Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC has been appointed as Special Rapporteur on Child Protection for a three-year term.

UCD BCL graduate Gallagher was called to the Bar of Ireland (2001), the Bar of England and Wales (2005), and the Inner Bar of England and Wales (appointed QC) in 2017. She has an LLM from Cambridge (2002).

Roderic O’Gorman (Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth) welcomed Ms Gallagher to the role.

Expertise

“Caoilfhionn is an international human-rights lawyer and barrister, with a wealth of expertise in the areas of children’s rights, and child welfare and protection. I look forward to working with her during her term,” he said.

The appointment follows an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

Gallagher said: “This is a critical time for children’s rights and child protection in Ireland. There are many pressing and urgent challenges, some of which have been highlighted by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in the days leading up to my appointment.

This independent role is a vital one, and I look forward to working with the Government, specialist organisations, and children and young people during my term to meet my mandate.”

Dublin native Gallagher works as an international human-rights lawyer and barrister, based in Doughty Street Chambers in London. 

She has acted in many children’s rights cases before the UN and at the European Court of Human Rights.

Suspicious child deaths

Gallagher also sits part-time as a coroner, and is responsible for undertaking investigations into suspicious child deaths.

Minister O’Gorman also praised the work of the outgoing Special Rapporteur, Prof Conor O’Mahony. 

“His work has been influential in the development and review of child-protection policy and legislation, as well as across the wider system,” he commented.