Dr Nijel Callaghan

Nigel qualified as a Doctor from London 's Royal Free Hospital in 1986 and having initially followed a career path into Trauma Medicine including active military service he began to develop an interest in Forensic Medicine.

To date he has handled over 16,000 clinical forensic cases and is recognised as an expert in this field along with that of Custodial Medicine and sits on the Investigating Committee of the Health Professions Council.

He is Approved under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983, a Member of the Forensic Science Society, The British Academy of Forensic Sciences and the Association of Forensic Physicians. He is one of only a handful of Assessors for The Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners and as well as being a Registered Forensic Practitioner he holds the Diploma of Prison Medicine (with distinction) and a Member of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians ( UK )

Legally, Nigel qualified from the University of Northumbria in 2002 and pupilled immediately thereafter. He has been practising in the specialist areas of Advanced Crime with particular interest into drink / drug drive cases, cases to be decided principally medical and forensic issues such as murder / manslaughter, Medical Crime and Medical Fraud. He also has an interest in Police Discipline and pension / retirement issues.

He is also very active in the field of Trading Standards with particular interest in Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002

He is active in the Coroners Court 's with interest in the area of death in custody and unexpected death in Hospital.

In 2004 he received a special award from the Solicitor General following his work with the Cleveland CPS.

Nigel also holds judicial appointment sitting on the Medical Appeal Tribunals, being also a Regional Medical Appraiser for the Tribunals Service, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an Accredited Mediator.

In 2002 he was appointed as Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Teesside and has been responsible for delivery of forensic training in the areas of sexual offences, death investigation, custodial care and mental health. He is also the External Examiner for the Foundation Degree in Police Studies.

Nigel still maintains a strong medical as well as a legal practice and when not active in these fields he devotes his time to his family and a local Convent School where he is a Foundation Governor.

He is regarded by many as a fiercely independent beacon in his field.