Catherine Donnelly

Practice Areas

Catherine Donnelly is an experienced criminal practitioner, ranked by both the Chambers & Partners UK Bar and Legal 500 Guides. She has established a substantial criminal practice prosecuting and defending at the highest level.

She has particular expertise in homicide cases, large scale conspiracies involving guns, dishonesty offences, serious sexual offending, and drug importations. She has extensive experience of dealing with complex expert evidence including medical evidence, psychiatric evidence, ANPR and cell site analysis. She regularly prosecutes cases where the defence is represented by King’s Counsel and has prosecuted allegations of murder for the CPS as sole counsel. She specialises in the most serious sexual offences. She was counsel to Operation Pallial 2013 – 2020. Operation Pallial was formed to investigate allegations of child sex abuse in North Wales Children’s homes in 2012 by Teresa May. It was one of the largest investigations into child abuse in the UK to date. The Operation dealt with 255 complainants who made allegations of abuse against 120 possible suspects at 18 children's homes between 1963 and 1992. She was counsel to Operation Almond advising and prosecuting historic cases of abuse in care homes in South Wales.

She is regularly instructed for the defence in case of Murder, Attempted murder, serious violence, drug trafficking and serious sexual offences. She has particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable witnesses including children as young as 3.

Professional Memberships

CBA

South Eastern Circuit.

WICL

Middle Temple (Mentor)