Caoilfhionn Gallagher

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC is an Irish-born barrister at Doughty Street Chambers in London, specialising in human rights and civil liberties.[1][2][3]

Caoilfhionn Gallagher
Born
Dublin
NationalityIrish
EducationUniversity College Dublin
Occupationlawyer
EmployerDoughty Street Chambers
Known forexpertise in human rights and civil liberties

Life

Gallagher studied at University College Dublin and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Law.[4] She also holds degrees from the Honorable Society of the King's Inns, Dublin; and Cambridge University.[5]

She is one of the three joint founders of the ‘Act for the Act’ campaign (with Martha Spurrier and Fiona Bawdon), a crowdfunded advertising campaign to tell positive stories about the Human Rights Act 1998.[6]

At the 2017 Freedom of Expression Awards (2nd from right)

Gallagher led the lawyers working for the release of Ibrahim Halawa,[7] an Irish citizen from Firhouse in South Dublin who was imprisoned in Egypt between 2013 and 2017.[8] Halawa was adopted by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience[9] and Lynn Boylan led a vote in the European parliament of 500 to 11.

Gallagher has spoken about the importance and value of pro bono work. She has represented survivors of the Hillsborough disaster and the 7/7 bombings.[10]

In 2017 she received UCD's alumni award in Law and she became a Queen's Counsel in the same year.[7] Gallagher also served as a judge that year at the Freedom of Expression Awardss with actor Noma Dumezweni, Tina Brown, Anab Jain and Stephen Budd.[11]

In 2022 she spoke out against what she saw as anti-Irish[12] and anti-lawyer talk made by British government ministers. She thought these were a result of Brexit. She had personally received death threats and Amnesty International supported her view that politicians should be more cautious in their accusations against lawyers and judges.[13]

In 2023, she was appointed to the Irish independent role of Special Rapporteur-for Children. She replaces Prof Conor O'Mahony and she will serve for three years.[4]

References
  1. "Irish barrister working in London warns of 'rising anti-Irish rhetoric in the UK' in the aftermath of Brexit". independent. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  2. "Caoilfhionn Gallagher". Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  3. "Together in Safety". Human Rights Law Centre. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  4. "Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC named Special Rapporteur for Children". www.lawsociety.ie. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  5. "Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC - Practising Law Institute". www.pli.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  6. Bowcott, Owen; correspondent, Owen Bowcott Legal affairs (2015-10-19). "Ad campaign aims to rally support to save Human Rights Act". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  7. "CAOILFHIONN GALLAGHER QC". UCD Alumni Awards. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  8. "MEPs pass resolution seeking Halawa release". RTÉ News. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  9. "Free Ibrahim Halawa". Amnesty International. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  10. Franks, A. I. K. (2021-01-31). "Speaker Series: Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC on "The Value of Pro Bono Work"". www.cpp.law.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  11. Censorship, Index on (2017-04-20). "2017 Winners of the Freedom of Expression Awards". Index on Censorship. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  12. "Irish barrister working in London warns of 'rising anti-Irish rhetoric in the UK' in the aftermath of Brexit". independent. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  13. "Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC told she should be murdered 'like Pat Finucane'". Scottish Legal News. Retrieved 2023-02-16.


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