Senior felony barrister, 53, who prosecuted intercourse offenders in advanced rape instances has been disbarred for groping a lady

A senior criminal barrister who built his reputation prosecuting sex offenders has been disbarred in disgrace – after groping a woman for the second time.

Kevin Barry, a high-flying lawyer who had tackled complex rape cases for the Crown Prosecution Service, preyed on his victim at two separate social events just weeks apart.

The 53-year-old had previously been fined and reprimanded by the legal watchdog after sliding his hand down another woman’s skirt.

Barry, once part of the CPS’s ‘complex casework’ unit dealing with rape and sexual offence cases, was barred from the profession after admitting three counts of misconduct.

A disciplinary tribunal ruled his behaviour was ‘intentional’ and ‘sexually motivated’.

Barry, once part of the CPS’s elite complex casework unit, first targeted his victim at a after-work drinks event at central London‘s plush Rosewood Hotel in February 2018.

He placed his hand on her upper thigh, beneath her dress, and ‘edged it upwards towards her groin’, the tribunal heard. 

He also touched her hair while making comments ‘of a sexual nature’.

A month later, at a chambers silks party, Barry struck again – placing his hand on her bottom, ‘degrading’ the woman and ‘violating her dignity’.

The Bar Standards Board said the woman ‘did not consent’ to being touched and that Barry, described as a ‘did not reasonably believe’ she had consented.

Kevin Barry, a high-flying lawyer who had tackled complex rape cases for the Crown Prosecution Service, preyed on his victim at two separate social events just weeks apart

It said Barry was ‘a practising barrister who was in a position of seniority’.

A spokesman said: ‘We would like to thank the individual who came forward and we recognise the courage it takes to make reports about behaviour like this.

‘The Bar Standards Board treats all such allegations seriously and will take action where necessary. We are committed to ensuring that such behaviour is not tolerated at the Bar.

‘Mr Barry’s actions were serious and incompatible with membership of the Bar and this is reflected in the decision of the tribunal to disbar him.’

Barry was previously hauled before a disciplinary tribunal in 2019 after groping another woman who spurned his advances.

He tried to kiss his victim outside a bar, before sliding his hand down her skirt and squeezing her bottom.

After making the ‘unwanted sexual contact’, Barry then ran his hand up and down her thigh in a taxi.

The tribunal found he had behaved in a way which was likely to ‘diminish the trust and confidence’ in his profession.

Yet he was allowed to stay in the profession, escaping with a reprimand and modest £3,000 fine.

Barry had represented in murder and drugs cases and was the contributing editor to two leading law textbooks.

He was most recently based at the prestigious London-based 36 Group chambers.

The Legal 500 legal ranking directory once described Barry as a ‘Level 4 CPS prosecutor’ and ‘on the CPS list of specialist rape counsel’.

Barry has the option to appeal the latest ruling.

In September, Baroness Harriet Harman, KC, published 36 hard-hitting recommendations to counter bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar, and what she called its ‘culture of impunity’.

Harman said: ‘Bullying, harassment and sexual harassment is a problem at the bar and on the bench, within chambers and courtrooms, in open court and behind robing room doors. It needs to be acknowledged and dealt with to protect future victims.

‘There is a no confidence in the complaints system.

‘The pervasive fear of complaining about misconduct gives perpetrators impunity, resulting in a cohort of untouchables. This is a moment of reckoning for the bar.’