Róisín Finnegan

Crime

Róisín appears regularly in the Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts. She is a Grade 1 CPS Prosecutor and accepts both prosecution and defence work. She is particularly interested in youth justice, having completed ICCA training, Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law.

Notable cases include:

R v Eihmanis (Lewes Crown Court) (2025)

Róisín successfully prosecuted this trial for the offence of ABH in a case where the prosecution were relying on the doctrine of joint criminal enterprise.

R v ML (Maidstone Magistrates’ Court) (2025)

Róisín represented a vulnerable youth who suffered with his mental health over several months. ML was charged with two counts of attempted robbery, which included the use of a weapon, and two counts of assault by beating. The events were captured on CCTV. Following guilty pleas, the Court was persuaded to take an exceptional course of action and impose a conditional discharge.

R v AE (Maidstone Crown Court) (2024)

Róisín represented AE who was charged with breaching a non-molestation order. The defence of reasonable excuse was successfully invoked to secure AE’s acquittal.

R v TB (Medway Magistrates’ Court) (2024)

Róisín secured the acquittal of TB who had been charged with a public order offence contrary to section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986. At the time of the incident, TB was working as a nightclub bouncer. CCTV showed TB striking a man on the head who was on the ground with his back turned to the defendant. TB believed that the man, who had been physically aggressive earlier in the evening, was searching for a knife and feared for his own safety and that of others. Self-defence was successfully relied upon on the basis that the force used was necessary and reasonable in the circumstances.

R v KR (Medway Magistrates’ Court) (2024)

Secured the acquittal of KR who had been charged with five counts of assault, each involving a different complainant, all of whom were employees at the care home she managed. The complainants alleged that the defendant had consumed alcohol and physically assaulted them during a shift at the care home. Following a two day trial, the Magistrates’ acquitted KR of each count on the basis of inconsistencies revealed during Róisín’s cross-examination.

R v KM (Maidstone Magistrates’ Court) (2024)

Róisín had proceedings stayed as an abuse of process. A simple caution had been issued for the offences charged, however, the Prosecution subsequently sought to prosecute KM for the offences. Róisín argued that a stay was necessary to protect the integrity of the criminal justice system owing to the principle against sequential trials; and because the defendant had acted on an unequivocal assurance that he would not be prosecuted to his disadvantage. She also highlighted that KM was only 16 years old when the offences were committed and therefore the principal aims of the youth justice system were engaged.

R v PB (Inner London Crown Court) (2024)

Secured a sentence of 4 years and 8 months for two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and two counts of modern slavery offences for a man who was already serving a lengthy prison sentence for other drug matters. Róisín also successfully resisted the prosecution’s application for a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, arguing that it was unnecessary and any risk would be managed by a custodial sentence.

R v MS (Bromley Youth Court) (2024)

Represented a youth defendant at first appearance and sentence. MS fell to be sentenced for seven offences, including two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and three counts of possession of offensive weapons in a private place. Róisín persuaded the Bench to impose a referral order (the most lenient youth sentence) rather than a sentence of immediate custody.

R v CN (Canterbury Crown Court) (2024)

Prosecuted a sentencing hearing where a restriction order was imposed under section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983. As part of the hearing, Róisín called a medical expert to give evidence regarding why a restriction order was appropriate in circumstances.

R v LJ (Folkestone Magistrates’ Court) (2024)

Defended a man charged with assaulting a 10 year-old child, and the mother of the child, which involved Róisín cross-examining the child.

R v TC (Margate Magistrates’ Court) (2024)

Róisín defended a man charged with stalking in a two day trial. Although TC was found guilty, the district judge was persuaded to take an exceptional course of action by way of sentence, and imposed a conditional discharge.

Róisín spent four months of pupillage with Nina Ellin KC where she assisted Nina with a range of cases, including R v Sakalauskas [2023] (joint enterprise murder), and R v Ahmed [2023] (16 count indictment including counts of rape, child abduction, and attempt to supply Class A drugs). Also during pupillage, Róisín assisted Mark Watson KC with the charging advice for the high profile case of  R v Nerys Lloyd which concerned a charge of gross negligence manslaughter resulting from the death of four paddleboarders (reported here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce8grejd7gdt ).

Environment

Róisín accepts instructions in all areas of environmental law. She is a regular contributor to Six Pump Court’s Environmental Law Blog and contributed to the Water Law Group’s reviews of the Cunliffe Report.

