Human Rights

Team Phoenix has been and continues to be at the epicentre of Human Rights Law in practice.  Human Rights is at the forefront of the focus at Phoenix Law, and as such members of our team have appeared in some of the most prolific and important cases relating to human rights protection. 

We have acted for a wide variety of clients ranging from families of the conflict, companies, children, charities such as the Rainbow Project, non-governmental organisations including Amnesty International, to political representatives and ex-government Ministers. 

Our Team has been instrumental in the development of some of the most important human rights principles in Ireland including Article 2 and the right to life in its application to the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland, appearing in the leading cases of Keyu v SSFCO, Re Barnard (The Glenanne Gang case) and Re Hughes (The Loughgall and Legacy Inquest funding case). 

Article 8 the right to private life and its application to women’s access to abortion (acting Sarah Ewart and Amnesty International) the right to marriage equality (Petition X), and surrogacy.  Team Phoenix also acted in the historic Humanist marriage case taken by Laura Lacole and Eunan O’Kane.  In addition, members of our team continue to act for those victims of institutional child abuse who have taken the Secretary of State to Court for the failure to put in place a redress scheme, as recommended by the HIA Hart Inquiry.  

In addition, members of our team have become renowned for their expertise on torture and Article 3 ECHR acting in the Hooded Men case of Re McGuigan, and Ireland v UK before the European Court of Human Rights and the pivotal case on prevention of extradition in circumstances that there is a risk of torture, as held in the case of Lithuania v Liam Campbell.   

In recent times, Phoenix Law has appeared in more Supreme Court cases on Human Rights than any other firm on the Island, including the seminal cases of Re Martina Dillon & Ors (Challenge to the Legacy Act) and JR87 (finding that Religious Education was in breach of Human Rights).

Phoenix Law has been awarded the highest awards in both London (LALY 2025 Law Firm of the Year) and Dublin (Special Merit Award at the Irish law Awards) for their unrivalled experience and success in the area of Human Rights.

Director

Claire McKeegan

Director

Peter Corrigan

Director

Darragh Mackin

Partner

Gavin Booth

Partner

Sinead Marmion

Senior Associate

Sophie McClintock

Trainee Solicitor

Alannah Faulkner

Director

Claire McKeegan

Claire McKeegan has been described as one of Northern Ireland’s leading human rights lawyers and a tireless advocate for justice.

She has developed a specialist practice in Human Rights, Public Law, and Litigation, becoming a notable figure in high-profile legal battles. She is recognised by Chambers and Partners as being among the leaders in her area of expertise.

Claire campaigned for and represented survivors and victims throughout the HIA Inquiry which reported in 2017.  Claire’s is recognised for her specialist practise representing victims and survivors of Historical and clerical abuse.   She was instrumental in securing over £100 million in compensation for victims of Historical institutional abuse following the JR80 Court of Appeal case. This landmark case, which found that the Executive acted unlawfully in failing to provide a compensation scheme, led directly to the passage of the HIA Redress Bill in Parliament, resulting in compensation payment to hundreds of victims of abuse.

In addition, Claire’s campaign work on behalf of patients and their families resulted in the Department of Health announcing a public inquiry into Muckamore Abbey Hospital, where she continues to advocate for answers and justice for the majority of the affected patients families affected by institutional abuse in a hospital setting in NI.

She represented the patients families at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in relation to a Challenge brought by one of the former staff at the hospital currently before the Crown Court to seek to suspend the Muckamore Inquiry.

Claire’s notable achievements include her work over the last decade in some of the most grave and serious sexual abuse cases against the Catholic Church. She lead the case on behalf of Gerard Gorman against the Diocese of Dromore and St Colmans College which ultimately resulted in the resignation of Bishop John McAreavey over his and Bishop Gerard Brooks handling of the Malachy Finegan abuse scandal.  This case is documented in BBC Spotlight Documentary “Buried Secrets” and “So young: The taking of my life by the Catholic Church ~ Gerard Gorman.”

She has secured the largest settlements for survivors of abuse in Northern Ireland including a recent case against the Congregation of the Order of the Vincentians for £1,000,000.000.

Claire also acted for multiple vulnerable individuals denied medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic and acted for a group of front line NHS doctors who were exposed during the pandemic without adequate Personal Protection Equipment to attempt to secure adequate provision of protective gear. https://www.irishnews.com/coronavirus/2020/03/26/news/-fearful-frontline-nurses-seek-legal-advice-over-mask-shortages-and-testing-1878959/

Another passion of Claires, where she is developing a growing caseload is in in environmental law. She has advanced cases that ensure the protection of green spaces in deprived communities, such as the high profile Judicial Review proceedings which were successful at the Court of Appeal in saving the Craigavon Park and Lake from construction.

