Denis Martin Cowley QC (30 January 1919 – 28 June 1985) was a British barrister and judge.
Biography Cowley was born in Belfast, a son of Sir William Percy Cowley CBE, also a Liberal and a Deemster on the Isle of Man.The Times House of Commons, 1950 He was educated at Radley College and Exeter College, Oxford where he received a Master of Arts (Hons Jurisprudence). In 1940 he married Margaret Hazel Teare, of Ramsey, Isle of Man. They had one son and two daughters.‘COWLEY, Denis Martin’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 4 November 2014
Cowley served during the war as a Sergeant and then a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from 1939–45.‘COWLEY, Denis Martin’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 4 November 2014 His spitfire was shot down over the English Channel and he was taken prisoner.Who's Who of 475 Liberal Candidates fighting the 1950 General Election He was a prisoner of war in Germany from 1941 to 1944.The Times House of Commons, 1950 While a prisoner he studied law. He made numerous attempts to escape and succeeded in reaching Switzerland where he was held by the authorities. He made a further escape to France, where the French Resistance helped him to link up with the Allied Forces."Mr Denis Cowley." Times [London, England] 15 July 1985: 10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 4 November 2014.
Cowley was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in 1946. He based himself in Nottingham and practised on the Midland Circuit.Who's Who of 475 Liberal Candidates fighting the 1950 General Election In 1965 he became a Queen's Counsel. In 1969 he became Deputy Senior Judge on the Midland and Oxford Circuit. In 1972 he became a Bencher. In 1973 he successfully acted for the Douglas Corporation at the Summerland fire disaster inquiry. In 1974 he became a Recorder of the Crown Court. In 1979 he was leading counsel for John Le Mesurier in Thorpe affair trial at the Old Bailey."Mr Denis Cowley." Times [London, England] 15 July 1985: 10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 4 November 2014. During the trial, Cowley advised Le Mesurier that his best chance of acquittal was by giving evidence that could harm the other defendants, including Jeremy Thorpe. However, Le Measurier chose not to and was acquitted along with the other defendants.Rinkagate by Freeman & Penrose, 1996 In 1982 he became Senior Judge in the Sovereign Base Areas, Cyprus. In 1984 he was appointed to the Mental Health Appeal Tribunal.‘COWLEY, Denis Martin’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 4 November 2014
In August 1949 Cowley was chosen as Liberal candidate for the Brigg division of LincolnshireLincolnshire Echo, 6 August 1949 and contested the 1950 General Election, standing against Lance Mallalieu, a former Liberal MP who held the seat for the Labour Party. The Liberal Party did not have much of a track record in the constituency and did not even contest the 1948 Brigg by-election. He finished third, though he did manage to save his deposit. He did not stand for parliament again.British parliamentary election results 1950-1973, Craig, F.W.S.
In 1985 he died in Castletown, Isle of Man at the age of 66.
Electoral results
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