tribunal. The matter was appealed by the Home Secretary and Mr. Olchov succeeded in the Upper Tribunal as well. Date, 2013.

Home Secretary v Kuznecovas successfully appealed the decision of the Home Secretary to remove. Date, 2010.

Extradition

State of Republic of Ireland v Cousins Extradition case fought over two years. Date, 2010.

State of Lithuania v Mockevicius. Date, 2013.

State of Lithuania v Ramanuskas. Date, 2012.

Employment

Ciaran has appeared in the employment tribunal advising claimants in unfair dismissal claims. He recently acted for CB in her action against her employer and their decision to make her redundant. The matter involved allegations of sexual discrimination and unfair treatment due to part time status. The matter proceeded to full hearing and was settled for the amount claimed following the claimant’s evidence.

Personal Injuries

Emma Lang v Emma Keen

Ciaran has acted in personal injury matters at the County Court and recently acted for an insurance company in a matter arsing out of a low impact collision. Following cross examination of the plaintiff it was established that she was not injured in the manner alleged and the case was dismissed.