More recently she successfully led the Judicial Review challenge against brought by an affected former patient, concerning the deregistration of Dr. Michael Watt, ensuring that clinical failings would be exposed in a public fitness-to-practise hearing.

Claire continues to work with and on behalf of survivors of Mother and Baby Homes in Northern Ireland and their efforts culminated in the launch of a Public Inquiry and Independent Panel into this appalling chapter of history. Her involvement in these complex and emotional cases spans the last decade.

Claire acted for the leading Legacy Civil Litigation case, John Flynn in the High Court and Court of Appeal.  This cited case set the parameters for discovery in troubles related legacy litigation in Northern Ireland.  The PSNI admitted liability in the course of the litigation in a case which alleges collusion between state agents and PSNI resulting in two attempts on our clients life.

Claire represents the family of murdered German backpacker, Inga Maria Hauser.  Inga was an 18-year-old student on holiday from her native Munich, interrailing round the UK, for a spring break in April 1988 when she was callously murdered and dumped in Ballypatrick Forest in North Antrim.  The family had endured 36 years of waiting for Justice and truth about the death of Inga, when Claire secured an Inquest into her death in 2024.  This ongoing case is in its preliminary stages before the Coroners Court in Belfast.

Claire a regular contributor on Human Rights law issues in both traditional and online media. She has made many appearances on UK and international news services including Sky news, BBC, RTE, ITV.

She has delivered a number of guest lectures at QUB, UU and the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland.

https://law.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofLaw/news/archive-21-22/WomenasLegalChangemakersConference.html#:~:text=Claire%20McKeegan&text=She%20represents%20SAVIA%20and%20acted,through%20Parliament%20in%20November%202019.

NOTABLE CASES

  1. John Flynn -v- PSNI https://www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judiciaryni/decisions/Flynn%2C%20John%20and%20The%20Chief%20Constable%20of%20the%20Police%20Services%20of%20Northern%20Ireland.pdf
  2. JR80 Court of Appeal: Secured over £100 million in compensation for victims of institutional abuse. https://www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judiciaryni/decisions/JR80%27s%20Application_1.pdf
  • Malachy Finegan Abuse Scandal: Claire represented the lead survivor in his action.  The case Led to the resignation of Bishop John McAreavey and secured one of the largest settlements for abuse survivors. The case also set out guidelines in relation to 3rd Party Disclosure in Personal Injury cases. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09rjqlt

https://www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judiciaryni/decisions/FS%20and%20The%20Diocese%20of%20Dromore%20and%20The%20Board%20of%20Governors%20of%20St%20Colman%27s%20College%2C%20Nerwy%20and%20The%20Department%20of%20Education.pdf

  • Mother and Baby Homes Public Inquiry: Secured justice for survivors after an eight-year campaign for a public inquiry.

https://www.loveballymena.online/post/tv-mother-and-baby-homes-in-the-spotlight-in-the-next-utv-up-close

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/27/opinion/pope-visit-ireland.html

  1. HIA Data Breach – largest class Action in NI.  Interim advocate email data breach, so far she has secured compensation for 10 of the 89 plaintiffs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj65nn13n8jo
  1. Inga Maria Hauser link to murder in Badlands

Memberships and Recognition

  1. Claire is on the committee and currently the Treasurer of the Belfast Solicitors Association
  2. She is a Trustee of the Old Church Centre in Cushendun (Arts Centre)
  3. She is Ranked by Chambers and Partners in Administrative and Public Law

Director

Peter Corrigan

Director

Darragh Mackin

Darragh Mackin has been described as ‘a rising star on the international legal scene’ (Irish Times), a ‘Champion of the Cause’ (The Parchment) and ‘a man for all seasons, needed for all sorts of reasons’ (Belfast Telegraph).  In July 2016, Darragh was the first ever Ireland based Lawyer to be nominated, and in turn to win, an award at the prestigious London Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards. In 2025, he was one of the Partners that led the team to winning the LEAP ‘Special Recognition Award’ in Dublin and the LALY ‘Law Firm of the Year’ Award in London.

