Diarmuid (Dermot) is thorough, professional and personable. He prepares meticulously for his court work. His advice is thorough and pragmatic.
His main specialisms are Employment, Equality and Regulatory Law. In addition, he receives instructions in commercial disputes arising from employment relationships, undertakes inquests and undertakes other regulatory work.
Diarmuid’s equality expertise extends beyond the employment sphere. He has acted in cases involving service providers and associations, as well as civil complaints under the Human Rights Act 1998.
He acts for and against a broad range of individuals and organisations including government departments, large corporations, educational institutions, trade unions and individual litigants. Having previously worked as a solicitor, he is conscious of the workload and pressures under which those who instruct him operate. He offers practical guidance and is able to assist throughout the lifespan of a case. He is happy to provide training to solicitors and other professionals.
Diarmuid is authorised to receive instructions directly from members of the public under the Public Access Scheme.
Employment
Diarmuid has an extensive knowledge of employment law and a broad practice. He acts for Claimants and Respondents. He has significant experience in unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing and TUPE disputes. His practice also encompasses negligent misstatements claims and contractual issues like restrictive covenants.
His employment and equality experience includes:
- Defending a government department in a whistleblowing claim
- Defending an Academy in a trade union detriment claim
- Suing a football club in the civil courts for disability discrimination and victimisation by an association
- Defending a government department in a civil claim for disability discrimination by a service provider
- Acting for a public sector employee in a claim for a failure to make reasonable adjustments
- Defending a Higher Education College in a race discrimination claim
- Acting for a Claimant in a TUPE claim against a well-known bookmaker
- Providing written and oral advice on liability, quantum and tactics
- Drafting various pleadings
- Obtaining a strike out order in a High Court claim for breach of contract, harassment and various other complaints
- Pleading and advising on merits and tactics in interim injunction proceedings before the High Court
- HMRC minimum wage appeals
- Drafting and advocacy in the Employment Appeal Tribunal
In addition to frequently appearing in lengthy hearings in the employment tribunal, he conducts substantive preliminary hearings, including in relation to time limits and other jurisdictional issues, as well as strike out and deposit applications.
He can advise and assist with professional disciplinary matters when they arise in employment, such as when health professionals are facing internal disciplinary matters which may be referred to their professional regulatory body.
He undertakes written and advocacy work in respect of Employment Tribunal, County Court, High Court and Employment Appeal Tribunal cases.
Diarmuid has also been instructed in numerous Judicial Mediation hearings, which he finds particularly satisfying.
Professional discipline
Diarmuid is instructed in a range of professional disciplinary matters and appears before the following regulators:
- MPTS (GMC)
- NMC
- HCPC
- ICAEW
He attends interim orders, review and fitness to practise hearings as well as related High Court applications.
Diarmuid also provides advice on professional disciplinary cases, often on a direct access basis, including in relation to tactics and evidence.
In January 2020, he was appointed by the Department for Education to sit as a Panellist on the Teaching Regulation Agency’s Professional Conduct Panel (which determines misconduct cases against teachers).
Similarly, he has been appointed by Social Work England to sit as a Legal Advisor (to advise panels of adjudicators on the law and procedure) in SWE professional disciplinary hearings.
In addition to his professional disciplinary work, Diarmuid undertakes advocacy and advice work in appeals against Notices (e.g., to impose conditions, suspend or cancel a person’s registration) issued by:
- Ofsted
- The CQC
Inquests & coronial
Diarmuid accepts instructions from various interested persons, including medical professionals, family members and Government Departments.
In addition to advocacy at pre-inquest reviews and inquests (including those with Article 2 considerations), he is able to offer proactive advice during the course of the Coroner’s investigation. He has a particular interest in matters with a clinical element.
Memberships
- Employment Lawyers Association
- Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
- Northern Circuit
Appointments
- Junior Counsel to the Crown – (Attorney General’s Regional Panel) – April 2018 to October 2023
- Welsh Local Authority and Public Sector Panel
- Professional Conduct Panellist for the Teaching Regulation Agency – January 2020 to January 2025
- Legal Advisor to panel adjudicators for Social Work England
Education
- LLB (Hons) Queen’s University Belfast
- BVC Manchester Metropolitan University
- Admitted to Roll of Solicitors
