Ciara Dowd BL

Ciara Dowd is a barrister with a general civil practice, and a particular interest in capacity and mental health law, and human rights.

Ciara has been cited with approval by the Supreme Court in DPP v JD [2022] IESC 39 and by the High Court in In The Matter of KK (No. 2) [2023] 2 ILRM 189.

Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, Ciara worked as a legal researcher in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Law Reform Commission, the NGO sector, and in Dublin City University.

Ciara studied economics, politics and law at Dublin City University and SciencesPo, Paris, before undertaking an LL.M in International Law at the University of Edinburgh. She later undertook at the Diploma in Legal Studies in the King’s Inns, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy in University College Dublin.

• Health Service Executive v M.C. [2024] IEHC 47
• In the Matter of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, as amended, and In the Matter of Joan Doe [2023] IECC 10
• In the matter of C.F. [2023] IEHC 321

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015: Decision-Making Representation Orders Applications—Some Considerations for Family Applicants, Irish Journal of Family Law 2023, 26(3), 67-72

“Orders for the care, treatment or detention of persons who lack capacity”: the Interaction of the ADMCA 2015 and Inherent Jurisdiction, Medico-Legal Journal of Ireland (2022)

Capacity Litigation in practice: Lessons from the Court of Protection, Irish Law Times (2023)

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022 is set to introduce important amendments to the 2015 Act, Law Society Gazette, December 2022

When you say nothing at all: Invoking inferences from suspect silence in the police station, International Journal of Evidence and Proof, 10 June 2022 (peer reviewed)

EmpRiSe Comparative Report: The Right to Silence and Related Rights in Pre-Trial Suspects’ Interrogations in the EU: Legal and Empirical Study and Promoting Best Practice, EU Commission, December 2021

EmpRiSe Ireland: Right to Silence and Related Rights in Pre-Trial Suspects’ Interrogations in the EU: Legal and Empirical Study and Promoting Best Practice, EU Commission, June 2021

Ordinary Person with Fixed and Permanent Characteristics of the Accused – An Emerging Test for Criminal Liability, Irish Criminal Law Journal, March 2021

Report on Knowledge or Belief Concerning Consent in Rape Law, Law Reform Commission, November 2019

Issues Paper on Knowledge or Belief Concerning Consent in Rape Law, Law Reform Commission, July 2018