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.
Newstalk: 'Mary and the Joy'
4th November 2018
Newstalk documentary 'Mary and the Joy' features IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone discussing the importance of relationship-based care in Irish prisons.
Round Up: Progressing inside? Ireland’s prison system in 2018
26th October 2018
IPRT hosted 'Progressing inside? Ireland’s prison system in 2018' on 26 October 2018 in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Central to the seminar was the launch of the second annual 'Progress in the Penal System' report.
Irish Examiner: Improvements at youth detention facility welcomed but ‘more effort needed’
11th October 2018
Noel Baker reports on the publication of the HIQA unannounced inspection report on Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
Irish Examiner: Letters from victim's families show 'enormous pain and suffering'
5th October 2018
Cormac O'Keeffe reports on the Parole Board Annual Report for 2017.
The Detail: Call for independent inquiry after 206 prisoner deaths in 12 years
27th September 2018
IPRT calls for the Irish Prison Service to publish regular reports into deaths and incidents of near-deaths, self-harm, violence and assaults in prisons.
Social enterprise café to employ ex-offenders
29th August 2018
The Irish Prison Service is conducting a market sounding exercise in order to assess the level of interest and engagement from suitable operators for a proposed café facility in Dublin.
Letter: Minister Zappone should publish Oberstown report
11th August 2018
IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone penned a letter to the Editor of The Irish Times, calling on the Minister to publish the Operational Review of Oberstown.
OpEd: Ireland has not ratified a protocol to prevent torture in places of detention
8th August 2018
An OpEd by IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone in The Irish Times discusses Ireland’s failure to ratify OPCAT.
Irish Examiner: 'Inmate deaths lead to call for culture change'
7th August 2018
The Irish Examiner has reported on concerns highlighted by two previous prison inspectors around the accuracy of records being kept by prison officers.
The Irish Times: Sharp increase in Irish prison population
6th August 2018
The Irish Times has published an article and an editorial detailing the sharp increase in Ireland’s prison population in 2018, following years of decline and stability.
