Adam Keenaghan

Year of call: 2015

Adam joined chambers in April 2020 after having completed a specialist civil law pupillage in other chambers. He has experience of a number of jurisdictions having practised in crime and civil where he regularly appears in trials and hearings in the crown, county and magistrates’ courts.

Adam accepts instructions in chambers’ core practice areas, but with a particular focus on civil litigation and police law where he is regularly instructed to advise and advocate on behalf of individuals, commercial and insurer clients, local authorities, police forces, and government departments.

Crime

Practice Summary

Adam is instructed in a range of criminal matters including offences of serious violence (section 18 GBH), sexual offences, conspiracy, robbery, domestic violence, offences related to the production and supply of drugs, fraud, and dishonesty. Adam appears regularly in the Crown Court where he prosecutes and defends in equal measure. He also has experience of defending young people in the Youth Court and has appeared in the Court of Appeal. Adam is a grade 2 prosecutor.

Recent Cases

R v AR and LR [2021] - Adam appeared in the Court of Appeal on behalf of two defendants where he successfully argued that their sentences of immediate custody should be quashed and substituted with Suspended Sentence Orders. The defendants were sentenced to immediate custody at the Sheffield Crown Court for money laundering offences related to frauds committed against HMRC by a number of other individuals.

R v LF et al [2021] - After a 7-day trial at the Doncaster Crown Court, Adam’s client was acquitted on a charge of section 18 wounding with intent. Adam’s client was alleged to have been the ring leader in a joint enterprise GBH committed at HMP Moorland. He was alleged to have slashed the face of another prisoner during a fight inside a prison cell.

R v AT [2021] – Following a 3-day trial at the Teesside Crown Court, Adam’s client was acquitted on a charge of robbery where it was said his client had stolen a bank card from a vulnerable complainant before withdrawing money from a cash machine to buy drugs.

Police

Practice Summary

Adam has a busy and specialist practice in private law actions against the police and public authorities where he claims and defends. He has expertise in claims for unlawful arrest and false imprisonment, assault, battery, malicious prosecution, and misfeasance in public office. Adam has a particular interest in cases that involve breaches of the Human Rights Act and European Convention on Human Rights and is instructed in a number of cases concerning violations of Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention.

Adam also practices in professional discipline and regularly presents for Appropriate Authorities in misconduct proceedings. In that regard, Adam is regularly instructed to appear in Part 4 and Part 5 proceedings and has been instructed on behalf of the Appropriate Authority in the Police Appeals Tribunal. In addition, Adam regularly acts as legal advisor to Chief Constables around the country.

Adam is regularly instructed in civil applications on complaint in the Magistrates’ Court and has dealt with applications relating to domestic violence (DVPOs), sexual behaviour, including applications for SHPOs and SROs, stalking and harassment (stalking protection orders), gang violence (applications for gang injunctions), dangerous dogs (proceedings under Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and Dogs Act 1871), football hooliganism (FBOs), firearms, and civil forfeiture of cash and listed assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Adam also has experience of dealing with High Court applications for notification orders under the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. Furthermore, Adam is frequently instructed as independent counsel to review and advise upon material potentially subject to legal professional privilege.

Recent Cases

K v West Yorkshire Police [2024]. Instructed by the CCWYP, Adam successfully resisted an appeal against an order forfeiting cash in the sum of £83,015.00. The cash was seized under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 following an operation by Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit Cyber Crime Team, with support from the NCA and DWP. The Appellant was ordered to pay the Chief Constable’s costs of defending the appeal.

PS G [2024] – Police Appeals Tribunal. Instructed by the AA, Adam successfully resisted an appeal against the findings of a police misconduct panel of gross misconduct. The Appeal was refused on all grounds and the decision to dismiss the officer without notice upheld.

PC G [2023] – misuse of information.

PC W [2023] – use of force.

