Darragh Coffey

Darragh is developing a broad public law practice. Prior to coming to the Bar, he had published academic articles and blog posts on a range of public law matters in the UK and Ireland and he recently contributed to the Fifth Edition of Administrative Law in Ireland, the leading work on Administrative law and judicial review in the Irish Legal system.

Darragh’s academic interest in public law is complemented by the experiences he gained in pupillage under the supervision of both Amy Manion and Alasdair Henderson, whom he assisted with the drafting of pleadings and advice in a number of public law cases.

In his own practice, Darragh recently acted for the Applicant in R (Zeghli) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, in which the Applicant sought Judicial Review of the Secretary of State’s decision not to treat her immigration appeal as a fresh claim. In granting permission following an oral permission hearing, the Upper Tribunal Judge commented that Mr Coffey had “conducted himself impeccably” during the hearing.

Darragh is a member of the Attorney General’s ‘Junior Junior’ panel and has assisted both the Government Legal Department and HMRC with document review and disclosure exercises on large cases.

Darragh’s PhD thesis examines the interaction of the European Convention on Human Rights and national security related deportation. He has published academic articles in this area and during his time in Cambridge, Darragh taught on the ‘human rights and civil liberties’ module of the highly respected Cambridge LLM course.

In practice, much of Darragh’s immigration work has involved claims under the Human Rights Act. He maintains a particular interest in Article 3 claims and he regularly contributes to the UK Human Rights Blog.

Selected Cases

• Ahmadzai v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Upper Tribunal): Article 8 Appeal against refusal of entry clearance.
• Singh v Secretary of State for the Home Department (First Tier Tribunal): Secured leave to remain on the basis of Article 8 of the ECHR for an individual who had been in the UK without status since arriving as a child.

Darragh has a developing immigration practice and has appeared regularly before the First Tier Tribunal in immigration appeals. He has also appeared before the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the Upper Tribunal.

Selected Cases

• R (Zeghli) v Secretary for State for the Home Department (Upper Tribunal): Judicial review of SSHD’s refusal to consider the Applicant’s appeal as a fresh claim
• Ahmadzai v Secretary of State of the Home Department (Upper Tribunal): Appeal against refusal of entry clearance.
• Singh v Secretary of State for the Home Department (First Tier Tribunal): Secured leave to remain on the basis of Article 8 of the ECHR for an individual who had been in the UK without status since arriving as a child.

Since January 2020, Darragh has been instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service as a member of their counsel team for the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Darragh regularly appears in Coroner’s Courts representing both families and institutional Interested Persons.

Selected Cases

• Re JM (2021): Represented NHS Trust at inquest into death of toddler from choking at Butlins.
• Re H (2021): Represented the family of teenager who died from glandular fever via the AvMA pro bono service.
• Inquest touching upon the death of JW: Darragh acted for the Deceased’s family and drew the coroner’s attention to several issues of concern, which resulted in five Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports being issued.
• Inquest touching upon the death of DB: Darragh represented the London Ambulance Service in a five day jury inquest into a death in custody to which the LAS were called.

Darragh is developing a varied practice in the area of clinical negligence.  He accepts instructions from Claimants and Defendants to appear in the County Court and High Court in a variety of hearings.  He also advises on liability and quantum and drafts a variety of pleadings in such claims.

Darragh has appeared in court and advised Claimants and Defendants on liability and quantum in a variety of civil hearings and trials.  He has experience in claims arising out of road traffic accidents, public liability and employer’s liability. Darragh recently spent six months on secondment to HMRC’s personal injury team advising on liability and quantum in employer’s and occupier’s liability claims.

Darragh recently represented Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as a rule 6 party before a 12 day planning inquiry in which the Trust successfully opposed the grant of planning permission to a property Developer to build a 516 unit residential development in close proximity to Askham Bog, a site of special scientific interest described by Sir David Attenborough as ‘irreplaceable’. Read more about the case here.

He was jointly nominated for Advocate’s Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year Award 2020 for his role in saving Askham Bog.