He has developed a specialist practice in Human Rights, Public Law, Litigation and International law.  He has appeared in some of the most high profile cases in Ireland and Internationally. This includes acting for the Hooded Men in their victory in the London Supreme Court, for Sarah Ewart in her challenge to the law on Abortion in Northern Ireland, the families in the Stardust fire Inquest in which a verdict of Unlawful Killing was returned and acting for the Irish rap group Kneecap in their successful challenge to Kemi Badenoch and her decision to withhold funding for the group. He currently acts for the Summerland families in their campaign for a fresh investigation into the fire on the Isle of Man.

He regularly advises high profile individuals and companies both domestically and internationally, with a particular specialism in Reputation Management, Defamation and Data Protection. Given Darragh’s unique experience, he has become the go to lawyer for actions with a digital perspective, appearing in the landmark successful challenge to voice recognition technology and in the first domestic case relating to Cryptocurrency. His unique specialism in the field of digital evidence has resulted in him often being instructed in complex commercial litigation involving data protection principles, the use of AI (artificial intelligence) and the misuse of the internet and social media platforms.

He has acted in cases at all levels including in the Supreme Courts in London and Dublin, The European Court of Human Rights, the African Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Special Procedures.  

He has acted for some of the most well known non-governmental organisations including Amnesty International, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, and Extinction Rebellion. He has been instructed and advised on cases all around the World, including the USA, Spain, France, Italy, Sri Lanka, Malawi, the Cayman Islands and St Helena. His unique international law experience has resulted in him often being instructed to advise Irish and British Citizens overseas on issues of international law.  

Darragh has also successfully secured some of the largest settlements in the jurisdiction including the payment of £16.7million to NI Taxi Drivers arising of the NI Covid Pandemic and €24million to the families of the Stardust fire. He is currently retained in a high value claim on behalf of a Chinese based company initiating action in Belfast, and in a multi million euro claim in Dublin, arising out of insurance contracts to hoteliers during the covid pandemic.

In addition to practice, Darragh is an associate lecturer of Public and Administrative Law at the University of Ulster and has delivered a number of guest lectures at Cambridge University, Trinity University, Queens University Belfast, and Dublin City University.   

NOTABLE CASES

HUMAN RIGHTS & PUBLIC LAW

Sarah Ewart & Amnesty International (The Abortion Litigation)

Darragh has appeared in many of the seminal human rights cases in recent times in Ireland. He acted for Sarah Ewart and Amnesty International to which saw the law changed in respect of abortion in Northern Ireland. Darragh was also labelled The Times ‘Lawyer of the Week for his work on this case.

The Hooded Men (Ireland v UK)

Darragh was instructed in the landmark torture case of the Hooded Men in the application for revision of the Ireland v United Kingdom 1978 decision by the European Court of Human Rights.  Following Darragh’s success before the UK Supreme Court that the decision not to investigate was unlawful, the Chief Constable formally apologised to the Hooded Men.

The relevant media footage can be accessed here:  CNNRTEBBC, and the Journal

JR87 – Challenge to Religious Education in Northern Ireland

JR87 was the landmark legal case on behalf of a child who challenged the nature of religious education (RE) and collective worship in Northern Ireland schools. In 2025, the London Supreme Court found that the exclusively Christian-focused RE and collective worship, as delivered under the existing core syllabus in NI schools, breaches the human rights of children and parents. The case has far-reaching implications for education law across the UK.

The relevant media footage can be accessed here and here.

Aidan McAnespie

Darragh was instructed by the family of Aidan McAnespie who was killed by a British Soldier having been shot in the back whilst walking to a football game 1988.  On June 2018, on foot of an application lodged on behalf of the family, a decision was taken to prosecute David Holden for the killing.  In February 2023, this resulted in the first prosecution of a British Soldier post the Good Friday Agreement.  

The relevant media footage can be accessed here and here.

The Judgment can be accessed here.

The Brexit Case – Gina Miller No.1

In 2016, Gina Miller initiated legal action arising out of the controversial use of the then Government’s prerogative to execute Brexit, and to leave the EU.  A group of individuals including two British citizens living in France, a Gibraltarian national, a Welsh citizen and Fergal McFerran, president of NUS-USI formed the ‘peoples challenge’.  Darragh was instructed as part of the legal team compiled to represent the peoples challenge in the Brexit Supreme Court case.  This case has been dubbed by legal commentators as one of the most significant constitutional cases of the decade.      

