Manchester Arena Inquiry
John was instructed by Greater Manchester Police in the Manchester Arena Inquiry alongside other members of chambers, led by Richard Horwell KC.
Counter Terrorism cases 2023
Al Bared and the design of an explosive drone for Islamic State
In 2023 John Greany prosecuted the case of Mohammed Al Bared for the CPS Counter Terrorism Division at Birmingham Crown Court. After a six-week trial the defendant, a PHD student with expertise in mechanical engineering, was convicted of preparing for acts of terrorism by (a) designing a remotely piloted drone for Islamic State and (b) setting up a sham company as cover for travel to Islamic State territory via Turkey and (c) completing an application form to join Islamic State. The case involved calling expert evidence in relation to explosive substances, aeronautical engineering, drones, the structure and evolution of Islamic State, and the interpretation of multiple documents which had been written in Arabic by the defendant. As much of the evidence was in Arabic, John’s knowledge of the language was an asset to the police and prosecution team. John was led in this case by Michelle Heeley KC, the leader of the Midlands Circuit.
Islamic State
John Greany is currently instructed by the CPS Counter Terrorism Division (acting alone) to prosecute defendants accused of disseminating terrorist publications, including publications attributed to Islamic State. He is prosecuting defendants who are alleged to have planned to leave the UK in order to fight for Islamic State in the Middle East and West Africa.
Crime
R v Allard, Southwark Crown Court 2023
In 2023 John Greany was instructed (acting alone) by the Specialist Fraud Division of the CPS to prosecute Jonathan Allard, the so called “Lord of Fraud”. Allard was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court for playing a leading role in a £3.7 million investment fraud linked to Zurich Private Capital (ZPC). Large numbers of victims had been tricked into investing their savings in ZPC as Allard spent the proceeds on luxury goods, sports cars and foreign travel. Allard, who had registered foreign companies and bank accounts in order to sustain the fraud, was sentenced to 7 years and 2 months custody on 22 May 2023
R v MM, Police officer acquitted of money laundering (2021-22, Southwark Crown Court)
In 2022 John Greany represented a defendant accused of money laundering when serving as a police officer in Kent. The officer had agreed to pay cash through his personal his bank account for a friend who, it subsequently transpired, had been dealing Class A drugs and steroids. The officer was acquitted following a five week trial at Southwark Crown Court.
R v BC (Southwark Crown Court 2021) John Greany (led by James Hines KC) prosecuted the Chief Information Officer of a large corporation convicted of bribery at Southwark Crown Court.
R v J (2019) John defended a member of the MPS staff charged with assaulting an emergency worker and with public order offences; the court found that she had been unlawfully arrested and unlawfully detained by the arresting officers; the charges were dismissed at the close of the prosecution’s case.
R v H (2019) John defended a senior police officer charged with assaulting a member of the public. The court found that the complainant had lied to the police about the incident and that an independent witness must have been mistaken when she reported the alleged assault to the police. The officer did not face any disciplinary proceedings in light of the criminal court’s findings.
R v Carl Tiltman (Southwark Crown Court 2019) John prosecuted a Chief Executive Officer and former employee of the Ministry of Defence charged with fraud by abuse of position and fraud by false representation following an investigation by the MOD police. The defendant had deceived specialist units of HM armed forces and his own company directors in relation to laser equipment marketed to the Royal Navy and to the airline industry.
R v Mangava, Atitebi and others (2019) Acting alone, John prosecuted in a multi-handed high value fraud and money laundering case, instructed by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division.
R v Chukwuka and others (2018-2019) Led by John Hardy KC, prosecuted to conviction 9 defendants charged with conspiracy to commit high value fraud and money laundering.
R v Brooks and others (2014) John was part of the team advising prosecution witness Dan Evans in the “phone hacking trial” at the Central Criminal Court
Notable recent professional disciplinary cases
Successful appeal in the case of TW at Northamptonshire Police Headquarters
In 2023 John successfully argued that there was new evidence capable of undermining the testimony of an officer who had given evidence against TW in a police gross misconduct hearing at Northamptonshire Police Headquarters. The accused officer was reinstated on full pay and the case remitted for fresh determination by a new tribunal.
Officer accused of providing information to a foreign embassy
John Greany represents a serving police officer accused of providing sensitive information to officials of a foreign embassy. The case is ongoing.
Key evidence excluded leading MPS to offer no evidence in case of PC Gibbons
In 2023 the MPS brought gross misconduct proceedings against an officer accused of assaulting his partner. The defence argued that the sole and decisive evidence in the case was the hearsay evidence of the officer’s partner. After hearing legal argument on the first day of the hearing the panel agreed with the defence submissions that it would be unfair for the hearsay evidence to be admitted in evidence. Following that ruling the MPS offered no evidence, and the allegation was not proven.
Inspector KW
In 2023 John represented an Inspector who had been accused of bullying and harassing a colleague. The panel found that whilst the officer had made errors of judgment, the conduct did not amount to gross misconduct in all the circumstances.
MPS allegation of gross incompetence not proven against serving PC
In 2023 the MPS alleged that a serving PC had been “grossly incompetent” because he had failed to identify and report a “non-crime domestic” incident in accordance with force policy. The panel found the allegation of gross incompetence not proven. The Panel commended the officer for displaying commendable remorse, reflection and humility and described the incident as “a deeply unfortunate but an honest misjudgement.”
Officer breaching MPS policy by setting up “only fans” account receives final written warning
In 2023 John Greany represented a serving officer who had set up an “only fans” account with his partner. Members of the public could pay to view the sexual activity of the officer, his partner and other consenting participants in various video clips. The defence acknowledged that the officer had breached MPS policy by failing to register the “only fans” account as a business interest; the officer also accepted that his conduct risked bringing discredit to the police. However, there was a strong mitigating context which was set out in defence submissions, and which allowed the panel to issue final written warning.
In September 2022, John defended in a MPS case in which the officer concerned was alleged to have falsely imprisoned a colleague in his home. The allegation that he did so was not proven.
In 2022 John advised federation representatives and solicitors assisting officers of West Yorkshire Police; the officers allegedly failed to provide appropriate first aid to a detainee who had died in police custody. John drafted written submissions which were relied on by the officers. The allegation was not proven against any of the officers.
In 2022 John acted for a British Transport Police (BTP) officer facing multiple allegations of dishonesty, racist behaviour and excessive use of force against members of the public. The officer denied the allegations of gross misconduct, denied dishonesty, and relied on medical evidence to explain aspects of his conduct. He also contended that the some of the allegations had been dealt with by way of management action, and that he had a legitimate expectation that no further disciplinary sanction should be imposed. Having received the written response to the allegations served by the defence, BTP reviewed the case shortly before the hearing. In light of the medical evidence BTP withdrew the allegation of gross misconduct.
