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.
Round Up: Incident in Cloverhill Prison
4th August 2015
Media coverage of issues and concerns raised by an incident which took place in Cloverhill Prison, 29 July 2015.
Irish Times: New bail legislation
23rd July 2015
New legislation says judges must give reason for releasing suspects on bail.
Irish Times: Bill aims to wipe the slate clean on certain convictions
6th July 2015
Chairperson of IPRT, Prof Michael O'Flaherty, on spent convictions as a human rights issue.
Roundup: Young adults aged 18-24 in the Criminal Justice System
14th May 2015
Media coverage of a new IPRT report 'Turnaround Youth: Young Adults (18-24) in the Criminal Justice System ~ the case for a distinct approach' launched on 12th May 2015.
Morning Ireland: Criticism of delays in progress of Oberstown
26th March 2015
Why has it taken so long to end the detention of under 18s in adult prisons?
Irish Examiner: 9,000 jailed for not paying a fine
16th February 2015
There were almost 9,000 committals to prison in 2014 for failure to pay court-ordered fine.
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.