The relevant media footage can be viewed here and here

The Legacy Act – Martina Dillon & Others

Darragh was instructed as part of the team on behalf of the lead applicants in the seminal case which challenged the British Government’s contentious ‘Legacy Act’ which sought to enact legislation to grant amnesties and immunity to perpetrators for acts committed during the period known as a ‘the Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. The NI Court of Appeal found that certain provisions of the legislation were unlawful and incompatible with human rights.

The relevant media footage can be accessed here.

Other Cases:

The Glenanne Series: Re Edward Barnard judicial review successfully compelled the PSNI to investigate the murders of more than 120 people arising out of allegations of state collusion. The Court found it was unlawful not to investigate, and as a result, an independent police force was tasked to investigate (Op Denton).

Loughgall (Re Brigid Hughes): Instructed by the Loughgall Truth & Justice Campaign and the families bereaved as a result of the shootings at Loughgall on 8th May 1987.  Darragh successfully secured a fresh inquest following a judicial review challenge to the decision by the Secretary of State to issue a ‘National Security Sensitive’ Certificate. Following this, Darragh appeared in the landmark case of Re Brigid Hughes which found that the then former first Minister Arlene Foster MLA had acted unlawfully in failing to release the funding for Legacy Inquests. The relevant media footage can be accessed here:

Legacy Victims Pensions: Re Brian Turley was the successful judicial review against the Government to implement and fund the Legacy Victims Pension Scheme.  The relevant media footage can be accessed here and here.  

Covid School Closure: Re JR105 was the judicial review taken by the parent of the child at the inception of the Covid Pandemic arguing for their immediate closure to protect life. The case was widely reported herehere and here.

INTERNATIONAL

Kneecap

Acted for the Irish Rap Band Kneecap in their challenge to the decision by the British Government to charge Mo Chara with terrorist offences following a concert in London. Instructed by the band to lead their International legal team which involved proceedings in London, USA and Canada.

Ibrahim Halawa

Darragh acted for the Irish Teenager, Ibrahim Halawa, who was detained whilst on holiday in Cairo, Egypt and who was put on mass trial at risk of the death penalty. Darragh acted for Ibrahim in seeking his return to Ireland, making submissions before the EU Parliament, the African Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations.  In October 2017 Ibrahim Halawa was acquitted of all charges before the Egyptian Courts and repatriated to Ireland. 

Media coverage of the UN Intervention is available here. The relevant media footage can be accessed here and here.

Carles Puigdemont

In 2018, Darragh was one of the lawyers who travelled to Brussels to meet the then president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont and provided advice and assistance in respect of his ongoing bid against the extradition proceedings issued by the state of Spain. 

Private Sean Rooney

Instructed on behalf of the Irish Soldier Private Seán Rooney who was murdered whilst on peacekeeping duty in Lebanon on behalf of the United Nations. Darragh appears domestically before the Coroner’s Court in Dublin for the family, and is retained to advise on the criminal proceedings currently ongoing in Lebanon.

The Tamil Community

Darragh was retained on behalf of a number of individuals from the Tamil Community in a variety of actions arising out of the conflict in Sri Lanka. He acted in a ground-breaking case in for a Tamil widow against the PSNI in seeking damages for their role in providing training to the Sri Lankan police in 1986. In addition, he was retained to act on behalf of an individual who challenged his conviction for involvement with the Tamil Tigers, on the basis that the trial process was contrary to international law, and the confession was obtained by torture.

The relevant media footage can be viewed here and here.  The Tamil Guardian also covered the story here. In addition, the latter case can be accessed here.  

Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith was a former Irish army soldier who travelled to Syria, and was eventually detained by the Turkish authorities as a suspected ISIS fighter.  Darragh acted for Lisa in successfully securing her and her daughter’s repatriation to Ireland.  The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights & Counter Terrorism intervened in Lisa’s case.  Lisa was the first alleged ISIS bride ever to be returned to Ireland. 

The relevant media footage can be accessed here and here.

Encrochat – French Court of Cassation

Instructed with Binsard Martine in the landmark challenge on behalf of Sam McCaughey before the French Court of Cassation regarding the admissibility of the Encrochat evidence in Courts in Northern Ireland. This is the first challenge of its kind launched on the international sphere challenging the admissibility domestically in NI.

The media coverage of the case is available here.

Other Cases:

Keyu & Others (UK Supreme Court) case relating to the massacre at Batang Kali, Malaysia. Acted for the interveners the Pat Finucane Centre and Rights Watch UK.

