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.

Darragh appeared in the Court of Appeal led by Jeremy Hyam KC on behalf of the Claimant/Respondent in the Case of R (Bell and another) v. the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (2021), which considered the ability of children with gender dysphoria to provide informed consent to undergo treatment with puberty blockers.

Darragh has, being led by Richard Booth KC, drafted submissions on behalf of Appellants in appeals against decisions of the Disclosure and Barring Service in proceedings before the Upper Tribunal.

Darragh 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 respondent, secretary of state subsequently conceded the claim.

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 also undertakes a range of advisory and drafting work for both Claimants and Defendant in the area of public law.

Selected Cases

• R (Bell and another) v. Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (2021): Legal challenge to legality of transgender treatment for children.
• KB v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2021): Secured leave to remain for Mauritian National.
• 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.

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

• KB v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2021): Secured leave to remain for Mauritian National.
• 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

• KB v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2021): Secured leave to remain for Mauritian National.
• 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 has become a core member of the Counsel team examining the Tranche 2 period of the Inquiry and has appeared before the Chairman in preliminary hearings in respect of that phase.

Darragh is also instructed for  the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust in respect of the Public Inquiry into the COVID 19 pandemic along with Richard Booth KC and Christopher Mellor.

Darragh regularly appears in Coroner’s Courts representing both families and institutional Interested Persons in both coroner led inquests and those that are held before juries.

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: 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: Represented the London Ambulance Service in a five day jury inquest into a death in custody to which the LAS were called.
• Inquest touching the death of AH: Represented an air ambulance service before an inquest investigating the death of a person who was transferred between hospitals by the service before subsequently deteriorating and passing away.
• Inquest touching the death of AG: Represented the family of an infant who passed away at one day of age whilst still in hospital.
• Inquest touching the death of PV: Instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service in a jury inquest in to a death in custody.

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 also undertakes a range of advisory and drafting work in the area of clinical negligence.

Selected Cases

• NK v University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: Secured a settlement for a claimant who was misdiagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which led to them being inappropriately placed on a course of steroids that had a significant impact on their day to day life.
• CD v Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust: Secured settlement on behalf of the Claimant in respect of a claim relating to the negligent performance of a hip replacement surgery.
• ED v. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: Secured settlement on behalf of a Claimant in respect of a claim the negligent delay of the treatment.
• Darragh is being led by Clodagh Bradley KC in representing the Claimant in respect of a claim arising out of a hypoxic brain injury suffered at birth.
• Darragh has been led by Angus McCullough KC in representing the Defendant in claims arising out of hypoxic brain injuries suffered at birth.

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 previously 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 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.

Darragh has previously acted for clients in environmental law cases on a pro bono basis throught the Environmental Law Foundation

Darragh also undertakes a range of advisory and drafting work in the area of environmental and planning law

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

Darragh accepts instructions in a range of professional discipline cases. He has previously appeared in the Interim Orders Tribunal and has been led By Richard Booth KC in appeals against decisions of the Disclosure and Barring Service which effectively prevented clinicians from continuing in practice.