Round Up: The Law Society of Ireland Annual Human Rights Conference 2017

7th October 2017

IPRT’s Executive Director Deirdre Malone was on the panel of speakers for the 2017 Law Society Human Rights Conference, which took place on Saturday 7th October, 10am-2pm, in The Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.

This conference was organised by the Law Society Human Rights Committee in partnership with Law Society Professional Training and the Irish Probation Service.

The aim of the conference was to explore the role of prison in the Irish criminal justice system, and to examine the impact that prison has on offenders, their human rights and on society as a whole. The discussion included an assessment and analysis of the function of prison and related social justice issues, from both legal and social perspectives.

The audience comprised legal practitioners, members of the judiciary, and members of the public, as well as academics, policy makers, human rights organisations and civil society organisations.

Topics and issues which were covered at the conference include:

• The historical and legal context of prison in society;
• ‘Balancing Act?’ victim and offenders’ rights in the Irish penal system;
• Respect and protection of offenders’ rights;
• Social and legal implications of prison;
• Personal account of life in prison and following release.

The conference was chaired by:

Shane McCarthy, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee

Conference Speakers:

• Minister Charlie Flanagan,TD, Minister for Justice and Equality;
• Vivian Geiran, Director of the Irish Probation Service;
• Professor Mary Rogan, Associate Professor in Law, Trinity College Dublin;
• Joan Deane, Secretary of AdVIC;
• Deirdre Malone, Executive Director, Irish Penal Reform Trust;
• Paula Kearney and Erika Browne, The Saol Project.

Media coverage: 

• Irish Legal News: 'Imprisonment should be the sanction of last resort'
• IPRT Executive Director, Deirdre Malone, spoke to TheJournal.ie: 'It doesn't make sense to isolate people further': Is prison the best solution to crime in Ireland?
• The Irish Times: A mother in prison: 'I wasn't allowed to cuddle my only child'