Bilal Abdul Kareem v Gina Cheri Haspel et al (USA Court of Appeal District of Columbia) – Proceedings against the American State policy on the use of drones in the taking of life.

REPUTATION MANAGEMENT AND DEFAMATION

Bob Vylan v RTE

Instructed on behalf of the musician Bob Vlyan in his defamation proceedings against the Irish National Broadcaster RTÉ arising out of his performance at Glastonbury.

Kneecap v Vince Gasparro

Instructed on behalf of the Irish Rap Group Kneecap in their defamation proceedings against the Canadian MP Vince Gasparro arising out of a video to which he published on the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter).

Actions against Big Tech

Darragh has been instructed on a number of occasions to sue big tech in which social media, the internet, or AI has been misused. This has included bringing proceedings having data deleted from the internet under the principles of the right to be forgotten (OH v Google), injunctions seeking the removal of content published online (the case of ZXY) and suing for damages in which Big Tech or the Social Media giants have acted improperly or unlawfully (the Facebook moderator case and EH v Meta).

Other Cases:

Re Fine Point Films – Darragh acted for the International media organisations, Index on Censorship and the English PEN who intervened in the successful judicial review challenge to a search warrant imposed on two investigative journalists, Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey.

Phil Miller – acted for the renowned investigative journalist Phil Miller in an appeal against the Information Commissioner relating to a report withheld by the PSNI regarding the structure of MI5 in 1973.

COMMERCIAL AND LITIGATION

High Value Commercial Litigation

Darragh has been instructed in some of the highest value commercial claims before the Courts in Ireland and the UK, to include:

  • Instructed in a seven figure claim on behalf of a number of Hotel Owners arising out of business interruption insurance during the covid pandemic in Dublin.
  • Has acted for a Chinese Pharmaceutical Company involved in litigation based in Belfast arising out of events in China.
  • Secured a payout of £16.7million on behalf of all NI Taxi Drivers following the failure to compensate them during the Covid 19 Pandemic.
  • Instructed on behalf of a high profile Irish Businessman against the Irish Government for breach of contract which resulted in a seven figure payout.
  • Six Figure Resolution for a New York company who were involved in Litigation in both London and Belfast.
  • Instructed in the first ever High Court litigation in Belfast arising out of Cryptocurrency and Cryptocurrency fraud.

Negotiation and Mediation

Given his experience, Darragh is regularly involved in negotiating and mediating disputes between Commercial and Corporate entities whereby disputes have arisen between Shareholders or Company Officers. This experience has resulted in Darragh being retained in various disputes both locally and internationally.

 

Partner

Gavin Booth

Gavin Booth specialises in Actions against the Police, Public Law and Prison Law. In a short time, he has developed a specialist practice in these areas.  He regularly appears in some of the most high-profile actions against the Police cases, prison law and public law challenges in this jurisdiction. 

Gavin has developed a specialist practice acting in legacy cases for those victims who have been bereaved or injured arising out of incidents during the conflict.  

He is currently involved in some of the most high-profile legacy cases emanating from the period commonly referred to as ‘the troubles,’ including the RUC murder of Colum Marks in April 1991, the murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth in 1976, the attack on the Thierafurth Inn Bar in November 1992, and the murders of Dwyane O’Donnell and Thomas Armstrong at Boyle’s Bar in Cappagh in March 1991.

Gavin has appeared in both the Irish Supreme Court and the UK Supreme Court.  In the Irish Supreme Court in YY -v- Minister for Justice, concerning the deportation of an ISIS suspect and in theUK Supreme Court in Re Anthony McIntyre [2019] which challenged the lawfulness of the controversial decision by the police to rely on tapes collected from the Boston College project. Gavin has also secured the largest civil settlement in the Boston College cases in this jurisdiction for the claimants.

Gavin holds an LLM Masters in Human Rights Law and Transitional Justice. Gavin co-authored two reports with Doughty Street Chambers in London. The first report was on the Repeal of the Human Rights Acts in Northern Ireland and the second on the effect of Media Concentration in Ireland. Gavin addressed the European Parliament in Brussels on two occasions.

Outside of work Gavin is also a Director of the Newry Charity Davina’s Ark which specialises in addiction and after care.

