Peter J. Madden
petermadden@madden-finucane.com

Peter Madden founded the firm with Pat Finucane in 1979. In the ten years that they practiced law the firm developed a reputation for pursuing Human Rights cases at home and abroad.

Peter has supported Pat's family in their campaign for a fair and independent public inquiry into Pat's murder which was carried out on 12 February 1989.

Madden & Finucane was established to secure the protection of clients' civil liberties and Human Rights. Peter and Pat pioneered the use of the European Court of Human Rights and Judicial Review cases to secure vindication for clients in the 1980's. Peter has advised on Human Rights issues and lectured around the world including North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

He has established Madden & Finucane as one of the leading Criminal Defence firms in Ireland with what analysts describe as a "stellar reputation". The reputation gained in pursuing the rights of those prosecuted by the State has led to Chambers Directory listing him as a notable practitioner: "Peter Madden is at the forefront of the practice and was described as an 'extremely capable practitioner.'"

As Head of the Criminal Department Peter oversees Madden & Finucane's substantial practice in all areas of Criminal Law throughout Ireland. He is a member of the Law Society Access to Justice Committee and the Solicitor's Criminal Bar Association which recently appointed Peter as one of the coordinators in the Association's Legal Aid Coordinating Group. Peter is a qualified trial advocate.

Peter has recently taken carriage of serious criminal trials in Dublin, Limerick and Cork which resulted in the recent acquittal of an accused charged with murder before the Dublin Central Criminal Court in November 2007.

Gerry Hyland graduated from Queen's University Belfast in 1992 serving his apprenticeship with Madden & Finucane. He specialises in personal injury litigation and defamation, and has a special interest in Judicial Review and Inquests.

He manages the firm's litigation department which deals with all forms of personal injury including road traffic accidents, accidents at work, asbestos related disease and clinical negligence. The firm also provides a range of business services including debt recovery, HR advice and commercial contract/leases.

He is a mediator on The Law Society's panel of Accredited Mediators, having successfully completed the Law Society's course in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation, and occasional tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies.

Gerry is a Law Society nominee on the Judicial Review Working Group which has developed a Practice Direction for Judicial Review work. He is a Lay Chairman for Health Complaints for the 4 NI Health Boards and a member of the GAA Disputes Resolution Authority.

Gerry is a Solicitor Advocate having qualified with a Certificate in Advanced Advocacy from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

Ciarán was admitted as a Solicitor in 2001 and was made a Partner in 2006. 

He acted as a lead solicitor during the Bloody Sunday Inquiry where Madden & Finucane represented the majority of the deceased and wounded. Ciaran personally represented six of the families of the deceased and four of those wounded.

Ciarán specialises in Criminal Law and assists in the Management of our extensive and expanding Criminal practice. He acts as instructing solicitor in many high profile criminal trials, including numerous murder and scheduled trials under the Terrorism Act. These have included successfully defending two of the defendants in the "Stormontgate" case.

He represents clients under arrest in Police Stations and defends clients in Magistrates Courts and Crown Courts throughout Northern Ireland.

Ciarán is a solicitor advocate and regularly appears as an advocate on behalf of clients in the Crown Court and Magistrates Court. Special Interest in defending Public Order Prosecutions, Assaults and Serious Fraud.