Gerard Boyle KC

Professional Discipline & Regulatory

experience & expertise

Police

In the police field Gerry acts on behalf of both the Appropriate Authority, the Accused and the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Gerry regularly represents the Metropolitan Police and other forces in high profile police disciplinary hearings and appeal tribunals.

He is also instructed on behalf of officers of the most senior rank in both professional misconduct and criminal proceedings.

Renowned for his expert handling of sensitive cases and challenging clients, Gerry’s real forte is his “very fine advocacy” for which he is widely recognised.

Medical

His medical work has in the past included regular appearances on behalf of practitioners before various regulatory bodies, including the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service and the General Dental Council. He is now regularly instructed on a private basis by Corporates facing regulatory investigation and proceedings, private care providers and senior medical practitioners.

Bar Standards Board

Gerry has also been a member of the select panel of Counsel to present cases against Barristers accused of misconduct before the Disciplinary Tribunals of the Inns of Court.

Cases of note – police

• Commissioner of Metropolitan Police and Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police v Officer A and Officer B (2023)
  Gerry is acting on behalf of both Thames Valley Police and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in ongoing Police Misconduct proceedings against an officer accused of sexual assault and a colleague accused of failing to act, and allegations of inappropriate exchanges on the WhatsApp platform.
• Gwent Police v Superintendent B (2023)
  Gerry acted on behalf one of a number of Senior Gwent Officers accused of professional misconduct arising out of incidents that occurred at a Chief Constable’s leaving party and interference in the subsequent investigation.
• Chief Constable of Lincolnshire v Detective Chief Inspector C (2023)
  Gerry successfully defended a senior officer who faced gross misconduct allegations arising out of accessing police systems and inappropriate access of CCTV material.
• Chelsea Bridge Fatality (2023)Gerry is retained on behalf of the IOPC in relation to its ongoing investigation into the tragic death of Oladeji Omishore who was tasered on Chelsea Bridge by Metropolitan Police officers and fell to his death in the River Thames.
• Metropolitan Police Service v Robyn Williams (2022)
  Gerry successfully resisted the Met’s Judicial Review seeking to overturn a decision of the PAT, which enabled the officer to stay in post.
• Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse [IICSA] (2021)
  Gerry acted on behalf of the Independent Office for Police Conduct in a massive independent investigation into Leicestershire Constabulary’s handing of allegations of child sexual abuse by Lord Janner QC MP. The investigation Gerry led on straddled 3 decades, involving dozens of officers and former officers. Gerry acted for the IOPC at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
• Warwickshire Police v Chief Superintendent D & Others Operation Riga (2021)
  Gerry successfully represented the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police in misconduct proceedings against a male Supt and two junior female officers for engaging in sexual activity on police premises and whilst on duty. All 3 were found guilty of gross misconduct.
• Police & Crime Commissioner v Chief Constable Simon Byrne [2018]
  Gerry successfully defended Chief Constable Byrne who was accused of a career ending 74 allegations of breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour by allegedly bullying subordinate officers and staff said to amount to Gross Misconduct. Mr Byrne was acquitted of every allegation and is now the Chief Constable of the PSNI.
• Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police v Assistant Chief Constable Heywood
  ACC Heywood was accused of allegations of gross misconduct arising out of evidence given by him to a public inquiry into the shooting of a Salford man. Gerry was retained to act on behalf of GMP.
• ACC X [2020]
  Gerry was retained to advise ACC X in relation to attempts by his home Force to compulsorily retire him from the police service in the unprecedented use of s40 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act.
• Metropolitan Police Service v Various officers [2019]
  Gerry acted on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service in misconduct proceedings arising out of the death of Sean Rigg in August 2008. Gerry led James Berry from Chambers.
• Thames Valley Police v Supt. Chiariello [2018]
  Gerry acted on behalf of TVP in multi-faceted misconduct proceedings against a Supt accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual relationships whilst on duty and, ultimately, inappropriate attempts via a third party to intimidate a female complainant. The officer was dismissed following a Special Case hearing presented by Gerry before the Chief Constable and Gerry successfully rebuffed an attempted appeal to the Police Appeals Tribunal.
• Operation Elveden [2014-15]
  Metropolitan Police v Detective Superintendent Rowell – presented the appropriate authority’s case against the most senior officer to face misconduct proceedings arising out of Operation Elveden (disclosure of sensitive police information to tabloid journalists). Following intense battles with his QC opponent over disclosure, admissibility of evidence, and expert evidence, Gerry successfully secured the officer’s dismissal from the force.
• Operation Elveden [2016]
  Following on from the success above Gerry is currently retained in an ongoing police misconduct investigation in to Thames Valley Police officers accused of disclosing confidential information to journalists.
• Metropolitan Police v PC Luke [2016]
  Gerry acted on behalf of the Commissioner in misconduct proceedings where the officer was alleged to have assaulted the mother of a patient at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The officer was acquitted in the Crown Court. The misconduct case is continuing.
• West Yorkshire Police v A N Officer
  The officer was acquitted In criminal proceedings of sexually assaulting a female in a nightclub. Gerry has successfully resisted an attempt to stay the misconduct proceedings as an abuse of process. The case against the officer continues.
• Habib Ullah Deceased [2015]
  Misconduct proceedings Thames Valley – acted on behalf of the appropriate authority against 5 officers accused of editing their original accounts following the death of a man they had stopped and searched.
• Merseyside Police v PC S
  Successfully presented misconduct proceedings against an officer accused of predatory behaviour towards female victims of crime.
• Metropolitan Police v PC Patrick
  Advised and represented the Metropolitan Police in proceedings against an officer accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour by publishing an online book and blogging in a derogatory fashion about policing practice.
• Commissioner of Police v DC Evelyn
  Gerry successfully presented the misconduct case against an officer accused of raping a vulnerable young woman inside a secure area at St Pancras International station.
• Commissioner of Police v PC Rice
  Gerry successfully presented the case against Alan Johnson MP’s former personal protection officer for having an inappropriate relationship with the then Home Secretary’s wife.
• Police Appeals Tribunal v Verrier
  Represented the Metropolitan Police before the PAT in an officer’s appeal against his dismissal under the Performance Regulations due to lengthy absence from work.

cases of note – medical

• GMC v Consultant A (2023)
  Gerry is currently retained to act on behalf of a Consultant who is the subject of an ongoing GMC investigation and is a Core Participant in a large scale Statutory Public Inquiry.
• GDC v A Dentist [2016]
  Represented a very vulnerable client who was accused of dishonesty and posing a significant risk to patient health due to his own ongoing health issues.
• GDC v A N other dentist [2016]
  Gerry defended a dentist who faces career threatening allegations of dishonesty relating to falsification of details on job applications.
• GMC v Dr O [2015]
  Represented GP accused of retrospectively altering patient medical records (including details of prescriptions)  after being notified of the patient’s death.
• GDC v Mr W [2014]
  Successfully defended a dental practitioner accused of physically assaulting a child patient during a course of treatment.
• GMC v Dr McC [2014]
  Secured the dismissal of a significant number of allegations against this eminent clinician after detailed legal submissions on the proper application of the “5 year rule”.
• GMC v M – [2013]
  Gerry represented a Consultant Physician in a long running case before the GMC. The doctor had been accused by a trust of inappropriate behaviour and dismissed. She later successfully sued the Trust for sex and race discrimination, harassment and unfair dismissal.

Recommendations

“Absolutely top-quality counsel; his written work is absolutely fabulous. His advocacy is superb and he is precise in his cross-examination.”
Chambers & Partners

“Brilliant all the way through. He was the leader of the tactical decisions and he secured remarkable results. We were dealing with hearings in the public eye, with huge consequences, and yet it never felt like it was ramping up internally.”
Chambers & Partners

“A commanding advocate with an uncanny ability to get the court on side.”
The Legal 500

“Gerry is brilliant with client care, and exceptional as a written and oral advocate. He pitches cases perfectly.”
Chambers & Partners

“Gerard does excellent preparation and has a thorough approach with incisive and effective cross-examination; he is also extremely pleasant and gains the confidence of the clients.”
Chambers & Partners

“Gerald is strong across the board. Both his written and oral advocacy is top notch. He is also a strong tactician and has excellent client care skills (both lay and professional clients).”
The Legal 500

“An excellent tactician, a doughty fighter, and an outstanding advocate.”
The Legal 500

“A robust barrister who commands the attention of the tribunal, secures great results and can skilfully deal with challenging clients.”
Chambers & Partners

“He provides very detailed submissions; his attention to detail is excellent.”
Chambers & Partners

“His way with clients is very good; he is extremely patient and can assert his position with strength in front of the panel.”
Chambers & Partners

“He is a good opponent as he takes a lot of the sting out of misconduct cases and brings objectivity to the proceedings.”
Chambers & Partners

“He has a very good presentation style.”
Chambers & Partners

‘He shows an impressive attention to detail and his ability to retain and recall information is incredible. He is a reliable and sensible barrister whom I have no hesitation in recommending to clients.’
The Legal 500

“An excellent advocate who robustly fights cases while putting clients at ease.”
Chambers & Partners

“Impressive drafting skills and highly experienced in professional disciplinary matters.”
Chambers & Partners

“He has the utmost attention to detail and a formidable work ethic. He is committed to his clients has a unique ability to support them through difficult processes.”
Chambers & Partners

“Highly effective. Tough but elegant at the same time.”
Chambers & Partners

“At trial his advocacy has been first-class. I don’t think there’s anyone like him.”
Chambers & Partners

“He’s excellent. He’s good on paper and clients like him. He’s a very safe pair of hands, capable and bright.”
Chambers & Partners

“…very good and very astute.”
Chambers & Partners

“…very easy to use, good with clients and a good presence in court.”
Chambers & Partners

“…brings a forensic approach to cases and has an engaging style.”
Chambers & Partners

“… has excellent client care skills, pays great attention to detail and is very knowledgeable …”
Chambers & Partners

‘A good tactician with excellent forensic analysis.’
The Legal 500

‘… puts clients and experts at ease with his grasp of issues and pleasant manner.’
The Legal 500

‘His expertise spans acting for medical, police and other professionals.’
The Legal 500

“A smooth operator and persuasive advocate”
Chambers & Partners