Mary McCarthy
Area of Practice: Criminal Law Barrister
A crime specialist with an established criminal practice. Substantial experience in the full range of criminal offences including serious sexual offences, drugs and violence, including murder. Instructed by government agencies and departments for regulatory work and fraud prosecutions.
Mary has practised on the Western Circuit as member of Walnut House since 1995. Her work is predominantly at Exeter and Plymouth Crown Courts representing defendants for the full range of criminal offences and also acting on behalf of the prosecution. She is a CPS Grade 4 prosecutor.
A significant proportion of her work involves young or traumatised witnesses. She has experience in dealing with psychiatric evidence addressing the potential unreliability of early memories and false memory syndrome.
She also has considerable trial experience in cases involving offences of violence both through acting as a junior in murders and acting alone. She has successfully defended leading defendants in multi-handed trials involving the supply of class A drugs, robbery, blackmail and kidnap.
The work that she has done means that she is experienced in dealing with the law and procedure covering abuse of process, bad character, hearsay, public interest immunity and confiscation.
Mary is also available to deal with prison adjudications, parole board hearings and inquests.
Mary was pleased to be selected in 2004 to be trained as an advocacy trainer for the Western Circuit. She had previously conducted two overseas training courses organised by the Barristers’ Overseas Advocacy Committee.
Cases of note:
R -v- B. Successfully defended a Church youth worker who faced numerous charges of indecent assault.
R -v-C. Represented a Scout leader who was charged with offences of rape and indecent assault against the children in his care.
R -v-B & Others. Representing a defendant, who along with several others, faced charges of conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
R -v- M. Led junior in the prosecution of a trial where the defendant was accused of murdering his wife.
R -v- S & others. Defending in a multi-handed kidnap case.
R -v-H. Prosecution of a trial where the defendant was found guilty of biting the victims chin off. The defendant subsequently received a life sentence.
R -v- C. Led junior in a prosecution trial where the defendant was charged with murder.
Languages:
Spanish
