Sarah is joined in the studio by solicitor Enda McGarrity who works with law firm P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors. Enda talks about his work on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and environmental actions arising because of the ecological disaster occurring in Northern Ireland’s Lough Neagh.

Enda joined PA Duffy & Company as a paralegal in 2018 having graduated from Queens University Belfast with honours. After completing his apprenticeship with PA Duffy and Company Enda qualified as a solicitor and is now leading the Human Rights and Public law department within the firm.

Enda’s caseload consists of Public Inquiries, Inquests, Judicial review and complex litigation against State agencies including wrongful death claims and environmental actions. He is currently instructed by Northern Ireland Bereaved Families for Justice (NICBFFJ) in the ongoing UK Covid-19 Inquiry which is considered to be the largest public inquiry in UK history. In addition, Enda is instructed by bereaved families in the Republic of Ireland to seek a public inquiry to investigate the State's handling of Covid-19 as well as acting in multiple ongoing wrongful death actions in respect of deaths related to major outbreaks of Covid-19 in nursing homes.

Enda has a passion for helping the most vulnerable people in society to seek justice. His work with bereaved families, the elderly and disabled reflects his commitment to pursuing answers and accountability for those who are unable to advocate for themselves. He also has a keen interest in environmental issues and is instructed by various individuals and groups seeking to address damage caused to the environment by pollution, including cases in relation to the ongoing blue green algae crisis in Lough Neagh.

During his training Enda took part in a 5-week human rights internship in Cape Town, South Africa where he provided legal assistance to refugees and members of the LGBTQI community who were being subjected to discrimination. He continues to carry these values in his current workload and regularly accepts instructions on pro bono cases which have a public interest dimension.

Enda is a keen Gaelic footballer, he has represented County Tyrone at Minor level and continues to play for his club Galbally Pearses GAC. Enda has received an Ulster Colleges All-star award, A Gaelic Life All-star award and was a member of the Elite Athlete Programme at Queens University Belfast. He is also an active member of a charity called St Ciaran’s Peregrini who provide aid to a small town in Zambia and he has visited Zambia on four occasions to assist on various community and education projects.

In this episode Sarah meets Leslie Thomas KC with Garden Court Chambers and Professor of Law at Gresham College.

We discuss some of Leslie’s impressive portfolio of work as a barrister taking on the state on behalf of his clients through inquests and public inquiries representing many bereaved families as a result of police brutality and deaths in custody.

Leslie has expertise across a wide range of civil wrongs, civil litigation and human rights and has worked on the Hillsborough Inquiry, Covid-19 Inquiry as well as representing residents and bereaved family members of the Grenfell Tower fire. Do Right and Fear No One – A life Dedicated to Fighting for Justice is the title of Leslie’s thoughtful and fascinating book detailing his career and the challenges he faced as a black lawyer starting off his career in 1980’s London. We have recommended this book as part of our Activist Lawyer Book Club.

Leslie is a leading expert in claims against the police and other public authorities, and claims against corporate bodies, with expertise across the full spectrums of civil wrongs, civil litigation, human rights, data and privacy claims.

He is an expert in all aspects of inquests and public inquiries, having represented many bereaved families, in particular where there has been abuse of state or corporate power.

Leslie acts for claimants in judicial review proceedings and other public law proceedings. He regularly acts for clients in the Caribbean region on constitutional law challenges. He has represented claimants in clinical negligence and personal injury claims for the last 20 years. Leslie is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers & Partners and Tier 1 in Legal 500 for Inquests & Public Inquiries and Police Law (Claimant). He is also ranked by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 in Civil Liberties & Human Rights.

Leslie is currently Professor of Law at Gresham College delivering his lecture series

Hard Choices: The Law's Struggle with Ethical Dilemmas

As part of our series focusing on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Palestine, Sarah is joined by Khaled Quzmar, human rights lawyer and General Director of Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P). The organisation has been working to promote and protect the human rights of Palestinian children for decades. Khaled talks about the extreme challenges in documenting current violations of international law in respect of children due to the sheer volume of cases as a result of the ongoing aggression on the region by Israeli forces.

Khaled Quzmar joined DCI- P in 1995 as a lawyer representing Palestinian children in Israeli military courts. He rose through the ranks to become administrative and legal affairs director. Khaled specializes in issues of juvenile justice and grave violations against children during armed conflict. He earned a Master of Laws degree in international human rights law from the Irish Center for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland Galway.