HHD SOLICITORS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Belfast Solicitors Association
Caroline studied Law at the Queen's University, Belfast. She then pursued post-graduate studies in the field of European Law, with a particular interest in the judicial review process and access to the European courts. She obtained a Master's degree (MSc) with Merit in European Public Policy from Queens University, Belfast in December 2000. The focus of her research for post-graduate studies was the locus standi of public interest groups in the European Court of Justice, and the lessons that could be learnt from examining the standing of such groups in already established legal systems in the USA and UK.
Caroline joined the Litigation team in Higgins Hollywood Deazley Solicitors in September 2001 and has since specialised in the field of Personal Injury Litigation. She was promoted to her current role of Partner in April 2019 having been promoted to Associate Solicitor in November 2012.
Caroline has expertise in a broad range of matters including high value and complex personal injury claims arising from road traffic accidents, slips and trips in public places and accidents at work. She has been successful in achieving compensation in catastrophic and high value fatal accident claims. Caroline has dealt with litigation matters in many different jurisdictions including the Republic of Ireland and holiday claims throughout Europe. She has experience of representing clients in all tiers of the court system, from the County Court to the Court of Appeal.
Caroline has extensive experience of both obtaining and defending civil injunctions under the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.
Caroline has brought a number of successful Judicial Review applications in the High Court. She has a particular interest in educational rights on behalf of young children and has supported families in their legal case to have their child statemented and obtain educational support within the school system. She was successful in many Prison Judicial Reviews and Human Rights cases where she obtained additional support for prisoners including the appropriate medication prescribed.
She recently represented the mother of a young man who tragically died whilst in the custody of Maghaberry Prison at a Coroner's Inquest into his death.
As a legal aid practitioner Caroline has an excellent working knowledge and understanding of the legal aid system in Northern Ireland and can provide advice on all aspects of civil legal aid. She regularly applies for After the Event Insurance on behalf of her clients and also utilises legal expense insurance within home insurance policies.
Caroline is a member of the Belfast Solicitors Association - www.belfast-solicitors-association.org and the Law Society of Northern Ireland - www.lawsoc-ni.org
Caroline works closely with our local schools on behalf of HHD, including sponsorship of prizes, lecturing the students at career events and supporting the staff in other annual events. She also works closely with our local schools on behalf of HHD, including sponsorship of prizes, lecturing the students at career events and supporting the staff in other annual events. Caroline's school engagement includes sponsoring the netball teams in Girls' Model, the football teams in Boys' Model, school prizes in St Malachy's and annual events in Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School. Caroline also has links with Ulster University and our annual support of the School of Law students.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Solicitor
- Solicitor
Desmond is a solicitor with over 40 years' experience in the field of wills, estate planning, probate, controllership applications and powers of attorney. He is recognised locally as having considerable knowledge and expertise in this sensitive area of law and offers practical advice to all clients and executors to administer your estate, sort out your affairs, transfer property to your beneficiaries and will advise on any tax ramifications.
Desmond joined Higgins Hollywood Deazley in September 2019 having previously been a principa l solicitor in a local, thriving solicitor's firm which he founded in 1978.
He has extensive knowledge and expertise in many areas including drafting wills and trusts, advising on nursing home fees, estate planning, preparation of probate applications, obtaining controllership applications and completing enduring powers of attorney. Desmond is also a member of the Belfast Solicitors Association - www.belfast-solicitors-association.org , the Law Society of Northern Ireland - www.lawsoc-ni.org and he is a member of the Law Society of NI Elder Law Group.
Outside the law Desmond enjoys spending time with his family on the North Coast and cycling in Europe.
Eimear graduated from Queen's University Belfast with a 2:1 in her Law with Politics degree. During undergrad Eimear was awarded a funded scholarship to take part in the annual Fordham Law Summer School on Conflict Resolution and Human Rights.
Eimear went on to pursue a Masters at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, where she studied International Law graduating in August 2019. Alongside writing her thesis Eimear interned with a Criminal Defence team at an International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague. In the case of The Prosecutor v Stanisic and Simatovic, Eimear worked alongside a team defending an intelligence officer accused of War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity committed during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.
During the Covid pandemic Eimear researched for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Consortium on a pro-bono basis. The research was used to lobby Stormont assembly for Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
Eimear represented the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in the Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Competition in April 2023. The competition, held in Florida explored issues of deep-sea mining and piracy.
Eimear joined HHD Solicitors in February 2020 as a Paralegal and qualified as a Solicitor in October 2023 working within the Litigation and Criminal Defence departments. She has a particular interest in personal injury law, legacy litigation and human rights.
John graduated from the University of Ulster in 2010 with a 2:1 degree in Law with Politics. He then attended Queen's University Belfast and obtained his postgraduate diploma in professional legal studies in 2013 whilst at the same time working in a major Belfast solicitors firm.
