Barrister Profile

Main Areas of Practice

Administrative Law or Judicial Review
Coroners or Inquests
Criminal Law
Human Rights

Biography

​​Michael was called to the Bar of the Northern Ireland in 2009 and practises mainly in the area of criminal law in both the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court.

Qualifications

2006; LL.B Law 2:1, Queen’s University, Belfast

2009; Certificate in Professional Legal Studies (Barrister), Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast

2013 - 2014; Chairman, Young Bar Association

2014 - present; Elected representative of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland

2014 - present; Elected representative of the Executive Council of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland

2014 - 2018: Secretary of the Criminal Bar Association

2018 - 2020: Vice-Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association

2020 - 2022: Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association

2016 - present: Part-time tutor (Criminal Procedure), Institute of Professional Legal studies, Queen’s University, Belfast

Experience

Criminal Law Experience in Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court in every County Court division.

Judicial Review Experience in judicial reviews against the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Police Ombudsman, Public Prosection Service, Northern Ireland Prison Service and other public bodies.

Recent Criminal Cases:

Fraud, dishonesty and departmental offences

R v McDonnell, James Francis & another [2013] NICC 16; evasion of duty on 8.4 million cigarettes; £2 million duty evaded; Defendant was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and was distinguished from co-accused who received 5.5 years imprisonment on the basis of submissions made regarding the age of the Defendant.

R v Murray, Damien [2014] NICC 14; solicitor charged with stealing over £800,000 from his client account; case took 10 years to be brought to court; significant representations made in respect of delay; suspended sentence.

R v Browne 2016, Newry Crown Court; possession of criminal property; following representations prosecution withdrawn.

R v Beggan 2018, Derry Crown Court; waste offences,following representations prosecution withdrawn.

R v McCoy 2018, Newry Crown Court; trade mark offences; following representations prosecution withdrawn.

R v McGurk 2018, Derry Crown Court; handling stolen goods; successful “No Bill” application.

R v Linden 2018, Newry Crown Court; cheque fraud; successful “No Bill” application.

Sexual offences

R v McL 2012, Derry Crown Court; committing an act which would outrage public decency; acquittal.

R v G 2013, Derry Crown Court; historic sexual offences (1965); acquittal.

R v McK 2013, Belfast Crown Court; rape; acquittal.

R v R 2013, Derry Crown Court; rape; acquittal.

R v O 2014, Newry Crown Court; Defendant charged with historic sexual assaults on his 4 siblings (1961); acquittal.

R v McP 2014, Belfast Crown Court; music teacher charged with various sexual assaults on a pupil; acquittal.

R v C 2016, Newry Crown Court; historic sexual assault; following representations prosecution withdrawn.

R v M 2016, Derry Crown Court; rape; acquittal.

R v MacK 2017, Craigavon Crown Court; historic sexual offences; acquittal.

Violent offences

R v Booth 2012 & 2013 Derry Crown Court; grievous bodily harm with intent; the Defendant was committed on 3 separate occasions; successful “No Bill” applications were made on each occasion.

R v Fullerton 2014, Antrim Crown Court; defendant charged with unlawfully attempting to procure a miscarriage; plea accepted to common assault.

R v McAtasney & others 2014, Omagh Crown Court; serious assaults on multiple complainants; acquittal.

R v Conlan & others 2014, Omagh Crown Court; serious assaults on multiple complainants; acquittal.

R v Yang 2015, Belfast Crown Court; Defendant charged with child cruelty; prosecution withdrawn following representations.

R v Nowosad, Dungannon Crown Court; Defendant charged with arson with intent to endanger life and aggravated burglary with intent to cause GBH; after representation to PPS a plea was accepted to common assault; conditional discharge.

R v Hughes 2015, Belfast Crown Court; membership of the IRA; prosecution withdrawn.

R v Hunter 2016, Craigavon Crown Court; grievous bodily harm with intent; plea accepted to common assault.

R v Tierney 2017, Dungannon Crown Court; serious assault; following representations prosecution withdrawn.

R v Hay 2018, Dungannon Crown Court; wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm; following representations prosecution withdrawn.