Actions against the Police & Public Law

  1. Thierafurth Inn – Collusion in County Down (Re John McEvoy)

In 2016 the then Police Ombudsman Dr. Michael Maguire released his report on Loughinsiand. The report was tasked with looking at issues of Collusion between Loyalist paramilitaries and members of the Security forces including the RUC and UDR. The report ultimately concluded that collusion was a significant feature of the murders.  The Report for the first time linked other cases prior to the events at the Heights Bar in Loughinisland including the murder of Jack Kielty in Dundrum, the attempted murder of Peter McCarthy and the attack on the Thierafurth Inn in 1992. Mr John McEvoy challenged the failure of the PSNI to investigate the allegations into his attempted murder at the Thierafurth Inn in 1992 and sought a fresh independent investigation into the not only the events at the Thierafurth Inn, but all the murders associated with this murder gang.

The relevant media footage can be accessed here 

  1. Agent Provocateur Sandy Lynch and others (R -v- Clinton and Armstrong)

In an out of time appeal, Gavin was instructed by the appellants Clinton and Armstrong in successfully overturning the 30-year-old convictions as a result of the fresh evidence that they were entrapped by a state agent (or a covert human intelligence source) acting as an agent provocateur.

 The relevant media footage can be accessed here   

  1. Raymond McCreesh Park (Re Rosaleen Murphy)

The applicant a Newry Pensioner and local resident sought to challenge the decision of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s decision to dispose of Raymond McCreesh Park through their D1 Disposal Process without consultation with the local community.

The relevant media footage can be accessed here

  1. Boston College tapes (Re Anthony McIntyre)

This was a challenge to the Divisional Courts refusal to allow the applicant a right of appeal in Northern Ireland. The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to hear the applicant’s proposed appeal given that the court from which he seeks to appeal declined to certify that a point of law of general public importance was involved in the decision.

The relevant media footage can be accessed here

  1. Irish Supreme Court in Deportation of ISIS Suspect

In this determination (YY v Minister for Justice & Equality), the Supreme Court granted YY leave for a leapfrog appeal from the High Court decision to allow his deportation to proceed, due to the exceptional circumstances of the case. YY was previously imprisoned for planning terrorist acts—including in Ireland. But, if deported to his home state, he faces the risk of treatment contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of torture).

The relevant media footage can be accessed here

The Judgment can be accessed here

  1. RUC Murder of IRA volunteer Colum Marks (Re R. Rooney)

In 2016 the then Police Ombudsman History Directorate refused to establish an investigation to the death of Colum Marks in 1991. The Ombudsman claimed he was unable to order a fresh investigation in the absence of new information following a previous review by the RUC at the time. Following media attention in the case a new witness came forward which brought a fresh decision for a new investigation. 

The relevant media footage can be accessed here

  1. Immediate Investigation by PONI into the murder of Colum Marks (Re Roisin Marks)

This matter relates to a Judicial Review application brought by Mrs. Róisin Marks in relation to the delay in investigation by the Police Ombudsman in investigating her son’s death in Downpatrick County Down by the RUC. The Applicant was granted leave to apply for judicial review against the decision of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland (“PONI”) contained in the letter dated 20 July 2017, namely that PONI cannot conduct an investigation into the circumstances of Mr Marks death within a reasonable time scale due to the failure of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to provide sufficient funding to PONI. In 2017, Roisin Marks brought a judicial review challenge against the failure of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland (“PONI”) to carry out a timeous investigation into her complaint about the shooting of Colum Marks in Downpatrick in 1991. She also sought to challenge the ongoing failure of the Department of Justice, the Executive Committee, and/or the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to provide adequate funding to the PONI to enable it to carry out legacy investigations without undue delay. 

The relevant media footage can be accessed here

  1. DOJ failure to fund the Office of Police Ombudsman. (Re Brendan Morgan)

This matter relates to an application brought by Mr Brendan Morgan in relation to the failure of the Police Ombudsman to carry out a timeous investigation into his complaint into his attempted murder and the attack on the Thierafurth Inn Bar, in Kilcoo County Down in 1992. Background2.On 27 March 2019, Mr Morgan brought a judicial review challenge against the failure of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland (“PONI”) to carry out a timeous investigation. He also sought to challenge the ongoing failure of the Department of Justice to provide adequate funding to the PONI to enable it to carry out legacy investigations without undue delay.

The relevant media footage can be accessed here  

  1. Boston College Tapes (Re Anthony McIntyre)

In 2001 Mr. McIntyre became involved in an academic oral history project known as the “Belfast Project” with the tapes becoming known as the Boston College Tapes. On 3 September 2014 the PSNI requested that the PPS issue an ILOR in respect of McIntyre’s tapes. The ILOR was issued on 9 February 2015 through Mutual Legal Assistance under Section 7(5) of the Crime (International Cooperation) Act 2003 seeking access to McIntyre oral tapes. Mr. McIntyre sought to challenge this.

