Beth O'Reilly

Beth is an established advocate with over 20 years’ experience of defending in serious and complex cases. She has extensive trial experience. She has established a reputation for thorough preparation, effective cross-examination and excellent client care.

She regularly appears as a judge in mock trials and as an advocacy advisor at the College of Law.

Prior to her work as a criminal defence barrister, Beth interned at the Jamaica Council for Human Rights in Kingston (1998) and at the Louisiana Crisis Assistance Centre in New Orleans, USA (1997).

Beth is ranked as a leader in Crime in the Legal 500.

Publications

“Terrorising the Innocent” New Law Journal (2010) Vol.160 (No. 7411 & 7412), p. 481 Co-written with Ali Bajwa QC
“Pre-Trial Interviews with Witnesses”
“Protocol on Fees”
“The Race Crime Debate and the Effectiveness of such Cases”

Terrorism

R v K - Led junior at the sentencing stage of the British jihadist who travelled to Syria to join militant group.
R v SW - Operation Overt: Trans-Atlantic airline liquid bomb conspiracy.
R v M - Chemical weapons (ricin) manufacturer alleged to be in preparation for mass terrorist killing.

Homicide

R v D - juvenile defendant accused of the murder of a rival drug dealer
R v McA & Ors - multi handed murder caused by arson resulting in the death of one and significant injuries of others. The defendant was also charged with perverting the course of justice.
R v O - gang related attempted murder - multiple stabbing
R v C - double attempted murder, shooting in cafe
R v W - multi handed conspiracy to murder involving the use of firearms and knives resulting in the death of one of the accused.
R v S - Gang shooting – attempted murder.
R v G & Ors - ‘Home Park’ murder. Juvenile defendants.
R v D & Ors - ‘Kodjo Yenga’ murder. Juvenile defendants.
R v B & Ors - Murder. A wealthy playboy employed builders to kill a tenant in order to seal £2 million property deal.
R v W - Murder. Mentally-ill defendant.
R v H & Ors - Attempted murder of ‘gang rival’. Juvenile defendants.

Serious violence and Sexual Offences

R v R - conspiracy to kidnap and falsely imprison rival drug dealer
R v A - high profile defendant alleged to have committed multiple counts of rape, false imprisonment and assault
R v U - abduction and sexual assault of an eight year old child whilst the child was playing in the park.
R v M - stranger rape x 2 committed at night in busy London street
R v S - Multi-handed human trafficking and controlling prostitution case. Arranging and facilitating the transfer of complainants from Eastern Europe. Involved complex disclosure arguments in relation to material in foreign jurisdictions.
R v NW - Child cruelty. Significant injuries inflicted on a small child. Cut-throat defence employed. Complex and difficult cross examination of medical experts
R v A - Child grooming case. Multiple complainants.
R v G - ‘Night stalker’ – multiple counts of rape and sexual assaults against the elderly.
R v E - Multiple counts of rape and sexual assaults against step-daughter.
R v D - Conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to commit violent disorder (London riots).
R v C & Ors - Kidnap and false imprisonment. Juvenile defendants.
R v S & Ors - Firearms, kidnap and false imprisonment. Juvenile defendants.

Organised Crime

R v M & Ors - conspiracy to import firearms and drugs from the continent
R v O & Ors - Drugs trafficking, supply of firearms, money laundering and perverting the course of justice. One of the first cases involving Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) agreement.
R v A & Ors - ‘Operation Blue Sky’ – people smuggling.
R v R & Ors - Police corruption case, one of the first in which Special Counsel were assigned on behalf of the defendant to make submissions on PII material.

R v S - Defended in largest international brothel and money laundering operation.
R v B - Leading counsel in eight-week complex money laundering / alcohol diversion fraud.
R v P - Multi-defendant case involving a large-scale cheat on the public revenue.
R v A & Ors - Money laundering involving foreign cash exchange bureaus.
R v B & Ors - Money laundering involving the fraudulent purchasing of domestic properties.
R v B & Ors - Money laundering involving the movement of over £1 million gained through lottery frauds.