Prominent silk Margaret Cunneen may go from being the prosecutor to the prosecuted with the shock news that the corruption watchdog has referred evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider whether she should face criminal charges.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption announced on Wednesday that the evidence it had gathered during its ill-fated Operation Hale had been sent to the DPP to consider whether Ms Cunneen, her son Stephen Wyllie and his girlfriend Sophia Tilley should face prosecution for attempting to pervert the course of justice and for giving false evidence to the commission.

Margaret Cunneen: The corruption watchdog has referred evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider whether the deputy senior Crown prosecutor should face criminal charges. Credit:Nic Walker

In its statement, the ICAC said it conferred with the DPP on May 19 about referring the Cunneen matter.

This week, Ms Cunneen, the deputy senior Crown prosecutor, commenced prosecuting a murder case.