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Barrister Profile

STEPHEN TOAL KC

Year of Call: 2013

KC: 2024

Main Areas of Practice

Administrative Law or Judicial Review
Criminal Law
Human Rights
Public Inquiries

Biography

Stephen was appointed as a senior counsel after 10 years of practice at the Bar.

In that time, he has specialised in representing victims of terrorism through civil actions, inquests and public inquiries. Stephen is presently instructed as senior counsel to represent several families of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings that led to the deaths of 34 victims. Other notable cases include:

During his career Stephen has appeared in a number of serious criminal trials for murder, fraud, and offences under the terrorism legislation. During this time, he has been instructed in several high-profile cases, including appearing as Paddy Jackson’s barrister when the Irish international rugby player was acquitted of sexual offences. Stephen also appears in many complex fraud cases and was instructed for the lead defendant in the largest ever fraud prosecution in the jurisdiction.

Stephen also has a successful appellate practice where he is regularly instructed to appear in the Court of Appeal, which often involves appeals against wrongful convictions for murder and other serious offences. As part of Stephen’s appellate practice, he has appeared in several cases that have resulted in the convictions being overturned, including miscarriages of justice that occurred over 25 years ago.

As well as his work in criminal law matters, Stephen has been instructed in many areas of the civil law. Stephen litigates public law matters and human rights violations by way of judicial review and in civil claims. In the context of judicial review proceedings, Stephen has successfully appeared at all levels in the jurisdiction.

Stephen was instructed to represent Fine Point Films and journalist Trevor Birney in a judicial review challenge arising from the arrest of the high-profile journalist in connection with the documentary, ’No Stone Unturned’. Winning this case was a significant victory in terms of protecting the freedom of the press and it was publicly supported from many parts of the world. Stephen has also appeared for Mr Birney in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in London.

Stephen is called to the Bar of Ireland and he has been instructed in a number of cases at appellate level in that jurisdiction.

In common with other barristers at the Bar, Stephen is instructed on the basis of a cab rank rule, in that he represents all members of the public, regardless of religious beliefs, political views or sexual orientation.