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Barrister

Patrick Cassidy

Year of Call: 1982

Patrick Cassidy is a Barrister at Kenworthy’s Chambers who practices in
Inquests, Regulatory and Professional Discipline Criminal Law Civil Litigation and Costs Public Access

Patrick Cassidy is the Deputy Head of Kenworthy’s Chambers. He is an expert in Criminal Law, Inquests, Regulatory and Professional Discipline.

The cases Patrick Cassidy has been involved in reflect the changing social and racial landscape of the Northwest over the last 40 years and his interest in cases where citizens encounter the power of the state, whether it be the Miners, Printers, Animal Rights Activists, or the Asian communities of Oldham or Burnley.

Inquests, Regulatory and Professional Discipline

Patrick Cassidy has been recommended for his Inquest practice by Legal 500 since 2012. He is recognised as a Regulatory Barrister with experience and flair in jury cases of national prominence.

Patrick Cassidy has developed a specialty in representing properly interested persons in Inquests arising out of their alleged default. He has expertise in deaths arising from the criminal justice and education sectors often raising issues of Article 2’s applicability. He has significant experience in ‘death in custody’ cases and in representing Probation Officers managing prisoners who kill on licence.

In February 2022, Patrick Cassidy was appointed as her majesty’s Assistant Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde.

His niche is in providing Senior Managers protective advice and representation particularly when there is a potential conflict that emerges with their organisation. He also works with families who require a thorough and wholehearted search for the truth.

Patrick Cassidy is the go-to Barrister for death in custody cases, as well as failures in the medical treatment of care home and hospital patients.

As an Inquests Barrister, Patrick Cassidy has a significant amount of experience in Article 2 Inquiries. He is familiar with the high emotional temperature of Inquests and the presence of a jury, whether by reason of Article 2 issues or by application of Section 7 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

Patrick Cassidy has a wealth of experience and national reach in reputation management. He has represented Doctors, Headteachers and Deputies, Senior Social Workers, and Nurses before disciplinary bodies.

His interest in Professional Discipline began when representing numerous professionals such as Teachers, Nurses and Train Guards in gross negligence manslaughter cases. Specifically, when he realised how work environments can expose individual professionals to the full force of the law and how the individuals concerned can feel very alone.

Working with Solicitors both nationally and across the Northwest, Patrick Cassidy has built up a varied Regulatory practice which includes regular appearances in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal. Patrick often represents professionals at Inquests and thereafter in Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).

He has represented a Registrar who attended an interview for a Consultant position without having passed one of the examinations. He has provided advice for a Radiologist who faced criminal allegations and then was referred to a Tribunal because of his guilty plea to sexual offences.

Other noteworthy cases Patrick Cassidy has worked on have involved safeguarding issues for the children of the GPs and a Registrar set to conduct an amputation without fully reviewing the consent issue.

Many of Patrick’s Inquests, Regulatory and Professional Discipline cases highlight the need for early assessment as early remediation work is vital in avoiding impairment or further disciplinary sanctions.

If you have an Inquest, Public Inquiry, Regulatory, or Professional Discipline case you need advice or advocacy for, call Clerk Ella Edwards on 0161 832 4036, email [email protected] or fill out our contact form.

Criminal Law

Patrick Cassidy has been recommended for his Criminal Law practice by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners since 2012. He is recognised as a Criminal Defence Barrister with experience and flair in cases of national prominence and seriousness.

His track record in murder and manslaughter cases has resulted in over 20 not guilty verdicts. These cases reflect gangland assassinations to gross negligence manslaughters on behalf of workers who are alleged to have made bad errors of judgement that have resulted in the death of persons to whom they owed a duty.

He has been prominent in defending young people caught up in Manchester gangland culture over the last 30 years. Many of Patrick Cassidy’s cases have involved firearms and other offensive weapons. Recently he has represented several ‘encrochat’ cases, reflective of his serious crime profile.

He also defends serious sexual allegations, fraud and proceeds of crime.

