OBIT for Anthony Jennings , QC
From Times Online
January 30, 2008
Anthony Jennings
Witty, influential QC noted for his ability to laugh a case out of court
An imposing man both physically and intellectually, Tony Jennings, QC, was an advocate of style, wit and originality. One of the finest courtroom performers of his day, he was also one of the most entertaining, aptly described by Chambers and Partners' Guide to the Legal Profession as possessing “the rare ability to laugh a case out of court”.
Although he was a fearsome competitor who humbled many an expert witness, Jennings was deeply sensitive to the needs and feelings of others, making him the darling of clients and colleagues alike. An inspirational pupil master and brilliant teacher, he was instructive and avuncular at the same time.
Born in 1960, Jennings was fiercely proud of his humble origins in the tough Short Strand area of East Belfast, where he was raised by his mother and grandmother. After completing his schooling at St Patrick's College, Knock, in 1979, he accepted a place at the University of Warwick to read law. Graduating in 1982, he then attended the Inns of Court School of Law, London.
Jennings was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 1983, and by the Inns of Court of Northern Ireland in 1987. He began his career from chambers at 11 King's Bench Walk; his pupil master was the legendary criminal advocate Rudy Narayan, and Jennings also went on to build a formidable practice in criminal law, as well as in the nascent area of human rights.
In 1986 Jennings moved to chambers at 2 Garden Court, joining a powerhouse civil liberties set led by Ian Macdonald, QC, and also featuring Courtenay Griffiths, QC, and the current Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald, QC. Barristers at 2 Garden Court took on clients only to act in their defence, and when testing Jennings at interview on his credentials for tenancy, Ian Macdonald determined that these could not be in doubt, as he had been born “in the crucible of struggle”.
During the early years of his career Jennings gained particular experience representing miners in the aftermath of the strikes of 1984 and 1985, and he also defended several alleged members of the IRA. Other notable trials in which he was involved included the successful defences of those charged after the 1989 Risley prison riots and the 1996 Whitemoor prison escape.
In 1999 Jennings was involved in a landmark case at the Old Bailey in which a man was enticed to supply guns from Serbia to the IRA. His success came after an extensive voir dire in which he revealed that the West Midlands Police had withheld evidence from both prosecution and defence.
Jennings left Garden Court in 2000 to become a founder member of Matrix Chambers, where he was involved in many of the leading criminal cases of the day. In 2002 he secured the quashing of a conviction against the youngest boy to be convicted of rape, and the following year represented the accused in the Real IRA BBC bombing case. Although his young client pleaded guilty, Jennings mitigated strongly on his behalf, resulting in a discounted sentence.
This was a particularly busy period for Jennings. He played an active role in the Bloody Sunday inquiry and in a landmark case, challenged the reliability of scientific tests concerning drugs traces found on banknotes.
Perhaps most famously, in 2003 Jennings represented the television personality John Leslie against charges of indecent assault, ensuring that the case never reached court, and in 2004, in a landmark case, he defended Zardad, an alleged Afghan warlord. Another notable client was Hussain Osman, accused as one of the bombers who attacked London in July 2005.
Having been appointed a QC in 2001 as one of the youngest criminal silks, Jennings became a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2002, with permission given to try rape cases in 2003.
Alongside these official appointments, he gave freely of his time to numerous other organisations. He was a member of the Criminal Bar Association committee, the Lord Chancellor's Department of Human Rights Defence Fast Track Committee, the editorial board of Counsel/Bar News magazine, the Bar Council Terrorism Committee and the Women Caring Trust for the children of Northern Ireland.
Jennings was also an outstanding scholar, writing extensively for newspapers and legal publications on the areas in which he specialised. He was a contributing editor to Archbold on criminal pleading, compiling the chapter on the right to silence - indeed he did much to shape the law in this area, particularly with regard to the drawing of adverse inferences. He also edited Justice Under Fire: the abuse of Civil Liberties in Northern Ireland and contributed to Criminal Justice, Police Powers and Human Rights and Human Rights and Criminal Justice.
Never one to miss an opportunity to make light of a situation, during a case in which he defended a man stood accused of masturbating a dolphin, Jennings commented that were he to lose, people would say that he was a bigger masturbator than the defendant. The jury took 20 minutes to deliver a verdict of not guilty.
