Catherine Farrelly

Practice Profile

Catherine Farrelly prosecutes and defends in all serious criminal cases, particularly those involving allegations of homicide, serious sexual offending and large and complex fraud or organised crime.

She is highly respected by instructing solicitors, colleagues and the judiciary and is well-known for her clear, organised and thorough approach in court and for being communicative and accessible to clients throughout the entirety of the proceedings.

She has significant experience of advising in cases prior to charge, both for the prosecution and the defence. She has advised upon charge in cases concerning murder, “baby shaking”, serious sexual offences and complex fraud offences. She has also advised for the defence, having successfully drafted representations to avoid charge where clients have faced allegations of serious sexual offences.

Catherine has an impressive reputation in cases that particularly involve sensitive handling, whether of witnesses or defendants. She is regularly instructed in cases that involve very young or vulnerable witnesses or defendants. She is an accredited advocacy facilitator (trainer) of other advocates in relation to young and vulnerable witnesses and has received a commendation from the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in recognition of the way in which she dealt with a very young complainant in a case involving very serious sexual allegations.

She has a particular interest in cases that involve technical, expert evidence including cell site, DNA and complex medical evidence and has been commended for her clear and focused presentation of such evidence.

She has lectured on Serious Sexual Offences and has provided in-house training to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to the prosecution of such offences. 

Advocate Panels:

• Counter Terrorism - Grade 4
• Fraud - Grade 4
• General Crime - Grade 4
• Serious Crime - Grade 4
• RASSO - Grade 4

Other Languages:

Italian

• R v. Rekaya [Isleworth] 2018

  Prosecution of £90,000 Grenfell fraudster

  Catherine Farrelly successfully prosecuted a man who ran up nearly £90,000 in accommodation and travel costs, after pretending to be a victim of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

  He was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment.

  The news report may be found here.

• R v. Glenn [ILCC] 2018

  Rape of 13 year old school girl

  Catherine Farrelly prosecuted this matter in which the defendant grabbed a 13-year-old schoolgirl off the street and filmed himself raping her. He was jailed for 11 years.

  News report here.

• R v. Hussain [Snaresbrook] 2017

  Series of Sex Attacks by Uber Driver

  Catherine Farrelly prosecuted this Uber driver whom was sentenced to 12 years for rapes and sexual assaults. Hussain lay in wait outside popular London bars looking for drunken women to rape, preying on women leaving pubs in Shoreditch, in the east of the capital before attacking them as they slept.

  Daily Mail report here.

• R v. Defontaine [Croydon] 2017

  Sexual Assaults on own family members

  Catherine Farrelly prosecuted this "persistent and manipulative” paedophile who carried out a series of sexual assaults on 6 of his own family members. He was sentenced to 18 years.

  Evening Standard report here.

• R v. Khan & Barclay [C.C.C.] 2017

  Revenge Stabbing

  Catherine Farrelly was prosecution Counsel in this trial of two defendants for the pre-meditated revenge stabbing of another in connection with a drug-deal gone awry. The case involved the analysis of a significant amount of telephone evidence in addition to expert cell site and voice recognition evidence.

  Guardian News report here.

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