Dary Makoona is a criminal law solicitor with a wealth of experience in all aspects of law and a very solid client base all over the country.
As a Duty qualified solicitor for Bedford, Luton, Kempton and Milton Keynes, Dary represents clients at the Magistrates Court and Police Stations who have been charged or arrested with very serious criminal offences.
Dary’s academic studies included a First Class honours degree in Law (LLB), a Masters of Law (LLM) and the Legal Practice Course (LPC). These were successfully completed at the University of Law in London.
Prior to joining Reeds, Dary served for almost twelve years as a military police officer in the British Army and was deployed on various active operational theatres overseas. Dary continues to have strong links to the military community as he currently serves in the Army Reserve on a part time basis.
He also has an extensive knowledge of the military justice system as he was also attached to the Army Legal Services during the course of his military career. The discipline, team work and policing experience that Dary gained during his military service have been easily transferrable into the practical side of his legal training at Reeds. He also represented British Army personnel who had been arrested by the military police abroad.
Dary consistently uses his excellent analytical and communication skills to secure the best possible outcomes for his clients. He is also regularly commended for adapting his communication style according to his clients’ understanding of the criminal justice process and provides clear, concise and simplified legal advice so clients are able to make informed decisions.
As a specialist prison law solicitor, Dary gained comprehensive knowledge and experience representing clients in all aspects of prison law including recalls, parole hearings, Home Detention Curfew (HDC), Judicial Reviews, Independent Adjudications, sentence calculations, re-categorisation reviews and appeals. He also has an extensive experience of representing clients serving indeterminate, extended and life sentences at parole hearings where his very thorough approach are very often commended by clients and their families.
Aside from Legal Aid and privately funded matters, Dary also regularly provides assistance to prisoners on a pro bono basis on a wide variety of issues where he believes that the prison and probation service have acted unlawfully, unfairly and there has been procedural impropriety.
Dary also advises clients on Judicial Reviews, which involves challenging decisions of public authorities like the Ministry of Justice, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. He has also previously secured monetary compensation for clients whose parole hearings have been delayed by the Parole Board for various reasons. He takes a very strong stance against unlawful detention and would initiate action against the Ministry of Justice for monetary compensation if his client has been unlawfully detained.
Dary is also a very passionate and keen lawyer who keeps himself very up to date with new legislation affecting his clients and has attended numerous training sessions on new areas of law like IPP Terminations, SDS40 Early release and other newly announced Government measures.
In accordance with the Solicitors’ Regulatory Transparency Rules for motoring offences we confirm that Dary Makoona charges Level C hourly rates.
Dary is also fluent at conversing with clients in French.
Recent and notable cases
Dary has dealt with a vast number of adjudications before District Judges across the UK on a wide range of offences. He is very attentive to detail and has very regularly got charges dismissed for mistakes on charge sheets. This is crucial for clients who have been charged with prison offences and have upcoming parole hearings.
He takes the very strong view that if someone’s liberty is being deprived, all procedures have to be followed correctly. Their conviction should be safe and if convicted, their punishments should be proportionate, fair and reasonable. Dary has previously made appeals of adjudications to the Senior District Judge, Chief Magistrates’ of Westminster Magistrates Court.
A case of a female prisoner who had an upcoming parole hearing, but unfortunately was charged with possession of unauthorised articles and a positive drug test in prison. Dary adjourned her parole hearing so that the adjudication could be resolved before going back to the Parole Board.
Dary found some procedural errors on both charges and made an application for all matters to be dismissed which was agreed by the District Judge.
Soon after, Dary represented TH at her parole hearing and convinced the Parole Board to release her despite no recommendations for release by the prison/probation service and also being under investigation for an alleged firearm offence by the Police.
Dary secured the IPP Termination of SA licence despite the client himself having absolutely no hope this would ever happen. The client did not attend his appointment with Dary as ,like many IPP prisoners, he had this feeling of hopelessness.
Dary chased SA frequently until he agreed to have a 15 minutes telephone call with us. That was crucial as after Dary submitted very strong written legal representations, the Parole Board was persuaded that his IPP licence had to be terminated without the need for a hearing.
This involved an IPP client who only had a tariff of 5 years but was not released by the Parole Board and had spent about 15 years in prison. Dary managed to obtain GM a recommendation for open prison, but this was refused by the Secretary of State for Justice. Dary remained determined and worked with GM for years until he obtained his release by the Parole Board.
Under new legislation, GM will soon be eligible for his IPP licence to be terminated which Dary intends to get it terminated.
Dary regularly assists clients with severe mental issues like HH who was sentenced a life sentence after a murder conviction. Dary secured a move to open prison for HH but was unfortunately returned to closed prison. Dary and HH worked together for many years and finally managed to secure his release from prison.
These matters are extremely complex with medical reports, psychiatric and psychological reports in which Dary is very well experienced. In case of any doubt, he will obtain funding and commission independent psychological or psychiatrist reports for his clients.
Testimonials
“I would like to thank Mr Makoona for having convinced my husband to apply for his IPP termination when he thought it would never happen. After being convinced, my husband applied for it and with Mr Makoona’s excellent legal representation, the Parole Board terminated the IPP without even having a hearing. Thank you so much Dary, you made our family a normal family again and have started living our new life…Thank you Reeds Solicitors and hoping that more IPPs will come to you…I will very certainly recommend you”
Client
“Thanks Dary, it was a very long road but we made it. My mandatory life licence for murder which I obtained as a young immature teenager has been suspended and now live a new life in the Netherlands with my wife. Thank you!!!”
Client