Profile

Eorann is a junior barrister specialising in criminal law. Her practice centres on criminal defence. A formidable opponent in the service of her clients, Eorann’s practice combines meticulous case preparation with tenacious advocacy and excellent client care. 

Eorann read Classics at Cambridge University where she was awarded the Jasper Ridley and Walter Headlam academic prizes. Prior to joining the Bar, Eorann practised as a solicitor with expertise in immigration, international protection, human trafficking/modern slavery and related public law challenges. As such, she has highly developed skills representing the most vulnerable in society. 

Notable Cases

Fraud

RBG -v- GD & GV – Woolwich Crown Court – Operation Albert: [ongoing] prosecution junior in £1 Million+ fraud on a local authority. 

SFO -v- CM & Ors – Southwark Crown Court – [ongoing] defence disclosure junior in multi-million-pound fraud/false accounting case. 

Sexual Offences

R -v- LW – Snaresbrook Crown Court – Represented a defendant acquitted of sexual assault, strangulation and ABH of a woman in a park. The jury further acquitted the defendant of assaulting a police officer later the same day and attempting to cause unnecessary suffering to a police dog. The defendant was also accused of stalking and harassment against the same complainant. The jury acquitted the defendant of all seven offences. 

R -v- KS – Isleworth Crown Court – Represented a defendant acquitted by the jury of all counts on an indictment alleging sexual assault and breaching a non-molestation order.

R -v- SB – Wimbledon Youth Court – Represented a youth defendant who pleaded guilty to attempted rape of a stranger in a park and exposure. The Defence commissioned reports from a psychiatrist, intermediary and psychologist. SB was sentenced to a Detention and Training Order.  

Drugs 

R -v- IH – Sheffield Crown Court – Represented a defendant unanimously acquitted by the jury of cannabis production at grow houses in Rotherham. The defendant was further unanimously acquitted of money laundering. 

R -v- MM – Woolwich Crown Court – Represented a defendant sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment following a guilty plea to possessing 256kg of cocaine with intent to supply. The wholesale total was estimated at £6,656,000 with a street value total estimated between £20,480,000 - £30,720,000. 

R -v- KA – Medway Youth Court – Represented a youth defendant acquitted of supplying Class A drugs and money laundering. KA was alleged to be operating a drug line supplying heroin and crack cocaine in the Medway Towns. KA ran a modern slavery defence and was acquitted of all charges. 

R -v- AS – Ealing Youth Court – Represented a youth defendant acquitted of supplying Class A drugs. AS successfully raised a defence under s.45 Modern Slavery Act and was acquitted of all charges. 

R -v- JN – Aylesbury Crown Court – The Crown discontinued charges against Eorann’s client in relation to possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, following service of an application to dismiss.

Violence

R -v- AM – Coventry Crown Court – Represented a defendant unanimously acquitted of assaulting his former partner, causing her earring hoop to slice her ear open. 

R -v- SH – Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court – Represented a defendant acquitted of coercive controlling behaviour following a successful submission of no case to answer. The jury unanimously acquitted the defendant of strangulation and one count of assault. The defendant was convicted of the other count of assault. 

R -v- MA – Wood Green Crown Court – Represented a defendant unanimously acquitted by the jury of affray and criminal damage. The offending alleged was filmed by members of the public and involved the use of weapons, including fire extinguishers. 

R -v- EM & Ors – Warwick Crown Court – Represented a youth defendant at sentence and on appeal to the Court of Appeal. EM was 15 years old at date of offence. He appeared in the Crown Court with adult co-defendants and pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, blackmail, and burglary, involving a teenage victim being falsely enticed to a property by males armed with machetes, tied up and held captive for many hours while ransom payments were demanded from his family to secure his release. The victim’s family home was later burgled and valuable items stolen. EM was sentenced to 5 years and 8 months in youth detention. 

R -v- RM – Canterbury Crown Court – Following Defence submissions on admissibility of hearsay evidence, RM was acquitted of multiple counts of ABH, stalking, and threats to kill over a three-year period in a domestic context.

Miscellaneous 

R -v- JN – Isleworth Crown Court – Represented a defendant acquitted by the jury of dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified following a high-speed police pursuit through residential areas culminating in a crash and decamp. 

R -v- HC – St Albans Crown Court – Represented a defendant unanimously acquitted by the jury of possession of a false identity document with improper intention. 

Testimonials

"We are very grateful to Ms O’Connor for her clear and helpful submissions, for the research she has conducted at short notice and for her analysis of the statutory framework and the applicable guideline of the Sentencing Council, and also for her analysis of the sentencing judge’s approach by reference to that framework. For the reasons we will explain, we agree with her." – Mr Justice Johnson in R -v- Yearwood [2024] EWCA Crim 1094

“The case had a number of issues that were navigated by Miss O'Connor with professionalism, grace and great skill…At key stages of the case, Miss O'Connor faced adversity and at every one of those stages steadfastly represented her client to the very best of what are her considerable abilities. She has a deft court room manner and judgement that cannot be taught.” – District Judge 

“I was assisted greatly by Ms O’Connor’s well-researched skeleton argument, which thoroughly analysed the legal issues, applying the unusual facts of this case to the law. Her oral submissions were similarly well crafted and confidently presented.” – Crown Court Recorder 

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association

London Irish Lawyers Association

The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn