Angus McCullough KC

The McCullough Review

In June 2024 Angus was appointed by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to conduct an independent review into conduct by PSNI arising from concerns raised in relation to surveillance of journalists, lawyers and other groups.  Matthew Hill and Rajkiran Arhestey joined him as assistants on the work of the Review, which reported in September 2025.

Rwanda

In 2022-2023 Angus led the team of counsel acting pro bono for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, acing as intervener in the challenge to the Government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, leading to the Supreme Court decision in November 2023.

Special Advocate and National Security

Angus has been instructed as the special advocate in some of the most high profile cases of recent years in the field of national security, and has been active in promoting understanding and debate in relation to closed material procedures.

Notable national security cases include:

• Shamima Begum: Appeal against deprivation of British citizenship, in SIAC, the Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.
• Saifullah v. Home Secretary (2020-2022): Challenge to the adequacy of investigation into deaths of Afghans in the course of a raid by a UK Army unit in Afghanistan, leading to the Haddon-Cave Inquiry.
• LTTE (‘Tamil Tigers’): Appeal against refusal of deproscription before Prescribed Organisations Appeals Commission; appeal allowed by POAC in October 2020.
• CAAT: Challenge to UK licensing of arms sales to Saudi Arabia; Government’s appeal to the Supreme Court withdrawn in 2020.
• Chagos Islanders Litigation (Bancoult et al): Appointed by the Divisional Court to act as Public Interest Immunity Advocate, 2018
• Abu Qatada: Proceedings in various courts, including the House of Lords, against high profile Islamist preacher
• Zatuliveter: Alleged Russian spy whose appeal against deportation was allowed
• AF (No.3): House of Lords case considering requirements of fairness in control order proceedings
• Al Rawi: Civil claim of Guantanamo detainees against the UK Government
• Pham: Statelessness and deprivation of British citizenship

Judicial Review

In recent major judicial reviews Angus has led teams of counsel, including:

• Wethersfield (2025):  leading a team of counsel in a challenge to the Home Secretary’s use of Wethersfield barracks as asylum accommodation.
• Medical Justice (2025):  instructed on behalf of Medical Justice in the Court of Appeal, resisting the Home Secretary’s appeal in relation to policies affecting detention of vulnerable people under immigration powers
• Manston (2024-2025):  judicial review seeking an Article 3-compliant inquiry following the crisis at the Manston detention facility in 2022.

Contempt of Court

Contempt of Court is an area of specialist expertise. He has been instructed by the Attorney General in cases of press and juror contempt, including the ‘Facebook juror’ case, and the first contempt proceedings brought against a newspaper for an online publication. He was appointed as amicus in the phone hacking criminal trial of R v Rebekah Brooks and others, to advise the court in relation to reporting restrictions and costs. Angus represented the UK Government in Dallas v UK, in Strasbourg, a case of juror contempt.  He was also appointed as amicus in the committal proceedings in the Old Bailey against Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson).

Recommendations

Angus is recognised as a Star Individual by Chambers & Partners for Civil Liberties and Human Rights, reflecting his outstanding reputation and consistent excellence in this field. He also holds Band 1 rankings in three additional areas: Administrative & Public Law, Clinical Negligence, and Immigration. 2026 editorial includes: 

Angus is also recommended as a leading silk by the Legal 500 for Administrative law and Human Rights, Clinical Negligence and Immigration.