IPRT in the News
As part of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) Strategic Plan 2023-2026, one of our main goals is to campaign for a progressive criminal justice system that upholds human rights. Engagement with the media plays a large part in that as we discuss our evidence-based research, advocate for people in prison, and work to change attitudes and challenge misconceptions about people in the criminal justice system.
Below you will see a list of most of IPRT's media features including recordings of radio discussions, links to TV appearances, and access to written articles and opinion pieces. You can also listen back to long-form recorded discussions with podcast hosts on our Podcast webpage.
Irish Examiner, 'Cork Prison hit by 'perfect storm' of bad conditions'
4th January 2014
The Irish Examiner's Cormac O'Keefe interviews IPRT Executive Director Liam Herrick about the factors contributing to the conditions at Cork Prison.
TheJournal.ie, 'Number of prisoners sharing cells in Irish jails is ‘worrying’'
31st December 2013
TheJournal.ie reports on the high level of sharing of cells in the Irish Prison System as demonstrated by the Irish Prison Service's October 2013 'Census of Prison Cell Occupancy and In-cell Sanitation'. TheJournal.ie also discusses the issue with IPRT Executive Director Liam Herrick.
Irish Times, 'Prison Population in 1983 was a third of today's'
27th December 2013
Stephen Collins writes about a Department of Justice memo on prison population from 1983, released this month under the '30-year rule'.
Overcrowding in the Dóchas Centre
21st November 2013
IPRT's Liam Herrick spoke to RTÉ Morning Ireland about the issue of temporary release and overcrowding at the Dóchas Centre women's prison.
Irish Examiner, 'Dramatic fall in jail isolation numbers'
1st November 2013
Cormac O'Keefe, writing in the Irish Examiner, reports on the drop in the number of prisoners held in solitary confinement since July.
RTÉ 'Morning Edition': Interview with IPRT Executive Director Liam Herrick about current issues in the prison system
21st October 2013
Today's RTÉ ‘Morning Edition’ programme visited Wheatfield prison as part of its ‘Doors Open’ series. In studio IPRT's Liam Herrick was interviewed about current issues in the prison system.
Irish Independent: 'Minister hails young offenders move'
16th October 2013
Article in today's Irish Independent reports on Government and Civil Society reaction to the development of a new national children's detention centre at Oberstown
Irish Examiner: 'Justice delayed is justice denied'
7th October 2013
Writing in today's 'Irish Examiner', crime correspondent Cormac O'Keeffe reports that seven years after "one of the most savage killings in Irish prisons" there is still no inquiry report - but it is expected by end 2013.
The Irish Times: 'The Prison Trap: mental strains of solitary confinement'
17th September 2013
An article from the excellent investigative series on mental health and prisons, 'The Prison Trap', which ran in the The Irish Times 14-17 Sept 2013.
Irish Examiner: Prisoner total below 4,000 for first time in four years
10th September 2013
Prisoner numbers have dropped below 4,000 for the first time since the end of 2009, with 3,983 people in custody on 9th Sept 2013 and 645 on temporary release.
