Beth O'Reilly

Beth is an established advocate with significant experience of defending in the most serious and complex of cases. She has extensive trial experience and is regularly instructed in high publicity cases. An advocate with a diverse defence practice, Beth has garnered a reputation for thorough preparation, effective cross-examination and excellent client care.

Beth 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 and Chambers UK.

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association
British Association for Sport and Law (BASL)

Publications

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

Other

Beth was a contributor to the Channel 5 programme ‘Riots’.

Testimonials

"A really clever and tactical cross-examiner. She is a silk in the making." Chambers UK 2023, Crime
"She is increasingly seen as a must-have junior for heavyweight, high-publicity criminal matters." Chambers UK 2022
"A talented and engaging advocate. She speaks with knowledge and authority that rightly inspires confidence from clients, judges and juries." Legal 500 2022, Crime
"She is wholly committed to her cases. As a result her preparation is detailed and methodical and it is put to devastating effect. Whether in cross-examination or making submissions to a judge she is always commanding and persuasive." Legal 500 2022, Crime
"She is a gifted advocate. Her results speak volumes." Legal 500 2021
"Admired for her ability to get on with clients, she takes on difficult situations and defuses them. She is a good choice for heavyweight and high publicity criminal matters." Chambers UK 2021
"She engages extremely well with both the court and its users. She is a barrister in demand primarily because of her clear commitment to each case she takes on. Her preparation is both thorough and methodical. She is extremely hard working. Beth’s ability to communicate in a straight forward fashion commands confidence." Legal 500 2021
"A committed advocate with an engaging, jury-friendly manner." Legal 500 2020
"A masterful jury advocate and tactician." Chambers UK 2018

Terrorism

R v B - Arrested on suspicion of being a terrorist under the provisions of section 41, Terrorism Act 2000. The defendant had a keen interest in firearms. A search of his property revealed a mass of literature, which showed a sympathy to the far right. Chemicals had been purchased as well as electrical components which, taken together, meant that Crown argued at the Newton hearing that this defendant intended to make improvised electrical devices. The charges laid reflected the extensive material sourced as well all other terror related equipment in his possession.
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 RLP & Ors - Led Junior for 1st defendant in multi-handed murder. The case involved a significant ‘gang’ background where it was said that the motive was in response to an earlier assault on the defendant’s group. An initial carjacking was followed by what the Crown described as a ‘ride out’: this group armed with knives and weapons attended their opposition’s homes. The escalation of violence culminated in the death of a 16 year old, attacked and killed in front of his mother. The case saw complex phone and scientific evidence presented and a cut throat defence deployed by the co-defendants against RLP. Adding to the difficulty in this case the defendant’s father was called by the prosecution to give evidence against his son in relation to a confession said to have been made to him in the aftermath of the killing.
R v T & Ors - Led Junior. Double murder, two men stabbed to death on a residential street in NW7. This case involved a background of drug dealing and financial debt. Some of the incident was witnessed by members of the public but when police arrived they could only find traces of blood and associated paraphernalia. Within a short time, the first defendant, was found bleeding heavily from stab wounds. Police searched his vehicle to find the body of the first victim in the boot. The body of a second man was found in a ditch some distance away.
R v K & Ors - Led Junior for the first defendant. A multi-handed murder. The killing of the deceased in broad daylight related to a revenge attack following the robbery of the first defendant. In the aftermath of the robbery, the defendants were said to have planned the murder, first locating the mobile phone, collecting the firearm and then attending the scene. At the scene a co-defendant indiscriminately opened fire, killing an innocent bystander. This case involved a number of anonymous eye-witnesses who gave evidence through a modulated voice system.
R v G and another - Led Junior in a double-handed murder. Defendant was charged alongside a teenager. A cut throat defence was launched. Initial premise was a road rage incident but it soon became apparent that the parties were known to each other, working for rival drug gangs. The case was further complicated by the co-defendant’s girlfriend having been romantically involved with the deceased.
R v C - attempted murder of two victims. The defendant entered his brother’s restaurant and opened fire injuring his brother and seriously injuring his Aunt. This case was eventually resolved by way of pleas to section 18 and to related firearm offences.
R v CC - Defendant acquitted of manslaughter. He had pleaded guilty to an offence of s20 GBH in 2004, following an assault committed when he was 15; despite unpleasant injuries the deceased had no injury to the brain. He was discharged from hospital but 2 days later he collapsed and was admitted to hospital with an acute subdural haematoma which caused him to be in a persistent vegetative state until his death 17 years later. The case invoked complex legal issues as to the original plea. Causation was a key issue and the case detailed consideration of medical evidence.
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 B & Ors - This case involved 24 defendants, split over three trials. Serious sexual abuse committed by three generations of family members and friends, between 2007 and 2017 on their own children and relatives. A number of the complainants had significant learning difficulties. Social Service and other associated agencies involvement in the case was substantial. Counsel’s involvement in this case was up to trial. She was responsible for all legal argument prior to the trial which was both substantial and complex. A large proportion of the evidence was heard before the main trial (section 28 hearings).
R v C - Leading junior. A multi-handed case. The indictment alleged the false imprisonment and blackmail of two different complainants. A young woman had been brought from Ipswich to London and had been kept in a house against her will. Threats and violence ensued against her and a demand was made for a large sum from her ‘friend’. The second complainant was a lodger at this London address and had witnessed the incident, he was then taken to Wolverhampton. Counsel was involved in the first two trials.
R v W - Defendant was allegedly ten years old when he was said to have begun sexually assaulting his younger nieces. All parties were of school age. The allegations were multiple, including anal and vaginal rape of both complainants as well as counts of indecency and indecent assault. The allegations did not come to light until the end of 2016.
R v L - Leading counsel. Multiple sexual offending alleged against three young victims. These allegations spanned a period of years where the defendant repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted his two stepdaughters and biological daughter. The backdrop to this case was domestic violence. The allegations did not surface until the youngest of the victims made an allegation, which prompted the other two to then make.
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.