The Judgment can be accessed here

  1. Further investigation into the murder of Seamus Ludlow (Re Thomas Fox)

This was a challenge to the decision of the Minister for Justice’s ongoing failure or refusal to establish two commissions of investigation pursuant to the Commission of Investigation Act 2004 (“the 2004 Act”) as per the recommendations of the Houses of the Oireachtas and Judge Henry Barron for the further Commissions into the handling of the murder of Seamus Ludlow by An Garda Síochána. In 2020 this matter was brought before the Court of Appeal in Dublin with judgment reserved.

The Judgment can be accessed here

Prison Law

  1. Licence Conditions to extend to ROI  – (Re Gerard McManus (and Keith McConnan)

This was a challenge taken by Mr. McManus from County Donegal and Mr. McConnan from County Louth following their release on licence.  Each of the applicants were subject to licence conditions. These conditions required the applicants to reside in United Kingdom during the period of their licence. Both applicants through these proceedings challenged the refusal to permit them to reside in the Republic of Ireland during their conditions. 

The Judgment can be accessed here.

  1. Right for separated Prisoners to use Internet for Education. (Re Brendan McConville)

This was a challenge brought regarding the prison failure to allow the applicant access to computer facilities whilst in custody for the purposes of completing his degree.  

The Judgment can be accessed here

The relevant media footage can be accessed here

  1. Access to the Prison Library (Re Sean McVeigh)

This is a challenge brought against NIPS refusal to allow separated prisoners access to the Prison Library or access to Prison Library books. 

  1. Transfer to separated conditions on safety grounds (Re: Luke O’Neill

The applicant was remanded to Maghaberry Prison on 27 September 2016. Since then he has been seeking admission to the separated landing for Republican prisoners at Roe House. He argues that it is only in these conditions that he will be safe in prison. His transfer to separated conditions was refused by way of a written notice on 26 October 2016.  As a result, he sought to challenge this citing safety concerns for the place he was housed. 

 The Judgment can be accessed here

  1. Failure to properly investigate death threats (Re Luke O’Neill)

Following the matter being remitted by the Court of Appeal back to the trial judge the applicant sought extensive Discovery against the respondents which showed that there was a death threat against the Applicant in the place he was housed. An offer of £50,000 was placed against the applicant and the Prison became aware of this. The Applicant then sought to challenge this for a finding of a breach of Article 2 of ECHR. 

 The Judgment can be accessed here The relevant media footage can be accessed here

  1. Information Sharing between Hospitals and Prisons (Re Michael Larkin).

This is a challenge to the refusal to permit the applicant a period of temporary release to visit his mother in hospital before her death. The Applicant argues that this was in breach of his rights as protected by Article 8 ECHR and was unlawful. The applicant learned in the proceedings that the Trust and the Prison refused to provide the necessary information to allow the correct decision to be made.

Partner

Sinead Marmion

Sinead is a Senior Associate with expertise in dealing with asylum and immigration cases. She has an LLM in Human Rights Law at Queen’s University Belfast and is fluent in French. 

Sinead has built up an expertise in immigration and asylum work, with specialism in unaccompanied children’s claims. 

Judicial Review

Sinead has specialism in public law challenges in immigration cases through judicial review. She has successfully challenged the Home Office’s decision in respect of a minor asylum-seeker’s age assessment, which is the first of its kind in the jurisdiction. She has a number of judicial review challenges ongoing in respect of the Home Office’s delays in deciding asylum claims within a reasonable time. She is also acting in the first challenge in Northern Ireland in respect of how the rights of asylum seekers interact with the rights enshrined in Article 2 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Sinead is acting in a judicial review against the PPS in the Divisional Court in respect of a failure to prosecute forced labour and slavery of fishermen in a Northern Irish port, which is also the first case of its kind in Northern Ireland. She is instructed in a number of judicial reviews against the Home Office in their failure to recognise her client as victims of trafficking. She has also acted in appeals from the High Court to the Court of Appeal.

Tribunals

She has represented clients at the First tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, and Asylum Support Tribunal. This includes successful challenges to refusals of asylum in LGBT cases, political persecution cases and religious persecution cases. She has also had successes in challenging refusals of granting of residence cards by the Home Office on derivative rights of residence cases through the Zambrano route. Sinead has also represented clients who have faced destitution due to unlawful refusals to grant asylum support through representation at the Asylum Support Tribunal. 

