John McKendrick KC & Josh Hitchens instructed in judicial review into abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre

Outer Temple’s John McKendrick KC and Josh Hitchens have been instructed in a judicial review of the Lord Chancellor’s refusal to hold a public inquiry into abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre (“MDC”).

A new investigation has been launched into the abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre after thousands of inmates have reported being attacked at the County Durham facility between 1961 and 1987. John McKendrick KC and Josh Hitchens, instructed by David Greenwood of Switalskis solicitors, were instructed in a judicial review of the Lord Chancellor’s refusal to hold a public inquiry into abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre (“MDC”). MDC was a detention centre for young offenders operating between the 1960s and 1980s. 

It is estimated that nearly 2,000 young people were sexually assaulted whilst imprisoned at MDC. The abuse is also suspected to have directly resulted in at least two deaths. 

The judicial review claim has been settled after the Secretary of State agreed to the establishment of a Special Investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, which shall be funded by the Ministry of Justice.

News coverage on this case can be found here.

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John McKendrick KC has been involved in many high profile cases. He represented the Hospital Trusts in the much discussed public law case of Bell v Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust [2021] EWCA Civ 1361, represented the Official Solicitor in a landmark case concerning capacity before the Supreme Court in A Local Authority v JB [2021] UKSC 52 and acted for the Hinduja family in long running proceedings which culminated in the Court of Appeal case of Hinduja v Hinduja [2022] EWCA Civ 1658.

Josh Hitchens is ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for his public and administrative law work. He is a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission panel of counsel and has acted in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council in important and high profile matters.  He acts in the full range of public law cases. He is also currently instructed in a Tax Tribunal case concerning the applicability of Article 6 ECHR in tax disputes and a High Court matter concerning the applicability of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU to people living in the UK with pre-settled status.

To find out more on John McKendrick KC and Joshua Hitchens, please contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)20 7427 4907 for a confidential discussion.

News 9 Nov, 2023