Year 13
	Rachel Burns Peter Dolan Aaron Donnelly Caoimhe Herron Meghan McCaul Jo-Ann Nugent Con O’Neill Catherine Rushe
	Year 14
	Sarah Curran Ethan Gervin Kevin Kilpatrick Keara Lynch Niamh Marley Fergal McCarney Maeve Morgan-Feir

PRESS RELEASE (12/11/10)

"The Bar National Mock Trial Competition provides all the competitors with a real insight into the workings of our criminal justice system. It is also a marvellous opportunity to perform and have fun. The competition is not just about people who want to become lawyers, it’s about what the law means in society and what it means to be a citizen."
Cherie Booth QC.

The Bar National Mock Trial Competition gives young people an exciting and innovative insight to the workings of the legal system and the Crown Courts. Now in its 20th successful year, it involves over 2,000 students, 200 barristers and 90 judges from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A team of fifteen Year 13 and Year 14 students use carefully constructed witness statements to prepare the prosecution and defence of two specially written criminal cases. Students take on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, court staff and jurors and compete against other schools in a live format, with one team prosecuting and the other defending. Their performances are judged by Circuit Judges and senior barristers and take place in Crown Courts. Alongside the main competition, each team can nominate a press officer to be responsible for developing a media strategy for local coverage of the team's entry. The winner at each Regional Heat will receive a prize and be entered into the national Press Officer Competition. Court Reporter Competition.

Since September, St. Patrick’s Academy Mock Trial team has been working hard, preparing and rehearsing two cases for this year’s competition. The regional heat will take place on Saturday 20th November at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast. Teams take part in three trials both prosecuting and defending one case and prosecuting or defending the other. The two teams with the highest scores go on to a fourth trial to decide the regional winning team that then goes on to compete in the National Final. Good luck to everyone involved - hopefully the scales of justice will weigh in our favour!

Assisting barristers: Tony Lunny BL & Conor Lunny BL
Organising teacher: Mrs Lisa O’Neill