Róisín’s work includes:

• Róisín is currently acting for a local authority in a case concerning an appeal against a noise abatement notice.
• Assisting Mark Watson KC to advise a large water company on drought issues.
• Assisting Nick Ostrowski to advise in a case concerning various water issues, including nuisance, riparian rights and the doctrine of accretion.
• Advising a group of residents regarding the ownership of tunnels constructed beneath their homes during WWII pursuant to the Official Secrets Act 1939 and environmental issues related to their excavation.

During pupillage, Róisín assisted her supervisor, Christopher Badger, with:

• Drafting and research in connection with landmark climate change case ClientEarth, Good Law Project and Friends of the Earth (No 2) v Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero [2024] EWHC 995 (Admin).
• Drafting a defence to a public nuisance claim against a water company.
• Research in connection with defences under the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulations 2007.
• Research into excluding evidence on the basis of unlawfully obtained warrants in environmental proceedings.
• Research concerning the right of amenity to swim in the sea which considered issues of public nuisance and special damage.
• Drafting a response to a request for disclosure pursuant to the duty of candour and the Environmental Information Regulations.

Other work during her pupillage included:

• Drafting an advice for Richard Banwell on whether there was sufficient evidence to prosecute under the Control of Major Accident Regulations (“COMAH”) Regulations 2015.
• Drafting an advice for Nick Ostrowski on what causes of action could be brought against a water company taking into consideration Marcic and the Dobson

Other work:

• Róisín is a member of UKELA’s Climate Change and Energy Group and was the ‘Key contributor’ to their response to the Government consultation on draft supplementary EIA guidance for assessing the effects of scope 3 emissions from offshore oil and gas projects (January 2025).
• Before pupillage, Róisín worked with the Centre for Climate Engagement at the University of Cambridge. She is an Editor of the Centre’s Law & Climate Atlas. Whilst working with the Centre, she researched the duties of directors, asset managers and other professionals in respect of climate change in contribution to its policy outputs.
• Róisín has sat on panels at events at the University of Cambridge to speak about her work in climate change law.
• Róisín is an expert advisor to the International Court for the Environment Coalition.

Planning

Róisín is regularly instructed to advise and act for parties at all stages of the planning process.

At the start of her tenancy, Róisín undertook a secondment with Hackney Borough Council. While at the Council, she negotiated and drafted section 106 agreements and deeds of variation, and provided legal advice to planning officers.

Recent instructions include:

• Róisín is currently acting for a local planning authority in a hearing concerning an appeal against their refusal to issue a Certificate of Lawful Development and Use.
• Róisín appeared on behalf of a local planning authority in a planning enforcement Inquiry. The appeal proceeded under two grounds (section 174(b) and (d)) and concerned issues of concealment.
• Advising a local planning authority with Will Upton KC regarding issues of implementation of planning permission and enforcement.
• Advising a local planning authority on grounds for challenging an Inspector’s appeal and costs decision in a case concerning prior approval for the conversion of an office building into 54 flats. This resulted in Róisín drafting a letter before action and statement of facts and grounds for a statutory review challenge.
• Advising a local planning authority regarding tree removal in a conservation area and related prosecutions.

During her pupillage, Róisín undertook a range of planning work, including:

• Drafting an opinion for Megan Thomas KC in relation to the repayment of planning application fees pursuant to Regulation 9a of the Town & Country Planning (Fees For Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests And Site Visits) (England) Regulations 2012.
• Drafting an advice for Noemi Byrd which concerned an application under the Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981 for the making of a definitive map modification order to add a public footpath.
• Drafting an opening note for Peter Cruickshank for a planning enforcement case.

Regulatory / Professional Disciplinary

Róisín welcomes instructions in regulatory and professional disciplinary law. Her experience includes:

• Acting as a Junior to Pascal Bates on behalf of a local authority in an ongoing case involving breaches of section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• Acting on behalf of DVSA in driver conduct matters.
• Acting on behalf of LGV licence holders before the Traffic Commissioner.
• Acting on behalf of HGV drivers and companies in appeals against Civil Penalty Notices issued pursuant to Section 35A of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999.
• Prosecuting 14 food safety offences on behalf of a local authority in relation to a food takeaway business.
• Acting as a Case Presenter for the Nursing and Midwifery Council in a range of professional disciplinary cases.

Acting for a taxi driver in his licencing appeal against TfL.

