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.
3rd August 2010
Dearbhail McDonald, Legal Editor, reports in the 'Irish Independent' on the falling costs of housing a prisoner in 2009. IPRT's Liam Herrick challenges the figures, questioning whether monies saved through chronic overcrowding can be viewed as 'success'.
1st August 2010
In the Sunday Tribune, Ali Bracken, Crime Correspondent, reports on latest figures from the Irish Prison Service (IPS) which show further increases in prisoner numbers.
27th July 2010
A Government plan to expand the State's prison capacity without first addressing the reasons behind the rising rate of imprisonment is ill-judged, the Irish Penal Reform Trust said.
26th July 2010
In an article in the Irish Times, IPRT's Liam Herrick discusses the possibility of future legal challenges being made against slopping out and prison conditions in Ireland.
18th July 2010
In an article in the 'Sunday Times', Sarah Mclnerney reports on the judgement in the 'slopping out' case, and IPRT's Liam Herrick comments on the implications for future cases that might be brought.
16th July 2010
Jennifer Hough, in the second part of an Irish Examiner special investigation on youth justice, highlights issues of concern within the juvenile criminal justice system and the lack of early intervention services made available to young offenders.
15th July 2010
In a 2-day special investigation in the 'Irish Examiner', Jennifer Hough examines how to balance appropriate punishment of young offenders with victims' rights.
6th July 2010
Following the passing of a motion by Wicklow County Council to remove convicted sex offenders from the local authority housing list, Liam Herrick of IPRT joined Cllr Tom Fortune and Matt Cooper on Today FM's 'The Last Word'.
5th July 2010
A back-to-work course for former prisoners is bucking the trend of recidivism, writes Roisín Ingle in the 'Irish Times'. Trasna, a year-long back-to-work course, is designed to make former prisoners job ready...
2nd July 2010
Dara Gantly, writing in the 'Irish Medical Times', highlights the issues of locating mentally ill offenders in Irish prisons, and reports on the successes of the diversion project run by Cloverhill Prison and the Central Mental Hospital (PICLS).
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.