PracticeIan specialises in family and criminal law. FamilyIan is recognised as one of the leading family law silks in the country. He took silk in 1992. His family law practice covers all aspects of family law, with particular emphasis on issues relating to children. He is instructed in public and private law proceedings, including care proceedings, child protection issues, adoption and abduction, (national and international). He has acted on behalf of children, parents, local authorities, Guardians and the Official Solicitor. He has appeared in all tiers of Courts up to and including the House of Lords and in most Court centres in England and Wales. One of Ian's strengths is in the rigorous cross-examination of experts, both medical and scientific. Ian has particular experience in cases involving child abuse, whether physical, sexual or emotional. He has been involved in many murder cases, alleged factitious illness (Munchausen) cases and cases involving witchcraft, paedophilia and incest. Ian Peddie QC is ' a man of great humanity', being ' exceedingly conscientious' and well regarded for work in difficult abuse cases, having been involved as counsel in matters involving witchcraft, paedophilia and incest. Legal 500, 2008 edition. He is also identified as a 'leading silk.'
Ian has recently been instructed on behalf of the mother in the Baby P case, in which baby P died as a result of multiple injuries, including a broken back and alleged torture. There has been significant public interest in the case which has required injunctions restraining the press He is also instructed in the Norfolk County Council v Webster case, another high profile case. In 2002 the local authority obtained Care orders and later Adoption Orders in respect of the 3 eldest children on the ground that Child B suffered from NAI, ( Ian was not involved in this part of the case). In subsequent proceedings relating to a newly born child, Brandon, it was accepted that Child B had been suffering from scurvy as a result of a soya milk only diet imposed on medical advice. Child B had not suffered from NAI. The 3 children should not have been adopted. In February 2009 the Court of Appeal refused permission to appeal against the making of Care and Adoption Orders because of the "finality" of adoption proceedings. In both cases the BBC have made TV programmes. In the recent past Ian has represented parents who have alleged serious miscarriages of justice as in the Webster case e.g. in 2002 he represented the parents in care proceedings relating to their new born baby. Prof Sir Roy Meadow had in 1999 opined that the mother had suffocated their first born child and as result a Care Order and Adoption Order was made in respect of the second child. Following a leghty re-assessment of the evidence in the first trial the 3rd baby was placed with the natural parents. The BBC also made a film in relation to this case. Currently he is instructed in three serious alleged non-accidental head injury, (shaking), cases in which the children died, (in one he represented the nanny who was found not to be responsible), a salt poisoning case, in which the baby survived and an alleged rape of a 2year old girl. In addition he is representing the mother in a serious baby shaking case in which the mother accepts causing the injuries (permanent mental and physical injuries) as result of suffering post puerperal psychosis. Another recent case involved alleged gross neglect of a child. Ian's client, the father, was aged 56 and the mother 22) CrimeIan is also an experienced in criminal practitioner, particularly those criminal cases which have concurrent care proceedings e.g. the 6 month South Wales Paedophile Ring case in which he was one of the few barristers who appeared in both the criminal and the Children Act proceedings. He has appeared in all types of criminal cases, including, murder, infanticide, paedophilia, sexual abuse, serious drugs importation and terrorism cases. He has been a Crown Court Recorder since 1993. Notable casesIan has been involved in numerous reported cases a few of them are listed here LecturingIan has lectured to lawyers, care professionals and others on the law relating to children and the cross examination of expert witnesses. Professional AssociationsCurrently Member of Legal Services Committee of Bar Council Former Committee Member of the Bar Council Committee Member of the FLBA for most years from 1989 to 2003 Chairman of the Sub-Committee of the FLBA on Accreditation of the Family Bar. Currently Bar Representative on Solicitors Family Law Accreditation Advisory Board Member of SE Circuit. Member of Family Law Bar Association
|