Jennings was passionate about Liverpool Football Club, Irish literature and Italy. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Anthony Jennings, QC, was born on May 11, 1960. He died of organ failure on January 21, 2008, aged 47
Although he was a fearsome competitor who humbled many an expert witness, Jennings was deeply sensitive to the needs and feelings of others, making him the darling of clients and colleagues alike. An inspirational pupil master and brilliant teacher, he was instructive and avuncular at the same time.
Born in 1960, Jennings was fiercely proud of his humble origins in the tough Short Strand area of East Belfast, where he was raised by his mother and grandmother. After completing his schooling at St Patrick's College, Knock, in 1979, he accepted a place at the University of Warwick to read law. Graduating in 1982, he then attended the Inns of Court School of Law, London.
Jennings was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 1983, and by the Inns of Court of Northern Ireland in 1987. He began his career from chambers at 11 King's Bench Walk; his pupil master was the legendary criminal advocate Rudy Narayan, and Jennings also went on to build a formidable practice in criminal law, as well as in the nascent area of human rights.
In 1986 Jennings moved to chambers at 2 Garden Court, joining a powerhouse civil liberties set led by Ian Macdonald, QC, and also featuring Courtenay Griffiths, QC, and the current Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald, QC. Barristers at 2 Garden Court took on clients only to act in their defence, and when testing Jennings at interview on his credentials for tenancy, Ian Macdonald determined that these could not be in doubt, as he had been born “in the crucible of struggle”.
During the early years of his career Jennings gained particular experience representing miners in the aftermath of the strikes of 1984 and 1985, and he also defended several alleged members of the IRA. Other notable trials in which he was involved included the successful defences of those charged after the 1989 Risley prison riots and the 1996 Whitemoor prison escape.
In 1999 Jennings was involved in a landmark case at the Old Bailey in which a man was enticed to supply guns from Serbia to the IRA. His success came after an extensive voir dire in which he revealed that the West Midlands Police had withheld evidence from both prosecution and defence.
Jennings left Garden Court in 2000 to become a founder member of Matrix Chambers, where he was involved in many of the leading criminal cases of the day. In 2002 he secured the quashing of a conviction against the youngest boy to be convicted of rape, and the following year represented the accused in the Real IRA BBC bombing case. Although his young client pleaded guilty, Jennings mitigated strongly on his behalf, resulting in a discounted sentence.
This was a particularly busy period for Jennings. He played an active role in the Bloody Sunday inquiry and in a landmark case, challenged the reliability of scientific tests concerning drugs traces found on banknotes.
Perhaps most famously, in 2003 Jennings represented the television personality John Leslie against charges of indecent assault, ensuring that the case never reached court, and in 2004, in a landmark case, he defended Zardad, an alleged Afghan warlord. Another notable client was Hussain Osman, accused as one of the bombers who attacked London in July 2005.
Having been appointed a QC in 2001 as one of the youngest criminal silks, Jennings became a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2002, with permission given to try rape cases in 2003.
Alongside these official appointments, he gave freely of his time to numerous other organisations. He was a member of the Criminal Bar Association committee, the Lord Chancellor's Department of Human Rights Defence Fast Track Committee, the editorial board of Counsel/Bar News magazine, the Bar Council Terrorism Committee and the Women Caring Trust for the children of Northern Ireland.
Jennings was also an outstanding scholar, writing extensively for newspapers and legal publications on the areas in which he specialised. He was a contributing editor to Archbold on criminal pleading, compiling the chapter on the right to silence - indeed he did much to shape the law in this area, particularly with regard to the drawing of adverse inferences. He also edited Justice Under Fire: the abuse of Civil Liberties in Northern Ireland and contributed to Criminal Justice, Police Powers and Human Rights and Human Rights and Criminal Justice.
Never one to miss an opportunity to make light of a situation, during a case in which he defended a man stood accused of masturbating a dolphin, Jennings commented that were he to lose, people would say that he was a bigger masturbator than the defendant. The jury took 20 minutes to deliver a verdict of not guilty.
Jennings was passionate about Liverpool Football Club, Irish literature and Italy. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Anthony Jennings, QC, was born on May 11, 1960. He died of organ failure on January 21, 2008, aged 47
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