Sinead also provides legal support on family and criminal defence cases arising from her immigration work. 

Advice

She works closely with Barnardo’s Independent Guardian Service in dealing with cases for unaccompanied minors. Sinead also works with victims of trafficking and modern slavery and works closely with Flourish NI. Sinead is also retained by South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP), which is Northern Ireland’s largest migrant organisation run by veteran civil rights activist, Bernadette McAliskey. Through her work with STEP, Sinead advises on complex cases involving Europeans and their family members applying to the European Settlement Scheme. 

Sinead has experience in a wide range of immigration related matters including; entry clearance, family reunion, spouse and fiancé visas, family visas, European Economic Area (EEA), visit visas, and settlement and naturalisation applications. 

Sinead obtains instruction from clients who are in detention in Larne House Detention Centre, often facing removal and deportation. This can lead to bail applications, asylum claims, judicial review,  urgent injunctions, and unlawful detention claims. 

Membership

Sinead has assisted on setting up the first Northern Ireland regional working group for the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA).

She is also Chair of the Law Society’s Immigration Practitioners’ Group. 

Sinead has recently been appointed as Module Coordinator for the Immigration module on the Public Law & Tribunals course in the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Queen’s University Belfast. 

Sinead is a member of Phoenix Law’s wellbeing committee.

Senior Associate

Sophie McClintock

Sophie McClintock graduated with an LLB (Hons) in Law with Politics from Queen’s University Belfast in 2016. Sophie trained as a Solicitor in Phoenix Law and attended the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen’s. Sophie was awarded a Commendation whilst at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies and she qualified as a solicitor in 2020

Sophie works in the Criminal Defence Department in the firm. In the Criminal Defence Department Sophie works with experienced solicitor Peter Corrigan to provide expert advice to clients in custody when arrested or prosecuted for criminal offences.

She has extensive experience in Magistrates Court cases, Terrorism Act and PACE arrests, Youth Court proceedings, Crown Court cases (both judge only and jury trials), Fraud prosecutions, Extradition cases involving European Arrest Warrants both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Appeals to the Northern Ireland Court of Criminal Appeal and applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Sophie also has worked on a number of cases in the Republic of Ireland to include the Special Criminal Court and Court of Appeal.

She has experience as a criminal defence lawyer at all court levels having worked on a number of high-profile criminal cases in Northern Ireland including the cases of;

R v Gary Marshall

R v Damien McLaughlin

Sophie was chosen as one of the 100 women globally to be featured in Face the Futures campaign of the next 100 years of Women in Law.

Trainee Solicitor

Alannah Faulkner

Alannah Faulkner is a Trainee Solicitor at Phoenix Law, currently undertaking her solicitor training at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS), Queen’s University Belfast. She is developing expertise in immigration, asylum, and public law, with a strong commitment to defending the rights of migrants, refugees, and victims of exploitation. 

Alannah graduated with a 2:1 in Law (LLB) in 2020, and then went on to completing a Master’s in Law and Technology, awarded with Commendation.  

Legal Experience & Casework 

As part of her training at Phoenix Law, Alannah is actively involved in: 

  • Assisting with asylum and protection claims, including cases involving unaccompanied minors, LGBTQ+ persecution, and religious or political persecution. 
  • Supporting judicial review proceedings against the Home Office, especially those concerning age assessments, systemic delays, and victim of trafficking recognition. 
  • Preparing applications for entry clearance, family reunion, indefinite leave to remain, and EU Settlement Scheme cases. 
  • Assisting in cases involving clients detained in Larne House Detention Centre, many of whom are facing removal or deportation.  
  • Handling appeals in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, advocating for clients through complex immigration proceedings. 

Alannah plays a key role in supporting the firm’s community-focused legal work, including: 

  • Working alongside Barnardo’s Independent Guardian Service in cases involving unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. 
  • Supporting survivors of modern slavery and trafficking through collaboration with Flourish NI. 

Currently completing her solicitor training through IPLS, Alannah brings a thoughtful, rights-focused approach to her work. Her training includes exposure to both strategic litigation and everyday casework, giving her a well-rounded foundation for practice. 

She is passionate about human rights, public law, and immigration reform, and is committed to using the law as a tool for meaningful change. 

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