| IPRT Newsletter – October 2025 Dear members and supporters, I am pleased to present a special edition of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) online newsletter. We have recently navigated a period of significant change, bidding farewell to some valued colleagues while warmly welcoming new members to our team. We are delighted that the Traveller Justice Initiative (TJI) has become part of IPRT, and we warmly welcome Anne Costello, its Coordinator, into the fold. Anne initially joined IPRT on secondment from St Stephen’s Green Trust in September 2024, and formally became a member of the team in April 2025. In this edition, you will find updates from our 30th anniversary celebrations, highlights from recently published reports, and an overview of our latest activities and events. Additionally, this issue includes information on our recent advocacy meetings, submissions, media engagements, and other developments within our organisation. Is mise le meas, Saoirse Brady Executive Director |
| RECENT HIGHLIGHTS |
| Celebrating 30 years of IPRT |
 |
  |
  |
| IPRT marked its 30 year anniversary on Thursday 10 April 2025, with a celebratory event held at the Trinity Business School, Dublin 2. The Portal Event Space welcomed a near-capacity audience of 150 attendees. The programme featured two panels of past and present IPRT leaders, chaired by Noeline Blackwell, reflecting on the organisation’s history, impact, and ongoing work. Highlights included speeches from Saoirse Brady, IPRT Executive Director, and Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, as well as a video message from Michael O’Flaherty, current Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and former IPRT Chair. The event was a fitting celebration of IPRT’s achievements, capturing memories and reflections from founding members, former Chairs, and past Executive Directors, while underscoring that IPRT’s work continues to drive penal reform today. A highlights video of the event can be viewed here. (opens in new window) |
| Traveller Justice Initiative 10 year event On 9 April 2025, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) was proud to join St Stephen’s Green Trust (SSGT) in celebrating 10 years of the Traveller Justice Initiative (TJI), a milestone event held at the Wood Quay Venue. Over 70 representatives from Traveller organisations and civil society came together to reflect on a decade of collaboration and progress in tackling the disproportionate representation of Travellers in the criminal justice system, and the underlying causes. Established by SSGT in 2014, TJI has worked to amplify Traveller voices and influence policy and practice towards a more equitable justice system. The event highlighted the power of long-term, independent funding, and community-led leadership in driving meaningful change. IPRT was pleased to acknowledge SSGT’s vision and sustained commitment, and to celebrate TJI Coordinator Anne Costello’s exceptional leadership, as she moves to a new role within IPRT. Read “Stories of Change,” a publication to mark 10 years of TJI, here (opens in new window). |
  |
| Panel Discussion on the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) Report (opens in new window) Following the publication of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) report on Ireland in July 2025, on 24 September, IPRT brought together experts to shine a light on critical issues in our prison system. We thank our speakers for sharing their insights: Mark Kelly, Chief Inspector of Prisons; Mary Rogan, Professor in Law at Trinity College Dublin; and Rebecca Keatinge, Head of Compliance and Monitoring at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The panel highlighted the importance of strong, independent oversight at national level and the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) as an essential tool to ensure this can happen. The need for a proper complaints system to protect prisoners from reprisals, inadequate mental healthcare in prison and overcrowding were all discussed as notable issues that urgently need to be addressed. You can read IPRT’s response to the CPT report here (opens in new window)and listen to an interview with Niamh McCormack on RTÉ Drivetime here (opens in new window). |
| IPRT Response: General Scheme: Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: On 30 September 2025, IPRT was represented before the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration by Executive Director Saoirse Brady and Legal Policy and Public Affairs Manager Niamh McCormack. We welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this important national discussion on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme: Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025. In our June 2025 submission on the General Scheme of the Bill, we highlighted strong opposition to the proposed introduction of incapacitant sprays in prisons (Head 20), on human rights grounds and due to the lack of evidence that they reduce violence. We also expressed support for the expansion of community service orders (Head 25) as an effective alternative to short prison sentences. Read IPRT’s June 2025 submission on the Bill. (opens in new window) |
| ADVOCACY NEWS |
Stakeholder Engagement  In September, IPRT’s Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, and Legal Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Niamh McCormack, met with Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan TD, to discuss key penal reform priorities. The Minister recognised the importance of community-based sanctions for less serious and non-violent offences and plans to expand judicial options through upcoming legislation. IPRT also raised issues from the recent CPT report, including overcrowding, human rights standards, and the need for stronger accountability and transparency across the prison system.Other significant stakeholder engagement over the last while: Similar engagements were also held with Deputy Gary Gannon (Social Democrats), Deputy Matt Carthy (Sinn Féin), and Deputy Ivana Bacik (Labour Party Leader). Other highlights include media appearances following the launch of the Irish Prison Service Annual Report, with interviews on national media featuring Saoirse, and regional radio with Niamh. Alongside other key stakeholders, Niamh recently visited Hope Street (opens in new window), Southampton. Hope Street is an alternative to detention for women, providing safe and secure accommodation with access to social services and rehabilitation. The visit was an opportunity to see alternatives to detention in action, particularly for vulnerable women experiencing addiction, poverty and domestic violence. IPRT has continued our campaign for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Torture (OPCAT). This quarter, our Policy and Research Coordinator Tom Lord presented to key stakeholders on the implementation and operational aspects of OPCAT. In June, Niamh delivered IPRT’s statement to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva, ahead of Ireland’s examination by the Committee. IPRT took part as part of the National Women’s Council (NWC) delegation, alongside other civil society organisations, raising key concerns including: Record overcrowding in women’s prisons The rising number of pregnant women and babies in custody The State’s continued failure to publish investigation reports on the Dóchas Centre |
0 Comments