News & Press ReleasesNews & Press Releases
IPRT Recruitment: Research and Policy Officer (Maternity Leave) 5th December 2011
Applications are invited for the post of Research and Policy Officer (Maternity Leave) with the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT). Read more
Calls for alternatives to the imprisonment of children in St Patrick's: Ombudsman, TDs, Senators 21st November 2011
The Children’s Ombudsman, Emily Logan, has repeated her calls for an end to the incarceration of children in St Patrick’s prison, calling on the Ministers for Justice and Children to develop an interim arrangement for these children until new facilities in Lusk can be built. Read more
Women in Prison Reform Alliance expresses grave concern at Dóchas Centre Visiting Committee Report 18th November 2011
MEDIA ADVISORY: The Women In Prison Reform Alliance, comprising leading penal reform and women’s rights groups, has expressed grave concern at reports of serious violations of prisoner rights contained in the Dóchas Centre Prison Visiting Committee annual report for 2010 published today (18th November 2011.) Read more
IPRT gravely concerned about failure to address inhumane conditions in Cork Prison 10th November 2011
MEDIA ADVISORY: The Irish Penal Reform Trust, Ireland’s leading penal reform campaign group, has today expressed grave concern at the failure to address the lack of in-cell sanitation in Cork Prison, which consistently runs at 200% of its design capacity Read more
IPRT Congratulates President Elect and Calls on Government to Respond to Concerns on Imprisonment of Children 1st November 2011
MEDIA ADVISORY: The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) this weekend congratulated President Elect Michael D. Higgins on his election as ninth President of Ireland. Read more
The President and Prisoners' Rights 27th October 2011
Today is the first time that prisoners have the opportunity to elect the President of Ireland as this is the first Presidential Election since the enactment of the Electoral Amendment Act 2006. Read more
IPRT calls on Government to commit to specified timeframes on addressing sub-standard prison conditions and lack of independent complaints mechanism 10th October 2011
IPRT has today called on Government to commit to specified timeframes in its commitment to bring prison conditions in line with international standards, and to put in place an effective independent complaints mechanism for adult prisoners and children held in St Patrick’s Institution, which is required before Ireland can ratify… Read more
UN Member States highlight prison issues during Ireland's examination under UPR 6th October 2011
Overcrowding, slopping out, the lack of effective complaints and monitoring mechanisms, and the use of prisons for immigration detention purposes were among the serious human rights issues in Ireland identified by the 48 Member States present at Ireland’s first hearing under the UN Universal Periodic Review. Read more
UPR: Prison issues highlighted in Ireland's human rights examination, Thurs 6th Oct 4th October 2011
Ireland will be examined under the UPR this Thursday, 6th Oct, 2011. Prisons issues are a recurrent theme in the pre-submitted questions from peer countries. Read more
Amnesty Report: 'In Plain Sight: Responding to Ferns, Ryan, Murphy and Cloyne Reports' 26th September 2011
A new research report, commissioned by Amnesty International and undertaken by Dr. Carole Holohan, aims to look at the abuse and exploitation of Irish children in State funded institutions. Read more