Inquests

Peter acts for all participants in inquests, including families, commercial organisations, state bodies, and coroners. Many of his cases arise from high-profile events, are acutely sensitive, and involve multiple parties. He is experienced in providing strategic advice before, during and after proceedings before Coroners and in the High Court, Divisional Court, and Court of Appeal.

In 2024, he represented the families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Reading in 2020 in which three men were fatally stabbed, and the families of the patients who died from suspected over-medication at the Gosport Memorial Hospital. In 2022, he was instructed by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in the inquests into the murders by serial killer Stephen Port; and by the tram operator in the inquests arising from the 2016 Croydon tram crash.

Prior to that, Peter was Counsel to the Judge Coroners in the inquests into the 1974 terrorist bombings in Birmingham and into the sudden death of the Russian businessman Alexander Perepilichnyy.

Selected Cases

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“He is a delight to work with. He only speaks when it is absolutely necessary and is incredibly knowledgeable about inquests and inquiries. He is very collaborative and supportive of junior members of the Bar.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“Very responsive, collegiate, strategic, and able to process voluminous documentation and spot the key issues arising. Very effective advocate in isolating key propositions of fact and law, and very good at reading when the court has taken on board his arguments.”

Legal 500 2023

“Peter is a very, very accomplished inquests and inquiries practitioner. He really gets it and he uses the law to his client’s best advantage.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

Appointments

  • Deputy High Court Judge
  • Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel (2014-2016)
  • Special Advocate (2009)
  • Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel (2009)
  • Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel (2004)

Awards

  • Harmsworth Scholarship from Middle Temple to the Inns of Court School of Law (1996)
  • Economic & Social Research Council Scholarship to the University of Cambridge (1995)
  • Harmsworth Scholarship from Middle Temple to the College of Law (1994)
  • Academic Scholarship to the University of California (1992)

Education

  • Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland (2006)
  • Master of Philosophy, University of Cambridge (1996)
  • Common Professional Examination, College of Law London (1995)
  • BA Hons English Literature (First Class), University of York (1994)

Memberships

  • PIBA
  • PNBA
  • Inquests and Inquiries Bar Association

Publications

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