Richard Harvey

Profile

Richard Harvey has a wide ranging and formidable international and domestic reputation in Human Rights, Crime and Tribunals of Inquiry, International Criminal Tribunals, Environmental issues, Criminal Appeals and Inquests. He has a substantial criminal defence practice involving serious crime. He also serves as an advisor to Greenpeace International and Amnesty International on environmental and human rights matters.

Recent domestic criminal cases include:

• R v. Abernethy & Ors (2008), Armagh Crown Court. Lead counsel for defendant in biggest cigarette smuggling conspiracy (£15m) in history of Northern Ireland.
• R v. O'Donnell & Ors (2008), Belfast Crown Court. Lead counsel for anti-war activist in 2006 protest against Israel Defence Force bombing of civilians in Lebanon.
• R v Jawad Akbar & Ors (2005-2007),Central Criminal Court, London. Conspiracy to cause explosions in various locations in central London.
• R v Tahira Tabassum & Ors (2004). Central Criminal Court, London. Withholding information under Terrorism Act in relation to suicide bombing in Israel.

Inquiry work includes:

• Family of Patrick Finucane (2008 to date). Joint lead counsel with Michael Mansfield QC advising family of murdered Belfast solicitor.
• Bloody Sunday Inquiry (2000 - 2005). Counsel for the family of James Wray, killed by British Army.

Inquest work includes:

• Matter of Derek Bennett (2004 to date). Inquest into death of black man shot in back by Metropolitan Police. Currently on appeal on Article 2 issues to European Court of Human Rights.
• Matter of Blair Peach, 1980. Represented the Anti-Nazi League at the inquest into the death of teacher killed by Metropolitan Police

International criminal cases include:

• Prosecutor v Lahi Brahimaj, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (2005 to date) Lead counsel for Kosovo Liberation Army leader accused of war crimes, The Hague, Netherlands
• Prosecutor v Haradin Bala International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (2004 - 2005). Co-counsel for Kosovan Liberation Army soldier accused in war crimes case, The Hague, Netherlands
• Juvenal Kajelijeli, International Criminal Tribunal for Ruanda, (1999-2000). Co-counsel for former mayor accused of genocide and war crimes before ICTR at Arusha, Tanzania.

Between 1980 to 2000 Richard taught human rights and practised law in Harlem, New York. Richard's practice included serving as counsel to Government of South Africa since 1996; In Haiti, Richard was counsel to President Jean Bertrand Aristide, assisting in prosecuting murder and intimidation under the military junta which ousted Aristide. In addition Richard has advised a number of governments of Asian, African and Caribbean countries, including Namibia, Cape Verde, Trinidad & Tobago and Vietnam.

In New York his criminal and appellate practice included major criminal cases such as representing the lead defendant in United States v. Filiberto Ojeda Rios, a landmark case on right to bail for the leader of the Puerto Rican underground liberation movement, accused of masterminding $7.2 million armoured car robbery and shooting an FBI agent. Richard also conducted many major political asylum cases involving clients from Haiti, Northern Ireland and apartheid South Africa.

(Last Updated: September 2009)

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