Irish Penal Reform Trust

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.

The Fifth Court podcast: 'Irish Prisons at 107% capacity', '9/10 employers would hire ex-prisoners' - Saoirse Brady, Irish Penal Reform Trust

12th March 2024

In March 2024, Saoirse Brady, Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, joined Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL on the Fifth Court podcast, Ireland's legal podcast that won Law Society...

Newstalk: Prisoners to be trained retrofit homes under new pilot project

26th February 2024

On Newstalk Breakfast, IPRT Executive Director Saoirse Brady responded to reports on the pilot project to train prisoners to retrofit homes being underway at two prisons and spoke about the secondary punishment that people with convictions can face when trying to find employment.

RTÉ: Mental health care needs not fully met in some prisons - report

20th February 2024

IPRT comments in the RTÉ story covering the report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) which has highlighted that mental health care needs are not being fully or satisfactorily met in any of the seven prisons it inspected, with conditions repeatedly being described as "degrading".

Irish Examiner: Prisoners 'at risk of harm' from critically low number of mental health staff

20th February 2024

The Irish Examiner writes about the publication of a report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) Thematic Inspection: An Evaluation of the Provision of Psychiatric Care in the Irish Prison System February – March 2023. IPRT Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, responds.

Irish Examiner: Debt to society can be a long-term payment plan

19th February 2024

IPRT discusses the issues with finding work with convictions and employer attitudes to people with convictions after IPRT launched a report "The Secondary Punishment".

Irish Examiner Mick Clifford Podcast: SECOND CHANCE: Damien Quinn and Saoirse Brady

15th February 2024

People who have served a prison sentence for a criminal offence are entitled to believe that once the sentence is completed they have paid their debt to society. That does not appear to be the case. New research shows that there are huge barriers to ex-prisoners finding employment and that the past simply won’t leave them alone. Damien Quinn was one such person, who had to fight hard to rebuild his life once he finished his sentence. He and Irish Penal Reform Trust Executive Director Saoirse Brady are this week’s guests on the podcast.

Irish Examiner: Nine in 10 employers would consider hiring someone with convictions – report

8th February 2024

IPRT comments on its report "The Secondary Punishment": A Scoping Study on Employer Attitudes to Hiring People with Criminal Convictions, which shines a light on employer attitudes towards hiring people with convictions.

RTÉ Radio One Drivetime: Irish Penal Reform Trust Convictions/Employment

8th February 2024

Saoirse Brady, Executive Director of Irish Penal Reform Trust and Damien Quinn founder of Spéire Nua, spoke on RTÉ Radio One Drivetime about the new research published by IPRT that shows barriers remain for people with a history of convictions to finding work.

The Irish Times: Conviction for crime should not mean ‘a lifetime of discrimination’

8th February 2024

IPRT and Damien Quinn reflect on the barriers to people with convictions finding work and the new report on employers. attitudes to hiring people with convictions.

Irish Times: ‘Not my crime, but still my time’: The families serving jail terms outside for loved ones

6th February 2024

IPRT comments on the impact imprisonment has on children and families of people in prison, details about prison visits and other issues arising from overcrowding in prison.

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