Human Rights: Darragh Mackin Wins Trinity FLAC Award | Phoenix Law Human Rights Solicitor

About the Trinity FLAC Award

The Trinity FLAC Award is presented annually by Trinity FLAC the Free Legal Advice Centre society at Trinity College Dublin to the outstanding contributor to human rights or social justice law as published in the Trinity College Law Review. It represents one of the most respected student-led accolades in Irish legal academia, reflecting Trinity FLAC’s core mission of advancing access to justice and the protection of fundamental rights across Ireland.

The award was presented to Darragh at Trinity University on Thursday 26th March 2026.

Darragh Mackin: A Human Rights Solicitor at the Forefront of Irish Law

Darragh Mackin has long been regarded as one of the foremost human rights solicitors in Ireland. Described by the Irish Times as “a rising star on the international legal scene” and by the Belfast Telegraph as “a man for all seasons, needed for all sorts of reasons,” Darragh has built a practice defined by landmark litigation, constitutional challenge, and a fearless commitment to the protection of human rights across multiple jurisdictions.

As a human rights solicitor in Ireland, Darragh has acted in some of the most significant cases of recent decades. He represented the Hooded Men in their landmark challenge before the UK Supreme Court, which found that the PSNI’s decision to discontinue its investigation into their torture was unlawful. He acted for Sarah Ewart and Amnesty International in successfully challenging Northern Ireland’s abortion law — a case that directly changed the law. He was part of the legal team in the Brexit Supreme Court case representing the Peoples’ Challenge, and has appeared before the European Court of Human Rights, the African Commission on Human Rights, and United Nations Special Procedures.

In 2016, Darragh became the first Ireland-based lawyer to win at the London Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards – a milestone that signalled his growing profile as a human rights solicitor of international standing. More recently, Phoenix Law were awarded the LEAP Special Recognition Award in Dublin and the LALY Law Firm of the Year Award in London, reinforcing the firm’s reputation as a leading human rights practice operating across Belfast, Dublin, and London.

What the Award Means

Commenting on the recognition, Darragh said:

“Awards such as these are only possible because of the trust and commitment of the clients we have the privilege of representing. They are the real heroes in every litigation story. To be recognised by Trinity FLAC, a society whose work in promoting access to justice and human rights is outstanding, is a real honour.”

Human Rights Solicitor Ireland: The Phoenix Law Difference

Phoenix Law was founded in 2018 with a clear vision: to build a boutique human rights firm that placed the protection of fundamental rights at the centre of everything it does, while operating at the highest levels of litigation practice. The firm operates across Belfast, Dublin, London and Internationally and has built a reputation as a go-to practice for complex human rights cases, litigation, public law, reputation management, commercial litigation and international human rights work.

Darragh also serves as an associate lecturer in Public and Administrative Law at Ulster University and delivers guest lectures at Cambridge, Trinity College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast, and Dublin City University a commitment that reflects Phoenix Law’s belief in investing in the next generation of human rights lawyers in Ireland.

The Trinity FLAC Award adds to a growing list of accolades that recognise both Darragh’s individual contribution and Phoenix Law’s collective achievement as Northern Ireland’s leading human rights law firm.

If you are looking for a human rights solicitor in Ireland or Northern Ireland, Phoenix Law’s team is available across Belfast, Dublin, and London. Contact us today to discuss how we can assist you.