Episode 137 – Darragh Mackin, Human Rights, Legacy and the Rule of Law

In Episode 137 of The Fifth Court, Peter Leonard BL travels to the Allingham Festival in Ballyshannon for a live recording with one of the most prominent human rights lawyers working on the island of Ireland today, Darragh Mackin, partner at Phoenix Law.

This live podcast at the Allingham Festival 2025 was sponsored by www.brianjmcmullin.com

Still in his thirties, Darragh Mackin has been at the centre of some of the most significant human rights and public law cases of recent decades, north and south of the Border. In this wide-ranging and deeply moving conversation, he discusses the lived reality of human rights litigation, the emotional weight of representing families over decades, and the importance of the rule of law when politics fails.

Topics include:

• The enduring significance of the Human Rights Act and the Good Friday Agreement
• Legacy inquests, including Ballymurphy and the Stardust
• The “hooded men” case and the meaning of torture under international law
• Acting in controversial cases and for unpopular clients
• The Northern Ireland Legacy Act and why it has united opposition across communities
• The role of lawyers when democratic institutions collapse or stall

The episode also features the Decisis Case Law Round-Up, curated by Mark Tottenham BL, examining:

• Company winding-up due to irretrievable breakdown between founders
• Sentencing in historic sexual offence cases
• Supreme Court rulings on compelled password disclosure and constitutional rights

The Decisis section is proudly supported by Charltons Solicitors, specialists in family law and mediation.

Recorded live at the Allingham Festival, Ballyshannon, this episode is a powerful exploration of law, justice and humanity.

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