She draws on her previous experiences in order to apply a rare and invaluable level of expertise and insight
Ciara Bartlam is a member of our Inquests and Inquiries team and specialises in representing bereaved families whose loved ones have died under the age of 25 in community and detention settings. Ciara aims to put the young person’s voice and interests at the centre of the inquest process and to understand who they were as thoroughly as she can.
Before becoming a barrister, Ciara worked in children’s services as a specialist homeless officer for 16 and 17 year olds and care leavers under the age of 25. As a result, Ciara has experience working with young people with complex and multiple needs – including histories of trauma, exploitation, and offending – which she regularly draws on in her work. She has also worked alongside a range of services, including community mental health teams and youth offending.
Ciara has worked with the bereaved families of a number of children in care and care leavers whose lives were cut short. In 2025, Ciara supported the family of Rhianan Rudd at her inquest which was heard by the Chief Coroner Her Honour Judge Alexia Durran, led by Jesse Nicholls. In the same year, Ciara represented Article 39 and INQUEST at the inquest into the death of Nonita Grabovskyte, a young care leaver who died shortly after turning 18. Nonita’s inquest was covered by Sky News in a documentary which has had wide-ranging impact.
Ciara currently represents the family of Tasha Ashby who was a young 21-year-old care leaver who died while she was street homeless and living in a tent. The issues affecting Tasha are summarised in this article by Emeritus Professor of Law & Social Justice, Luke Clements: ‘Why everyone should be talking about Tash Ashby’.
In her inquiries work, Ciara was part of the team that represented Covid Bereaved Families For Justice UK at the UK Covid Inquiry and was the lead junior on Module 6 which related to the Adult Social Care Sector. She is also part of the team representing INQUEST at the Lampard Inquiry investigating mental health deaths in Essex.
Ciara is ranked in Band 3 for Inquests and Inquiries in both Legal 500 and in Chambers and Partners. In 2022, Ciara was awarded a Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award in the Legal Aid Newcomer category.
Ciara's pronouns are she/her or they/them.
Ciara is ranked in Band 3 in both Legal 500 and in Chambers and Partners. Some of her recent and notable cases include:
Inquest into the death of Alex Davies (2025): Ciara represented Alex’s family at an 11-day inquest into her death which was heard with a jury. Alex was a 25-year-old care leaver who was tragically found dead in a segregation cell at HMP Styal on Christmas Eve. The jury concluded that Alex’s death was contributed to by neglect. Alex’s inquest was covered by the Guardian.
Inquest into the death of Nonita Grabovskyte (2025): Ciara represented INQUEST and Article 39 at Nonita’s inquest in which the Coroner found that a severe absence of co-ordinated arrangements for an ‘extremely vulnerable’ child in care approaching her 18th birthday contributed to her self-inflicted death. Nonita’s inquest was covered by Sky News in a documentary which has had wide-ranging impact.
Inquest into the death of Rhianan Rudd (2025): Ciara represented Rhianan’s mum and brother at a three and a half week inquest in front of the Chief Coroner HHJ Alexia Durran, led by Jesse Nicholls. Rhianan was the youngest female to be charged with a terrorism offence in the UK and died while she was living in a children’s home. The Chief Coroner found that there were missed opportunities by Counter Terrorism Police, Prevent, Derbyshire County Council and a number of mental health bodies in the period leading up to Rhianan’s death. Rhianan’s inquest received significant media attention and was covered by the Guardian, BBC and others.
Inquest into the death of Charlie Millers (2024): Ciara represented Charlie’s family at a three week inquest in front of Senior Coroner Joanne Kearsley (now Deputy Chief Coroner). Charlie was a 17-year-old trans man who died from self-inflicted injuries sustained at Junction 17, a CAMHS inpatient facility operated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. The jury found multiple failings in the care Charlie received from children’s services and GMMH and concluded that the decision not to place Charlie on 1:1 observations probably contributed to his death.
The Coroner issued a prevention of future deaths report to the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care outlining her concern that the deaths of patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 are not subject to the same level of independent investigation as deaths in police custody or in prison.
Charlie’s inquest was covered by national and regional news outlets, including the Guardian, Sky News and MEN.
Inquest into the death of Ben Nelson-Roux (2022-2023): Ciara represented Ben’s family at a three week Article 2 inquest in front of Senior Coroner Jon Heath. Ben was only 16 years old when he died in an adult homeless hostel which was recognised to be unsuitable for his needs, where he had been placed by North Yorkshire County Council.
Due to concerns about the availability of suitable accommodation for teenagers like Ben, the Coroner issued a prevention of future deaths report directed at the relevant Local Authorities and the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Ben’s inquest was covered by national and regional news outlets, such as the Mail Online and Newsnight.
Ciara’s Privacy Notice may be viewed by clicking here.
