Catherine Pierse Explained

Catherine Pierse is an Irish solicitor who has been the Director of Public Prosecutions since November 2021.

Early life

Pierse comes from Listowel, County Kerry.^[1] She studied at University College Cork.^[2] She obtained a master's degree in governance from the Queen's University Belfast in 2011.^[3]

Legal career

She qualified as a solicitor in 2001. She first worked as criminal defence solicitor, including as a trial lawyer at Kelleher and O'Doherty solicitors.^{[4] [5] [6]} She later worked as a legal adviser to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and was a lawyer at the Central Bank of Ireland.

She was the head of legal, policy and research at the Policing Authority between 2016 and 2018.^[7]

Her final position before becoming Director of Public Prosecutions was head of the agency's prosecution support services division.

Director of Public Prosecutions

Pierse was announced as successor to Claire Loftus as the Director of Public Prosecutions in October 2021. Her appointment was effective from 8 November 2021.^[8]

Notes and References

1. News: Kerry woman appointed as next Director of Public Prosecutions . 10 December 2021 . RadioKerry.ie . en.
2. News: Hutton . Brian . Catherine Pierse announced as new director of public prosecutions . 10 December 2021 . The Irish Times . 27 October 2021 . en.
3. News: Degrees . Belfast Telegraph . 8 July 2011 . 22.
4. Web site: Appointment of Director of Public Prosecutions . www.gov.ie . 10 December 2021 . en.
5. Web site: Duff v Dunne [2004] IEHC 151 ]. bailii.org . 10 December 2021 . 6 July 2004.
6. Web site: After a long and distinguished record across a range of organizations... . Twitter . KOD Lyons . 10 December 2021 . 27 October 2021.
7. Web site: Policing Authority congratulates Ms. Catherine Pierse on her appointment as Director of Public Prosecutions . Policing Authority . 10 December 2021.
8. Web site: No. 88 – 1248 . . 10 December 2021.