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). In this year and last he has been instructed in two of the most high profile cases concerning children. He represents the mother in the Baby P (Lon Boro' of Haringey) case and the parents in the Webster, miscarriage of justice case,
(scurvy misdiagnosed as NAI). [See below]. He has acted on behalf of children, parents, grandparents, nannies, carers, local authorities, Guardians and the Official Solicitor. He has appeared in all tiers of Courts up to and including the House of Lords, (now the Supreme Court), 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, 2009 edition. He is also identified as a 'leading silk" in the 2009 Legal Experts handbook. He has Door Tenancies in Liverpool (India Buildings ) and Lewes (Westgate Chambers). Recent Cases:During 2008 and 2009 Ian has represented the mother n the care proceedings in the Baby P case. Baby Peter Connelly had three siblings. He died as a result of multiple injuries, including a broken back and alleged torture. In the care proceedings the LA unsucessfully attempted to re-open issues previously determined in the criminal trial. There was significant public interest in the case which required injunctions restraining the press. Ian has considerable experience in press injunction cases involving children. There have been numerous TV and radio programmes in relation to this case. In 2005 he represented the children in a case in which the mother deliberately infected her partner with HIV /Aids, A Local Authority v W &Ors [2005] EWHC 1564 (Fam) (14 July 2005). Ian was successful in obtaining an injunction from the President of the Fam Div. restraining publicity in order to
protect the children. He is currently instructed in another high profile case (the Webster miscarriage of justice case). In 2009 he attempted to persuade the Court of Appeal to overturn adoption orders made in respect of 3 of the Webster children, (see Webster v Norfoik CC 2009 2 AllER 1156. [It is hoped that this case will be taken to the ECHR] 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 prescribed 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 this case the BBC have made two Panorama TV programmes. Recently he has been 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). He has also been instructed in a salt poisoning case, in which the baby survived, and an alleged rape of a 2 year old girl. In addition he is representing the mother in a serious baby shaking case in which the Somalian mother accepts causing the injuries, (permanent mental and physical injuries), as a result of suffering post puerperal psychosis. She seeks his return to her care. In 2009 he represented the soldier, Sean Thompson, who after lengthy care proceedings admitted responsibility for causing the death of his step son. Another recent case involved alleged gross neglect of a child. Ian's client, the father, was aged 56 and the mother aged 22.These cases were heard in courts all over the country e.g. London, Leeds, Liverpool, Lincoln, York, Newcastle, Birmingham, Taunton etc. In the recent past Ian has represented parents who have alleged serious miscarriages of justice, as in the Webster case e.g. in 2005 he represented the parents in care proceedings relating to their new born baby, (Birmingham City Council v Mrs. H [2005] EWHC 2885 (Fam) (13 December 2005). 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 lengthy 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. In 2001 he represented the parents in Re W and Re B, Re W (Care Plan) in the House of Lords. The "Starred Care Plan" case, in which he was seeking to use the Human Rights Act to ensure that the Courts kept control of some issues after the making of a Care Order. 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, (sitting in crime, family and civil). LecturingIan has chaired many seminars and lectured to lawyers, care professionals and others on the law relating to children and the cross examination of expert witnesses. Notable cases:Ian has been involved in numerous reported cases a few of them are listed here: - Re W (Children) [aka Webster v Norfolk County Council] 2009 AllER 1156 (CA - Appeal against existing Adoption Orders and earlier CareOrders- on basis that original Care Order was a miscarriage of justice i.e. scurvy not NAI)
- LB Ealing v Parveen & Ikram 2007 FD CO 0180 Munby J - Murder of one of 3 children;
- Norfolk County Council v The Parents & BC (By His Child's Guardian) [2007] EWHC 1566 (Fam) (29 June 2007)
- Webster (A Minor) 2007 EWHC 549 Fam. (Another hearing in the Webster miscarrige of justice case.)
- S v S EWHC [2005] 1996 Represented wife of Russian oligarch seeking return of 3 year old daughter following Residence Order having been made in Moscow;
- Birmingham City Council v Mrs H [2005] EWHC 2885 (Fam) (13 December 2005)
- Re (A Child) 2005 EWCA Civ 1792 CoA - appeal against the making of a Care Order
- Re W and B; Re W (Care Plan) (2001) EWCA Civ 757 [2001] 2 FLR 582 House of Lords Case on 'Starred Care Plans' Power of Court to control Care Plans. Effect of Human Rights Act on CA cases.
- R v Yusuf 2002 CCC Murder of three month old child (six week "Old Bailey" trial involving numerous medical/forensic experts) This followed lengthy Children Act proceedings.
- R v Lawrenson 2002 Murder of Partner by mother in presence of children
- H (A Child), Re [2002] EWCA Civ 469 (8 March 2002) From 2001 to 2003 represented Oxford medical undergraduate in Criminal and Children Act proceedings in which he was charged with serious and persistent assaults upon girlfriend's young child over a period of months.
- R v Lucas 2000 Lewes Crown Court - 21 year old father acquitted of murder of 6 week old son.
- 1992 Acted on behalf of Devon CC in the longest ever wardship case
- 1992 R v Owen Maidstone Crown Court - successfully defended client on counts including attempted murder; client admitted shooting a man who had been convicted of causing the death of client's son by dangerous driving.
- 1993 instructed by the Official Solicitor in the 'Children of God' litigation
- R v Gwynedd County Council Ex Parte B [1992] 3 All ER 317
- 1994 R v Davies - acted for one of the principal defendants in the 8 month South Wales paedophile ring case. Acted in both family and criminal proceedings. The criminal appeal lasted 21 days (the second longest criminal appeal in recent times).
- 1996 R v Campbell - represented defendant in case of attack with machete on Wolverhampton primary school children. Miss Lisa Potts, the nursery assistant was awarded the GC.
- Re W (A Minor) (Residence Order) [1993] 2 FLR 625
- Re G (Minors) (Interim Care Order) [1993] 2 FLR 839
- R v Gwynedd County Council Ex Parte B [1991] 2 FLR 365
- R v North Yorkshire County Council Ex Parte M (NO. 2) [1989] 2 FLR 79
- R v North Yorkshire County Council Ex Parte M (NO. 3) [1989] 2 FLR 82
- M v M (Transfer Of Custody: Appeal) [1987] 2 FLR 146
- Havering London Borough Council v S [1986] 1 FLR 489
- Hereford And Worcester County Council v Jan [1986] 1 FLR 29
- Hereford And Worcester County Council v JAH [1985] FLR 530
- Re F (Wardship: Adoption) [1984] FLR 60
- Re R (A Minor) (Child In Care: Access) (1983) 4 FLR 787
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
(Updated November 2009)
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