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committed to injured people

David McClenaghan

David is a partner and solicitor advocate at Bolt Burdon Kemp specialising in child abuse compensation claims.

David has successfully brought claims on behalf of claimants who have suffered abuse at the hands of Scout leaders, Boys’ Brigade Captains, clergymen (Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, Church in Wales, Evangelical Church), youth club leaders, teachers, sports coaches, foster carers, care home staff and family members.

As a solicitor advocate, David regularly appears in the High Court on behalf of his clients and in 2012 he was the advocate in the case of GLB v TH. David secured his client one of the highest ever awards of general damages in a child abuse compensation claim. In 2015 David was the advocate in the first ever test case against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in respect of applications made outside the time limit under the new 2012 scheme. On appeal, David successfully argued that the time limit should be extended for his client who was a survivor of child abuse.

David regularly appears on national broadcast media (BBC One, BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio Four and BBC Radio Five) providing expert opinion and commentary on developments in child abuse law and on child abuse issues. He also regularly provides commentary to national newspapers (The Times, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Express and Daily Mirror).

David is a committed member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and in 2014 was elected to the role of secretary of APIL’s child abuse special interest group. David regularly provides training seminars on child abuse law, both in-house, and externally to the College of Law and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Outside of work, David is a trustee of Survivors UK, a charity committed to helping survivors of sexual abuse.

Reported cases
  • CXX v DXX [2012] ALL ER (D) 22 (Jun) – Clarified the law in respect of whether or not a defendant who has been convicted of an offence is permitted to deny that offence in a subsequent civil claim.
  • GLB v TH [2012] ALL ER D 329 – One of the highest ever awards of general damages in a child abuse compensation claim. David acted as solicitor-advocate appearing in the High Court.

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