John Joseph Collins

John Collins

John Collins (born 23 May 1944) is an Irish barrister called to the Bar in 1967. He was called to the English Bar in the Middle Temple in 1972. He was called to the Bar of New South Wales, Sydney in 1989. He co-founded the Westgate Chambers, a practice based in Sussex, in 1987. ^[1]

Personal life

He grew up in Killiney, County Dublin. He attended Presentation College, Glasthule, Cistercian College, Roscrea and Redemptorist College, Limerick.^{[ citation needed ]} Whilst studying law at the King's Inns, Dublin, he was elected auditor of the Law Students Debating Society. His "Inaugural"^{[ clarification needed ]} coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising and was attended by a very distinguished audience.^{[ according to whom? ]} He delivered his Inaugural address "Retrospect 66" in front of the then President, Éamon de Valera, who was involved in the Rising. Also present was the British ambassador, Sir Geoffrey Tory, Cardinal Conway, The Irish Chief Justice,(who later became President) Cearbhaill O Dalaigh, Seán Lemass, the Taoiseach and a number of judges, politicians and lawyers. ^{[2] [3] [4]} Before settling down to practising law, he founded Squash Ireland.^{[ citation needed ]} This was the first commercial squash venture in Ireland.^{[ citation needed ]} Before he sold it to a consortium headed by Paddy McGrath, he had built five courts in Rathgar, six in Dalkey and eight in Clontarf. When he sold in 1975, ^[5] he brought his wife and children to live in Pinner, Middlesex. This coincided with the deteriorating security situation in Ireland.^{[ citation needed ]} He was married twice, to his first wife for 28 years and then to his second wife for 4 years.^{[ citation needed ]}

Notable cases

In Ireland, he was leading counsel in the much disputed attempt to rezone the Harold's Cross Greyhound track in 1971.^{[ citation needed ]} In 1972 he argued, unsuccessfully, for the registration of the word "poteen".^{[ citation needed ]}

In England, he participated in several leading criminal trials.^{[ citation needed ]} The most famous^{[ according to whom? ]} was the £25 million gold Brink's-Mat robbery from Heathrow Airport in 1983. He represented the first named handler of the proceeds, Brian Perry.(Times)^{[ full citation needed ]} He was one of the counsel in the case that set down the guidelines for sentencing in rape cases.(Criminal appeal Reports)^{[ full citation needed ]}

References

1. "History | Westgate Chambers". 9 November 2024.
2. "Image caption - DeValera and others" (PDF), Irish Times, p. 5, 19 February 1966, archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012 – via lostsheep.com
3. "Image caption - Conway and Collins" (PDF), Irish Times, p. 1, 19 February 1966, archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012 – via lostsheep.com
4. "Taoiseach looks at 1916 and 1966" (PDF), Irish Times, p. 11, 19 February 1966, archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012 – via lostsheep.com
5. "McGrath buys into Squash Ireland" (PDF), Irish Times, p. 16, 3 January 1975, archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012 – via lostsheep.com

External links

• DeBretts (archived 2012)