If you have a Crime case you need advice or advocacy for, call our Criminal Clerk Paul Mander on 0161 832 4036, email [email protected], or fill out our contact form.

Civil Litigation and Costs

Patrick Cassidy covers all aspects of civil actions against the Police, including wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, and Police assault.

If you have a Civil Litigation case you need advice or advocacy for, call our Civil Clerks Michael Jones and Alessandro Saporita-Clark on 0161 832 4036, email [email protected], [email protected] or fill out our contact form.

Public Access

For appropriate Criminal Law, Inquests and Professional Discipline cases, Patrick Cassidy will accept instructions from the general public on a direct access basis.

Please refer to the below pricing range for Public Access Barrister services. Prices are subject to case type, complexity and seniority or experience of the Barrister. Accurate quotes will be provided before work on the case begins.

Crime
Magistrates
Services Cost
Advice and Preparation (Hourly Rate): £75 to £200 + VAT
Court Attendances (Day Rate): £300 to £1000 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £100 to £125 + VAT

Crown Court
Services Cost
Advice and Preparation (Hourly Rate): £100 to £250 + VAT
Trial Attendance (Day 1): £1000 to £4000
Trial Attendance (Additional days) £500 to £1500 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £125 to £250 + VAT
Pre-Trial and Post-Trial hearings: £300 to £1000 + VAT

High Court
Services Cost
Advice and Preparation (Hourly Rate): £150 to £300 + VAT
Brief Fee: £1000 to £4000
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £175 to £300 + VAT


*These price ranges are based on local courts; other courts will incur a travel charge.

Please contact our Senior Criminal Clerk, Paul Mander ([email protected]) for further information.

Inquests
Services Cost
Advice and Preparation (Hourly Rate): £120 to £150 + VAT
Court Attendance (Day Rate): £500 to £1500 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £125 to £250 + VAT


*These price ranges are based on local courts; other courts will incur a travel charge.

Please contact our Clerk Ella Edwards ([email protected]) for further information.

Professional Discipline
Services Cost
Advice and Preparation (Hourly Rate): £120 to £150 + VAT
Court Attendance (Day Rate): £500 to £1500 + VAT
Conferences (Hourly Rate): £125 to £250 + VAT


*These price ranges are based on local courts; other courts will incur a travel charge.

Please contact our Employment Clerk, Ella Edwards ([email protected]) for further information.

+ Notable Cases
+ Inquests
  • Two-week Article 2 Inquest into a death in custody at high-security mental health hospital, Rampton Hospital (2024) – Patrick Cassidy acted for the family of a 36-year-old patient who died three months after ingesting a 17-centimetre plastic crayon ultimately occasioning a perforated bowel and death three months later. The Deputy Director of Nursing admitting to multiple failings in the patient’s care by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which more than minimally contributed to her death, when under examination from the Coroner and Mr Cassidy.
  • Five-day Article 2 Inquest into prison death at Stourbridge Coroners Court (2021) – Patrick Cassidy’s direct access client was a Prison Officer who failed to answer the cell bell of the deceased, who died of 80-degree burns. The jury found that the prison was at fault for failing to maintain a proper inspection system for their fire alarms.
  • Multi-Party Article 2 Inquest at Greater Manchester North (2021) – Patrick Cassidy represented a Senior Probation Officer who was managing a high-risk prisoner during the time in which he murdered a completely innocent man by stabbing him. After careful analysis of contact through the 18 months on licence, Patrick made a successful submission that at the time the was no known immediate risk of death and therefore there could be no application of Article 2. The result of the Inquest found no evidence that the Senior Probation Officer caused or contributed to the death.
  • Inquest into the death of Robert Walker in Leeds Coroner’s Court (2021) – This was an Article 2 Inquest into the death of prisoner Robert Walker where Patrick Cassidy represented a Senior Prison Officer who was suggested to have failed to observe the prisoner regularly or at all. The Jury accepted that there were failures but placed them on staff shortages, not avoiding duties. At the end of the Inquest, the family of the deceased wanted the Senior Prison Officer reinstated, feeling that he had been scapegoated. The family also thanked his legal team for all the help they had given the family at the end of the case.
  • Sandwell and Dudley Coroners Court (2019) - Two-week Article 2 Inquest into the death of nurse Lisa Skidmore. Case of national importance. Probation and Police offender managers criticised. Transforming rehabilitation criticised. National systemic failures unearthed. Representing a Senior Probation Officer managing the release of a murderer into the community after serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) for rape.
  • Doncaster Coroners Court (2019) - Two-week Article 2 Inquest about system failures to properly observe a vulnerable prisoner who committed suicide, Coroner in Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report asks for greater training for Officers on observation duties. Case of national importance in terms of the observation of vulnerable prisoners.
  • Stockport Coroners Court (2019) – One-week representing a family dealing with the failures of a care home managing a vulnerable patient with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. The Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report on the lack of guidance of observation systems applicable to epileptics in care homes was referred to The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The Coroner found the care home’s observation to be fundamentally flawed.
  • Stockport Coroners Court (2019) - Jury Inquest into a death from scaffold fall. An eight-day hearing into the death of a Roofer by a fall from height. Sub-Contractor/Principal Contractor argument as to causation. Representing Sub-Contractor.
  • Nottingham Inquest (2017) - Three-week non-jury Inquest into the death of an eight-year-old at the hands of her stepparent. Multiple agencies were involved and represented. Representing Assistant Head separately from the school. There were allegations that the school did not report the nature and extent of bruising found on a regular basis to Social Care. The judgement exonerated my client, and the Head Teacher was referred to the teaching council for safeguarding failures.
  • Preston Inquest (2017) - Two-week Article 2 jury prison suicide of young short-term prisoner with a history of depression. The client Prison Officer had asserted that he had asked the Governor to move the prisoner from the wing the evening before his suicide placing him in conflict with the prison case.
  • Wakefield Inquest (2017) - Two-week jury inquest representing a Prison Officer who had failed to regularly monitor a prisoner on an ACCT whilst in segregation. Relied upon rule against self-incrimination upon advice.
  • Leicester Inquest (2017) - Three-day non-jury representing a Teacher in a hospital school whose pupil had autism and was refusing to attend. Depressive symptoms. Questions over the effectiveness of inter-agency work between the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and school before suicide at home.
  • Manchester Inquest (2016) - Advising parents, whose only son committed suicide at university, upon the adequacy of pastoral and medical care.
  • ACCT Regime Advice (2016) – Advised the Prison Officers Association upon new proposals from NOMS to reorganise the ACCT regime.
  • Stockport Inquest (2016) – One week representing the family of a war veteran murdered in his flat after the police had permitted the murderer (not known to them as the assailant at that stage) to enter the house after an initial assault. Left him with the deceased to wait for the ambulance. Thereafter brutally attacked by the murderer. Submissions on the applicability of Article 2 to the Inquest were rejected.
