Cathal is a solicitor in the firm’s criminal defence, family, and litigation departments.
Cathal is from Magherafelt and graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with an LLB (Hons) in 2016 and went on to complete an LLM in Human Rights Law. Before joining the firm, he worked as paralegal to the Senior Legal Adviser to the Education Authority gaining valuable experience in specialist public law. Cathal trained under partner Patricia Coyle, training across every department of the firm, and qualified as a solicitor in September 2025.
Cathal has a particular interest in environmental law. He has successfully challenged the government’s granting of mineral prospecting licences as unlawful and worked with the Public Interest Litigation Support Project (PILS) and the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) to make the inquiry into the Dalradian gold mine Project open to the wider public.
Whilst studying to become a solicitor, Cathal represented the IPLS at the international finals of the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition.
Cathal continues his solicitor advocacy, conducting contested hearings in criminal, family, and civil matters, and has expertise in the areas of protest law and animal welfare law.
Cathal practises in:
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Criminal defence: police station advice following arrest under PACE and the Terrorism Act 2000, and representation in the Magistrates’, County and Crown Courts.
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Family law: advice and representation in the Family Proceedings Court, Family Care Centre and High Court, including non-molestation and occupation orders.
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Civil litigation: judicial review and public interest litigation, with a particular focus on environmental law.
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Environmenal law: pre-action correspondence, environmental information requests, planning inquiry representation, planning law advice and assistance.