BE v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2023]. For the successful Claimant. Adam appeared for the successful Claimant who alleged negligence against the Commissioner whose officer’s forced entry into the Claimant’s property, purportedly whilst pursuing a suspect, causing the Claimant injury as they did so. Damages and costs awarded.

KM v West Yorkshire Police [2023]. For the successful Chief Constable. Adam appeared for the Chief Constable in a 2-day trial at Leeds County Court before Recorder Mulholland. The Claimant was part of a large online paedophile hunter group and had alleged she was unlawfully arrested, falsely imprisoned and assaulted by officers when she was arrested for falsely imprisoning suspected offenders. The Court roundly rejected the Claimant’s case and found her arrest was necessary and lawful. The Chief Constable recovered his costs of defending the claim.

West Yorkshire Police v K et al [2023]. Adam appeared for the Chief Constable in a cash forfeiture application under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The cash was seized as part of an investigation by Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit Cyber Crime Team, with support from the NCA and DWP, into offences being committed by a hacker group called “AnonGhost”. The application was wholly successful and a forfeiture order was made in the sum of £83,015.00 plus the Chief Constable’s costs.

CC and DC v Cleveland Police [2022]. Adam is being led by Ian Mullarkey in a high-profile case involving the alleged unlawful arrest of the claimants on suspicion of the murder of their son who disappeared in 1992.

AK v Greater Manchester Police [2022]. For the successful claimant in a jury trial before HHJ Sephton KC at Manchester County Court. The claimant alleged unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and trespass to his person in respect of his arrest for a purported breach of the peace. Damages and costs awarded.

SO v Thames Valley Police [2022]. For the successful claimant in a trial before HHJ Clarke sitting at Oxford County Court. The claimant alleged unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and trespass to her person in relation to her arrest arising out of an alleged assault. Damages and costs awarded.

Inquests & Public Inquiries

Practice Summary

Adam has a growing practice in inquests where he is able to act on behalf of families, police forces and other organisations alike. Adam has substantial experience in police law where he claims and defends. In this capacity, he regularly advises upon matters engaging the European Convention such that he is well placed to advise upon inquest cases potentially engaging Article 2.

Adam also has experience in public inquiries and was instructed as “junior junior” counsel on behalf of the Cabinet Office at the COVID-19 public inquiry.

Adam welcomes instructions in all areas of inquest and inquiries work.

Recent Cases

Inquest touching the death of MH, Staffordshire Coroner’s Court [2024] – Appeared on behalf of the Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police at an inquest touching on the death of MH who was found deceased in her flat. Notwithstanding concerns being raised regarding the adequacy of the subsequent police investigation into the circumstances surrounding MH’s death, the Coroner returned a narrative verdict which made no criticism of the Force’s conduct.

Personal Injury

Practice Summary

Adam has dealt with all types of claims arising out of employers’, public and occupiers’ liability as well as road traffic accidents. Adam has experience of conducting trials on the small, fast and multi-track, protocol hearings, interlocutory applications including strike out, relief from sanctions, applications to resile from admissions of liability and applications to set judgment aside and for summary judgment. Adam is also able to deal with case management hearings including costs and case management conferences. Having acted for individuals, commercial and insurer clients, local authorities, police forces, government departments, claimants and defendants, Adam is well equipped to act in relation to all aspects of civil litigation.

Business & Property

Practice Summary

Adam has expertise in relation to disputes arising in connection with all types of insurable peril including fire and explosion, flood, escapes of water, construction and engineering failures, ground movement (including subsidence and landslip), environmental contamination (including escapes of oil), products liability, and Animals Act claims. Adam has settled pleadings on behalf of claimants and defendants on matters as varied as damage caused by tree root subsidence to damage caused by escapes of foul water and fires owing to defective products. Adam is equally well equipped to advise on all aspects of cases including liability and quantum. Adam accepts instructions on behalf of claimants and defendants alike in all matters arising out of insurable risks and property damage.