UK White collar crime expert gets deputy DPP post
Patrick Michael Moran, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions
(CNS) Updated: A UK barrister who specializes in white collar crime has been appointed as the new deputy director of public prosecutions. Patrick Michael Moran joined the office directly from the UK on 2 March and officials released the information Thursday, almost three weeks after he was appointed.
Replacing Trevor Ward QC, who left Cayman last year, Moran was appointed following a competitive recruitment process and the job was advertised on government websites, the local media and the Caribbean in September last year, the DPP has confirmed. Fifteen applications were received from people in eight countries but no one from Cayman applied. Five applicants were shortlisted and Moran was selected after interviews and assessments on their written legal work.
Moran has come to Cayman from London chambers, where he built a practice which encompassed the prosecution of serious criminal offences as well as defense work. This included prosecutions on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office.
His areas of specialty include white collar crime, money laundering, and asset forfeiture. He has prosecuted on behalf of several UK government agencies and has appeared at courts of all levels, up to and including the House of Lords.
Officials said the British advocate is a qualified advocacy trainer for over 10 years in one of the Inns of Court and has spent several years as Head of Education, Training and Development in his Chambers. He has also worked on committees focused on the development of legal services within changing models for criminal litigation.
He arrives at the time when the DPP’s office is facing criticism of its efficiency and the judgments being made regarding which cases end up in the courts and which do not and why. The department and the criminal courts are currently being reviewed by UK prosecutor Claire Wetton with a view to improving case management.
CNS has contacted officials for more details on the recruitment process for the post and is awaiting a response.
Cayman is so lucky it has people from the UK that are willing to commit to public service in its overseas possessions.
This no surprise here especially in light of the former governors adverse comments about the DPP office in the recent failed trial of Mr Bush. Yet he seems to have had the confidence in Mrs Richards to appoint her to the director position or was it just the usual hypocrisy we see coming from that office. Which by the way 10:10pm is it not criminal offence to criticize our judiciary or are they too above the law.
You are right 9:18am about the stitch up mentality which comes from people just like who try to make us believe that it doesn’t really happen, when the facts and truth of the matter is that certain folks here are immune to even reproach or prosecution and when they are prosecuted convictions are not even recorded. While locals go straight to prison You know how it goes??? “different strokes for different folks” Here is another blow against your your deceptive propaganda. Caymanians need to understand that the Great White Hope is not here to save us and has never cared for nothing other than the money.
Can’t hurt. The Office of the DPP is as poor as they come. Hopefully he brings some sense to it. The DPP is a cesspool for under-performing attorneys who are rewarded for their mediocrity with promotions. Would have been better had Mr. Moran replaced C. Richards. I wonder how threatened she feels by this appointment? The Attorney General can’t be feeling much better about it either.
3 members of the DPP’s department did apply. They are surely from cayman…..
Yes 4:50pm your statement rings of your blatant ignorance and contempt for others.Yes many like you and your “master race” would like to determine who, when and what gets prosecuted and convicted, except of course your friends and family and businesses associates. Unfortunately for you some folks are finally awakening here to the realities and the terrible unfairness of your draconian little system. Couple of points for you . When there is too many policemen there is no freedom, when there is too many politicians there are no rights, and when there are too many lawyers there is no justice! Caymanians pay attention and see exactly who they are installing in this place and understand what the outcomes are going to be from here on in.
Exactly the sort of “this is a stitch up by the establishment” attitude that has led to regular acquittals of local defendants in the face of overwhelming evidence.
Another brilliant hire by CIG things have really changed for the better. Kudos to the DPP.
Its about time maybe now they will work closer with the Police an get convictions. XXXXX
Don’t hold your breath, 7:36! I feel the same, but looking at the past, I don’t have much hope. But then, who knows?…… Maybe mister Moran can work miracles. (Note to Mr. Moran: It WON’T be easy!)
Are you sure no one applied.? I know of someone who applied to Dpp to do Articles five years ago and never received as much as an acknowledgement. And yes the person was qualified having graduated from the Caymanian Law School with a second class pass as well as studying in the UK afterwards and obtained a diploma as a qualified solicitor. XXXXX
Shame they can’t do anything about the juries. So many comical acquittals.
Is no one else concerned that no Caymanian applied for this top post?
Give him the top job and be done with it.
A little dose of Irish can’t hurt. Now bring us a new Attorney General, FCO!