Northern Ireland

Newry human rights lawyer (24) wins prestigious award

Newry native Darragh Mackin (24) won the Legal Aid Newcomer award at the Legal Aid Practitioner Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards held at Bishopsgate on Thursday evening.
Newry native Darragh Mackin (24) won the Legal Aid Newcomer award at the Legal Aid Practitioner Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards held at Bishopsgate on Thursday evening. Newry native Darragh Mackin (24) won the Legal Aid Newcomer award at the Legal Aid Practitioner Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards held at Bishopsgate on Thursday evening.

A well-known Belfast based human rights lawyer has been recognised for his work with a prestigious law award in London.

Newry native Darragh Mackin (24) won the Legal Aid Newcomer award at the Legal Aid Practitioner Group Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards held at Bishopsgate on Thursday evening.

Mr Mackin was the first person from the North to be nominated for the coveted award.

Among those to congratulate the lawyer on his award were Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard, Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan and the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

The awards are held each year for firms that work on behalf of those who receive legal aid.

The 24-year-old, who is an associate at KRW Law, has established a strong reputation in both criminal defence and legacy litigation.

He represents the Hooded Men, 14 Catholics who say they were tortured by the security forces during internment in 1971, and has helped get their case referred back to the European courts.

He also represents Irish national Ibrahim Halawa, currently on remand in an Egyptian prison.

Speaking previously Kevin Winters, a co-founder of KRW Law, said Mr Mackin has a "terrier-like tenacity in chasing down complex legal issues".

"There are no limits whatsoever on what Darragh is capable of achieving I am delighted he has been shortlisted. Given this is a first time nomination for someone from Ireland I think the people of Newry should feel justifiably proud on this achievement," he said.