Public Inquiries

Róisín welcomes instructions in public inquiries.

Previous instructions include:

• Acting as Counsel to the Department of Health and Social Care (led by Rachel Senior) for Module 6 of the Covid-19 Inquiry which examined the impact of the pandemic on publicly and privately funded care sector in England .
• Acting as Counsel to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (led by Jonathan Dixey and Lucy Plumpton) for Module 4 of the Covid-19 Inquiry which examined vaccines and therapeutics.

Public Law

Róisín welcomes instructions in all areas of public law. She is currently a member of the Attorney General’s “Junior Junior” Panel Scheme.

She is currently instructed to defend a local authority in a multi-track claim alleging breaches of the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty in connection with possession proceedings.

Previous instructions include:

• Drafting witness statements in a case on behalf of the Parole Board.
• Preparing grounds of defence in an immigration judicial review claim on behalf of the Government Legal Department.
• Assisting to prepare an application for a Restriction of Proceedings order on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Róisín worked as a paralegal at specialist immigration law firm, Wesley Gryk LLP. She also worked as a caseworker at the AIRE Centre where she assisted to prepare third party interventions in asylum and immigration law cases before the European Court of Human Rights.

General Civil Law

Róisín accepts instructions across the breadth of civil law. Her experience includes:

• Acting on behalf of the RSPCA in animal welfare matters.
• Advising a client on merits of a claim in defamation, harassment and breach of contract arising out of a barrage of inflammatory social media posts following a breakdown in communications at the workplace.
• Applying for Stalking Protection Orders, Sexual Risk Orders, and Closure Orders on behalf of Kent Police. She also has experience of defending stalking protection orders against the Metropolitan Police.
• Housing, including landlord and tenant law, possession hearings, charging orders.
• Road traffic accident claims.
• Acting for parties in mediation.

Human Rights

Róisín welcomes instructions in human rights law.

During her pupillage, she assisted Stephen Hockman KC with research concerning Article 6 ECHR  and delays in proceedings which formed the basis of a letter to the Court, persuading the judge to pass judgment without further delay.

Róisín gained considerable experience of human rights law prior to coming to the Bar.

While working with Amnesty International, she worked on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, and Abortion campaigns. She also worked at the AIRE Centre as a caseworker where she helped to prepare third party interventions in cases before the European Court of Human Rights; published case comments in the Western Balkans Judicial Bulletin; drafted research papers; and designed a vulnerability training program for professionals working with asylum seekers across Europe.

While undertaking her LLM, she helped the Cambridge Pro Bono Project to advise the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on a live case concerning women’s reproductive rights. This built on her experience as a research assistant to Dr Donna Lyons at Trinity College Dublin where she explored the relationship between Covid-19 and international human rights law frameworks.

Education

LLB, Trinity College Dublin (First Class) (2020)

LLM in International Law, University of Cambridge (First Class) (2022)

Bar Training Course, Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2023)

Awards

Hugh Bevan Prize, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge (awarded for the most distinguished performance in the LLM by a Wolfson Student)

Outstanding Graduate Letter – Cross-Examination, Inns of Court College of Advocacy (awarded for receiving the highest mark out of 80 students in the Cross-Examination module)

Astbury Bar Course Scholarship, Middle Temple

Harmsworth Entrance Exhibition, Middle Temple

Lectures and Speaking Events

Panellist at the annual Wolfson College Law Society & Alumni Event, University of Cambridge at the International Law and Human Rights (Inclusive of Climate Change Litigation under the ECHR) session (Feb 2024).

Panellist at the Cambridge Net Zero Festival at the Law for climate action: Using legal levers to address climate change session (October 2022).

Guest lecturer at London South Bank University: delivered two guest lectures on Ireland’s Asylum System for an MSc course, ‘Asylum Policy in the EU and Member States’ (25th Nov 2020 and 24th Nov 2021).

Memberships

UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA)

Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA)

London Irish Lawyers Association (LILA)

Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)

Legal Voices for the Future.

International Court for the Environment Coalition.

Middle Temple

Publications

Róisín Finnegan and Anastasia Kantzelis, ‘Air Pollution and Public Health: Legal Challenges and Opportunities in the UK’ (December 2024) UKELA elaw

Is it better to lose some control? The stance of the Irish courts and legislature on closely-held companies and whether ‘control’ will justify piercing the corporate veil (Irish Law Times, 29 Oct 2021)

Latest news