YEAR OF CALL 1997

‘Catherine is an extremely capable barrister. She works extremely hard, has fabulous judgement and is brilliant with both the jury and the judge.’

‘She is an outstanding advocate with a proven track record of success in complex and high-profile cases. She has a practical approach and conducts her cases to an exceptional standard.’

‘Catherine is extremely helpful, with vast knowledge and is a great source of reference. She is extremely experienced in working with vulnerable defendants and is very compassionate.’ Chambers UK Bar 2025

‘Catherine is an extremely capable barrister. She works extremely hard, has fabulous judgement and is brilliant with both the jury and the judge. Catherine can go toe-to-toe with silks and come out on top.’ The Legal 500 2025

Catherine Donnelly is an experienced criminal practitioner, ranked by both the Chambers & Partners UK Bar and Legal 500 Guides [London - tier 2]. She has established a substantial criminal practice prosecuting and defending at the highest level.

Catherine Donnelly is regularly instructed in complex, paper heavy criminal cases. She has particular expertise in homicide cases, large scale conspiracies involving guns/dishonesty offences, serious sexual offending, and drug importations. She has extensive experience of dealing with complex expert evidence including medical evidence, psychiatric evidence, ANPR and cell site analysis. She regularly prosecutes cases where the defence is represented by King’s Counsel and has prosecuted allegations of murder for the CPS as sole counsel.

She specialises in the most serious sexual offences “She is an expert in the field of child sexual abuse.” Legal 500.

She was counsel to Operation Pallial 2013 – 2020. Operation Pallial was formed to investigate allegations of child sex abuse in North Wales Children’s homes in 2012 by Teresa May. It was one of the largest investigations into child abuse in the UK to date. The Operation dealt with 255 complainants who made allegations of abuse against 120 possible suspects at 18 children's homes in North Wales between 1963 and 1992. The Operation was investigated by the NCA.

In addition she was counsel to Operation Almond advising and prosecuting historic cases of abuse in care homes in South Wales. She regularly lectures to those involved in the prosecution of such cases.

She is regularly instructed for the defence in case of Murder, Attempted murder, serious violence, drug trafficking and serious sexual offences. She has particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable witnesses including children as young as three.

RECENT CASES

R v Gracias 2024. Leading counsel for the defence. High value theft at Heathrow Airport.

R v Said 2024. Leading counsel for the defence. High level class A drug conspiracy.

R v X and others 2024. Led by Nicholas Corsellis KC. Youth charged with attempted murder.

R v Murat and others 2023. Led by Ali Bajwa KC. Defence. Conspiracy to murder. Allegations against Tottenham Turks gang background.

R v Jedynak and others 2023. Leading counsel for the defence. Successful defence of Miss Jedynak for alleged multi million pound fraud against Barclays Bank.

R v McCleester 2023. Prosecution of Queen Elizabeth II’s former verger for historical sexual abuse against young boys at Southwark Cathedral.

R v Highgate 2022 Leading junior for the prosecution. Successful prosecution of football coach who targeted a number of young children over 30 years.

R v Morel 2022 Leading junior for the prosecution. Successful prosecution of football coach who targeted a number of young children.

R v David Fuller 2020 – 2023. Defence counsel for high profile murderer also charged with high volume of mortuary offences at Pembury Hospital in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Operation Greenest [2021] – allegations of serious sexual offending.

R v Allen [2020] Prosecution. Serial paedophile who abused boys in North Wales care homes over 50 years.

R v B [2020] Leading counsel prosecution. Complex child cruelty where allegation of FII (Munchausen by proxy).

R v Dyckhoff [2019] Leading Junior. Defence. Kidnap, blackmail and torture.

R v Brazier [2019] – Secured murder conviction as counsel alone.

CDonnelly@2hb.co.uk