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.
RTÉ Six One News: Drug use and violence in the Irish prison system
6th February 2015
Speaking to RTÉ's 'Six One' news programme, IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone highlights the crucial need for the government to divert resources to the provision of enhanced drug-treatment and prevention programmes in prisons.
thejournal: We continue to put children in adult prisons. It is utterly unacceptable.
19th December 2014
Prison is an environment and regime which is wholly inappropriate for the detention of children. Young people have the highest rates of reoffending, but they also have the greatest capacity for change – scientific evidence proves this.
Roundup: Children's Rights Behind Bars
12th December 2014
IPRT launched a new report on monitoring mechanisms in places where children are detained on 11th December 2014. This formed part of an EC-funded project.
Letter to Ed: Penal Reform Trust needs to include ex-prisoners, not exclude them
5th November 2014
The Board of the Irish Penal Reform Trust writes to express our serious and collective concern in respect to s.55 Charities Act 2009. On October 15, 2014, the board lost an esteemed colleague, forced to resign due to the commencement of this section.
Reactions: Inspector of Prisons' Annual Report for 2013-14
10th October 2014
Media coverage of issues and concerns raised by Inspector of Prisons in his Annual Report for 2013-2014, published yesterday by the Minister for Justice & Equality.
Roundup: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
15th July 2014
This week, Fourth Periodic Examination of Ireland by the UN Human Rights Committee of the ICCPR discussed Ireland’s human rights record in relation to prisoners.
Roundup: IPRT Report on Travellers in the Irish prison system
19th May 2014
IPRT launched a new report Travellers in the Irish Prison System: A qualitative Study on 19th May 2014.
Report on the Death of Gary Douch
1st May 2014
IPRT statements & other media reactions to the publishing of the report, 7 years and 9 months after his death in Mountjoy Prison.
Irish Examiner: Principle at stake in prison tapes revelations is 'legal privilege'
5th April 2014
Writing in the 'Irish Examiner', IPRT Executive Director Deirdre Malone underlines the importance of the protection of communication between lawyer and client from disclosure.
Reactions: Taping of conversations between prisoners and solicitors
1st April 2014
Today Taoiseach Enda Kenny revealed to the Dáil that phone calls between prisoners and their solicitors were 'inadvertently recorded' by the Irish Prison Service. Press Rel