Following qualification as a solicitor John worked in a specialist county Antrim firm practising in the areas of criminal law, judicial review, prison law, human rights and high court litigation. John joined HHD solicitors in September 2015 and continues to practice alongside partner Matt Higgins in these areas frequently defending clients accused of murder, serious assaults, fraud, rape and high value drug offences in police stations and courts throughout Northern Ireland.
John also has an extensive background in human rights law and in this role he has represented individuals and families seeking justice for loved ones who have suffered at the hands of the state, religious institutions and/or paramilitaries. A priority for John in any case is excellent client care and in this regard John represented the Law Society of Northern Ireland at the International Client Consultation Competition 2013 where he was a finalist competing against lawyers from around the world.
Below is a sample of the cases which John regularly conducts:
R v O'K - John represented a client accused of the largest fraud in Northern Ireland's history. The client was accused of fraudulently selling property in Turkey to dozens of individuals and investors. The case involved an analysis of in excess of 10,000 pages of documents and financial transactions and compiling complex proofs for counsel and a range of expert witnesses. The case is now regularly cited in other fraud cases.
R v B - John defended a client accused of causing the death of his partner via dangerous driving. This case involved the investigation and determination of complex scientific issues and required the input of and presentation of expert evidence from inside and outside of the jurisdiction.
Re C - John represented a young man who was the subject of a vicious unprovoked assault. The Public Prosecution Service discontinued the prosecution against his assailant and the decision of the PPS was subject to judicial review before the most senior judges in Northern Ireland. The case involved issues of victim's rights and the supervisory jurisdiction of the High court over decisions of the Public Prosecution Service.
Re MC and others - John represented a family whose mother was killed in the Troubles. The case involved a judicial review of the Chief Constable of the PSNI in respect of his failure to provide the family with information relating to the investigation into the death of their mother.
Re Cr - John successfully represented a life sentence prisoner who received an adjudication for failing a drug test in prison. Following judicial review proceedings the adjudication was quashed and John's client made a successful application to be released on parole before the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland.
John currently serves on the committee of the NI Young Solicitors' Association and is a member of the Belfast Solicitors' Association and the Law Society of Northern Ireland.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
- Partner
Matt Higgins is widely regarded as one of Northern Ireland leading Criminal Solicitors. He has extensive experience in all aspects of the Criminal Law and related Civil Litigation. Over the past thirty years Matt has been involved in some of the most high profile criminal/civil cases throughout the island of Ireland. Matt's work in Criminal Law, Judicial Review and protecting his clients' human rights has gained him a reputation as a tenacious and purposeful advocate. His reputation has led him to be instructed by the N.I. Human Rights Commission, Belfast Solicitors Association and Rights Watch UK.
Matt has successfully defended numerous allegations of rape and other sexual offences both current and historic. He acted on behalf of a number of prominent businessmen caught up in the notorious Operation Ore case. Their credit card details were discovered at the centre of a child internet porn ring. Through meticulous investigation Matt and his team were able to establish identity theft through a major international crime gang acting in South America and Jakarta and stay the prosecutions.
Matt is a Board Member of the Belfast Charitable Society, Director of the Metropolitan Arts Centre in Belfast, Chair of The Friends of St Malachy's, Board Member of Jog Belfast, Committee member of the North Belfast Harriers and was Chairman of the Belfast Beltway Boxing Project NI from 2013 to 2017. Matt is a Notary Public, an Advanced Advocate and is also qualified as a Solicitor to practice with the Law Society of England and Wales.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland
Rosemary graduated in 2004 from Queen's University Belfast with a 2:1 Single Honours Law Degree. Following this, Rosemary gained invaluable experience working as a Paralegal and Litigation Manager in a busy litigation department of a Belfast based law firm which provided defence litigation services to the majority of the Health & Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, to include Belfast Health & Social Care Trust.
In 2008 Rosemary was one of the first intake of students to be offered a place at University of Ulster's Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Magee Campus.
Upon successful completion of her Diploma, Rosemary was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2010, following which she gained extensive experience in general practice working at a South Belfast based law firm.
Rosemary has a keen interest in Litigation, to include personal injury litigation resulting from road traffic collisions, accidents at work and slipping/tripping cases in public places. Rosemary has considerable experience of managing medical and dental negligence cases. She has also attended several high profile Inquests over the years.
In addition to her litigation skills, Rosemary has experience in Residential Conveyancing, drafting Wills and in the Administration of Estates.
Rosemary is a member of The Law Society of Northern Ireland, Belfast Solicitors' Association, Northern Ireland Medico Legal Society and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. She is also a Member of The Law Society of Northern Ireland's Elder Law Group.
Rosemary enjoys engaging with clients and is more than willing to assist you should you wish to investigate the merits of pursuing a claim for compensation.
If you or a family member have been injured in an accident which was not your fault and you wish to contact Rosemary directly, please send an email to rosemarymillar@hhdsolicitors.com