TOP LAWYER ATTENDING INQUESTS
Top lawyer attending inquests
By John McCusker
A LEADING lawyer representing the family of one of those who died in the Omagh atrocity had previously been involved in some of the most high profile cases to come before British courts this century.
Portfolio details on Michael Mansfield QC list his prior involvement in a string of prominent and contentious trials and inquiries spanning a 30 year period.
Included are the case of the Birmingham Six, the Carl Bridgewater affair, the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation and, of course, the ongoing Bloody Sunday Inquiry.
With just a week gone in the Omagh Coroner's Court proceedings, the flamboyant lawyer has already been reprimanded by police lawyers for what they perceive as his robust questioning of RUC officers involved in clearing the town centre that afternoon. However, Mr. Mansfield has since strenuously denied singling out any officer for impugnment.
As representative for the next of kin of Elizabeth (Libby) Rush, his ultimate objective will undoubtedly be to explore every avenue in an effort to establish the facts surrounding her death and the deaths of the other victims.
Brought up in Finchley, North London, the twice-married father of six enjoys almost legendary status among fellow lawyers. Aged 58, he currently lives in South London.
Called to the Bar at the age of 26, he soon established his position as one the most propitious young lawyers of his generation.
His big break came in 1972 when he defended Angela Weir, one of the alleged leaders of the anti-establishment Angry Brigade, the grouping behind a series of bomb attacks on the homes of cabinet ministers.
In 1984, he established his own chambers and five years later he was made a Queen's Council.
His reputation has been secured through a series of high profile cases in which he helped highlight numerous miscarriages of justice. Among these were the case of six Irish men cleared of the Birmingham pub bombings in 1975, appeals by the Tottenham Three and Bridgewater Four and his defence of alleged IRA bomber Judith Ward. He also successfully defended Crossmaglen man, Danny McNamee who won his appeal after being convicted of involvement in the IRA's 1982 Hyde Park bombing which killed four members of the household cavalry.
Mr. Mansfield also fought on behalf of many of the miners caught up in the 1984/85 dispute.
More recently he has represented the family of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence and has been involved in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in Derry.
His CV doesn't stop there. He was also involved in the case surrounding the Hillsborough stadium tragedy and following the conclusion of the Omagh inquest, his attention will switch to a further inquiry centring on the Marchioness riverboat disaster.
Away from the courtroom, the lawyer has published a number of books. His first, Presumed Guilty, came out in 1994. It was followed three years later by a novel The Inquest, about a boeing 747 which explodes over London.
By John McCusker
A LEADING lawyer representing the family of one of those who died in the Omagh atrocity had previously been involved in some of the most high profile cases to come before British courts this century.
Portfolio details on Michael Mansfield QC list his prior involvement in a string of prominent and contentious trials and inquiries spanning a 30 year period.
Included are the case of the Birmingham Six, the Carl Bridgewater affair, the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation and, of course, the ongoing Bloody Sunday Inquiry.
With just a week gone in the Omagh Coroner's Court proceedings, the flamboyant lawyer has already been reprimanded by police lawyers for what they perceive as his robust questioning of RUC officers involved in clearing the town centre that afternoon. However, Mr. Mansfield has since strenuously denied singling out any officer for impugnment.
As representative for the next of kin of Elizabeth (Libby) Rush, his ultimate objective will undoubtedly be to explore every avenue in an effort to establish the facts surrounding her death and the deaths of the other victims.
Brought up in Finchley, North London, the twice-married father of six enjoys almost legendary status among fellow lawyers. Aged 58, he currently lives in South London.
Called to the Bar at the age of 26, he soon established his position as one the most propitious young lawyers of his generation.
His big break came in 1972 when he defended Angela Weir, one of the alleged leaders of the anti-establishment Angry Brigade, the grouping behind a series of bomb attacks on the homes of cabinet ministers.
In 1984, he established his own chambers and five years later he was made a Queen's Council.
His reputation has been secured through a series of high profile cases in which he helped highlight numerous miscarriages of justice. Among these were the case of six Irish men cleared of the Birmingham pub bombings in 1975, appeals by the Tottenham Three and Bridgewater Four and his defence of alleged IRA bomber Judith Ward. He also successfully defended Crossmaglen man, Danny McNamee who won his appeal after being convicted of involvement in the IRA's 1982 Hyde Park bombing which killed four members of the household cavalry.
Mr. Mansfield also fought on behalf of many of the miners caught up in the 1984/85 dispute.
More recently he has represented the family of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence and has been involved in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in Derry.
His CV doesn't stop there. He was also involved in the case surrounding the Hillsborough stadium tragedy and following the conclusion of the Omagh inquest, his attention will switch to a further inquiry centring on the Marchioness riverboat disaster.
Away from the courtroom, the lawyer has published a number of books. His first, Presumed Guilty, came out in 1994. It was followed three years later by a novel The Inquest, about a boeing 747 which explodes over London.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1451
Published Date: 14-Sep-00
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