Conal McGarrity

Practice Areas

Conal became the youngest legal director in Ireland when he was appointed director in 2017. He qualified as a Solicitor in 2014 having graduated from Queen’s University where he received the Lord Chief Justice’s Prize for academic achievement.

He practices in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He is an expert in the areas of human rights, dispute resolution, medical negligence, fraud & financial crime.

He is regularly instructed in the most serious and high-profile cases within Northern Ireland the Republic of Ireland. He currently represents clients in cases pending before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the Supreme Court in London and the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Conal also tutors in the areas of public law and medical negligence at Queen’s University, Belfast.

Conal is also instructed in challenges against State authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in respect of failures to establish Public Inquiries to investigate the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in each jurisdiction. He is also the Recognised Legal Representative for NI Covid Bereaved Families for Justice in the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry which is due to begin hearings in May 2023 in London.

Work Highlights

Notable Cases / Projects:

In the matter of an application by JR79 for Judicial Review & in the matter of decisions taken by a school and a Health & Social Care Trust – Judicial Review, High Court Northern Ireland – Article 8 – judgment granted in favour of client (child).

In the matter of an application by TKF for Judicial Review – Judicial Review, High Court Northern Ireland – challenge to EU Regulation 4/2009 on the application & enforcement of foreign maintenance orders prior to member state becoming a member of the EU

In the matter of an application by Tadeusz Stach for Judicial Review – Judicial Review, High Court Northern Ireland – challenge to the Conservative Government policy of homeless EEA nationals

In the matter of an application by Raymond Archer for Judicial Review – Judicial Review, High Court – challenge to access to budgeting loan for a class of benefit recipients (264,000 individuals)

In the matter of an application by BMN1 for Judicial Review – Judicial Review, High Court Belfast – challenge to school/Education Authority on a decision to exclude a child with Special Educational Needs (SEN) from school/ failure to make proper educational provision

Barbara Kozyra v St James Hospital, Dublin – Medical negligence, High Court Dublin – stem cell transplant mistake resulting in avoidable death – substantial settlement

MB v Belfast Health & Social Care Trust – Medical negligence, High Court Belfast – significant injuries due to failure to administer required treatment – substantial settlement

RJ v Southern Health & Social Care Trust – Medical negligence, High Court Belfast, stroke resulting in significant brain injury

MJ (a child) v Belfast Health & Social Care Trust – Medical Negligence, High Court Belfast – catastrophic birthing injury

Southern Health & Social Care Trust v RK and in the Matter of RM (a child), Care Proceedings & Freeing for Adoption (defending) – High Court Belfast

Southern Health & Social Care Trust v LA and in the Matter of PA & RA (a child), Care Proceedings & Freeing for Adoption (defending) – High Court Belfast

Southern Health & Social Care Trust v PD and in the matter of PS & PR (a child) – Care Proceedings, High Court Belfast

R v M & others, ongoing allegation MTIC £39 million fraud

R v F & others – ongoing allegation of a £215 million money laundering

Hickson Commission – Public Inquiry, Dublin (ongoing) – The Commission will inquire into the level of knowledge of the offences committed by notorious paedophile Billy Kinneally was held by a number of organisations including An Garda Siochana, the Waterford Diocese, the South Eastern Health Board, Basketball Ireland and high profile political figures

In the Matter of a Preliminary Reference under Article 267 TFEU from the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland to the European Court of Justice, Luxembourg – Case Number 1132471 EN Preliminary Reference C-729/19

R v Djalo & Ors – Murder

R v Lawlor & 2 ORS – Rape

R v SB – Rape

Judicial Review 18 Applicants -v- An Taoiseach, Minister for Health, Minister for Finance, Attorney General Ireland – challenge to the Republic of Ireland Government’s failure to hold an investigation into nursing home deaths during Covid-19 pandemic

Recognised Legal Representative for NI Covid 19 Bereaved Families for Justice – UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry

Application by Oliver Hughes for Judicial Review and in the Matter of Decisions of The Department for Communities – challenge to the prohibition on the operation of private crematoria in Northern Ireland