  • Liverpool Inquest (2015) – Three-week jury Inquest involving the suicide of a Teacher in prison after allegations of child abuse had been made. Prison Officer represented in conflict with prison case.
  • Burnley Inquest (2015) – A non-jury one-day case where Patrick Cassidy represented a family wanting to challenge the cessation of police investigations on an overdose of heroin death of teenager with special educational needs. After submissions, the Coroner sent the case back to the police following an examination of the partner who was a drug addict to investigate possible manslaughter.
  • St Pancras Inquest (2015) - Seven-day jury Inquest into the death of a prisoner in Pentonville prison. There was conflict between Officers of differing ranks as to the sequence of events on the ACCT document.
  • Airedale Hospital Trust Inquiry (2014) - Representing a former Chief Executive after the multiple deaths of patients due to the activities of the Senior Nurse on night duty.
  • Rochdale Inquest (2011) – A five-week-long jury Inquest into a restraint death at a secure hospital. Representing a staff member who had been one of a number in a struggle with the patient shortly before death through asphyxiation.
  • Manchester Inquest (2007) - Two-week jury Inquest representing Ambulance Personnel who refused to take a patient who had overdosed on a drug he shouldn't have been prescribed and assaulted the Ambulance Personnel before collapsing at the scene and being taken to the hospital by the police. Dead upon arrival at Hospital. The prescribing Doctor was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a prosecution review.
+ Crime
  • Case of Grant Gardner in the Court of Appeal (2021) – Mr Justice Holroyde dismissed the appeal and announced the defendant is acquitted in this prosecution appeal, terminating the ruling of murder.
  • Preston Crown Court (2021) before HJJ Cummings QC – Seven-day murder trial led by Ben Nolan (QC) where the judge upheld a submission of no case.
  • 12-day trial at Chester Crown Court (2022) – Patrick Cassidy represented the defendant on 32 counts of alleged sexual offences on six linked complainants resulting in his acquittal. This included completion of three successive days of section 28 cross-examinations of vulnerable witnesses.
  • The Crown v Hamza and others (2022) - This was a multi-handed, illuminous, serious case involving Manchester gangland, encrochat, gunrunning, and drugs.
  • Regina and W, Leeds Crown Court (2022) – Five-day sexual assault case against a Teaching Assistant which resulted in acquittal.
  • R v H (ongoing) – This is an ongoing encrochat case involving numerous defendants charged with massive supply of drugs.
  • R v The Crown and H at Chester Crown Court (2021) – A massive supply of class A drugs in an encrochat enquiry by the National Crime Agency. The defence successfully raised that the prosecution had not obtained the consent of the Attorney General given the conspiracy was cross-boarder, eventually resulting in the prosecution having to start the case again. The benefit to the defendants was that they could obtain full credit once again for their pleas.
  • R v S in Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court (2019) – A road-rage confrontation that escalated into a machete attack on a group of Tree Surgeons in Rochdale resulting in the severing of a wrist. Attempted murder acquittal.
+ Professional Discipline
  • Educational Workforce Council (2022) – Patrick Cassidy represented a Head Teacher dealing with allegations of fraud and conflicts of interest in proceedings before the Education Workforce Council Wales.
  • GMC v Dr V (2022) – Patrick Cassidy represented a highly experienced Neuro-Radiologist Consultant facing allegations of professional incompetence in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal. Allegations included serious default in examining the CT scans against the MRI scans in an alleged baby shaking incident and failure to identify the possibility of a non-accidental injury. Ultimately, the case was admitted, with Patrick’s client found impaired and given a four-month suspension from practice with review.
  • Five-day hearing representing a Doctor in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal (2020) – In this case, the Doctor admitted dishonesty in prescribing medication for himself and others alongside chronic addiction to chem sex drugs and cocaine. Despite the delay in admitting fault, after an in-house period, there was a remarkable story of rehabilitation, resulting in the lifting of the Doctor’s suspension and readmittance with conditions.
+ Professional Memberships
  • Patrick Cassidy is a member of the Criminal Bar Association.
  • He established a groundbreaking four-day Health and Safety Course with Salford University in 2007 and has lectured extensively on the subject including a lecture for the local government association’s annual conference on corporate manslaughter.
  • Patrick Cassidy started Kenworthy's annual lecture series in 1997 and he is passionate about professional development culture.
  • Member of The Association of Regulatory and Discipline Lawyers (ARDL).

Contact Us

To check the availability of Criminal Barrister Patrick Cassidy for your Crime case call our Criminal Clerk Paul Mander on 0161 832 4036, email [email protected], or fill out our contact form.

To check the availability of Patrick Cassidy for your Inquest, Public Inquiry, Regulatory or Professional Discipline case call our Clerk Ella Edwards on 0161 832 4036, email [email protected], or fill out our contact form.

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