UCD Sutherland School of Law

Dr Niamh Howlin advises on presidential pardons

This afternoon the President of Ireland will sign posthumous pardons for Sylvester Poff and James Barrett.

In April 2024 the Government advised the President to pardon the two men, who were wrongfully convicted of murder. The advice was based on an expert report by our colleague at UCD Sutherland School of Law, Associate Professor Dr Niamh Howlin.

The two men, Sylvester Poff and James Barrett from County Kerry, were hanged for murder in 1883 following a flawed investigation and trial.

Presidential pardons are very rare; Dr Howlin has advised the Government in relation to four of the five posthumous pardons to date.

Problems with the evidence

There were a number of deficiencies in both the investigation and trial, and the convictions were inconsistent with the legal standards of that period.

There was no direct evidence against Sylvester Poff or James Barrett; the case was based on circumstantial evidence from a woman who changed her story during the investigation and trial, and was not a reliable witness.

The only eyewitnesses to the murder itself were two schoolboys who saw the murderers from behind. Neither Barrett nor Poff matched the descriptions given by these boys.

The murder weapon was never recovered, and there was no evidence that either Poff or Barrett had been seen with a weapon.

There was no clear motive established by the prosecution, and indeed, no clear connection was drawn between Browne and the two accused men.

Henry Manning had this report for RTÉ.

Family relieved men executed in 1883 to receive pardon Two great-grandsons of a man executed in Co Kerry more than 140 years ago have expressed their relief that he will officially be pardoned of his murder conviction.

UCD Sutherland School of Law is seeking to employ a Post Doctoral Researcher 🎓

The role will form part of an important research project which is looking at how global food systems can be transformed for more sustainable and equitable outcomes.

This is an academic research role where the successful candidate will work under the direction of our colleague, Professor Joseph McMahon (pictured), the Principal Investigator on the project. It is a level 1 position intended for early stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time.

The deadline for applications is noon (Irish time) Friday 6 September 2024. Apply on the University College Dublin website (Job Ref: 017558):

https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/

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VACANCY: Research Coordinator, UCD Sutherland School of Law, Temp 3 years

UCD Sutherland School of Law is seeking a Research Coordinator to support two exciting research projects within the school. Apply by noon (Irish time) on Wednesday 4 September 2024 📝 📅.

Both projects relate to very topical and interesting areas of law and the successful candidate will work two days a week on each.

Professor Aisling Swaine (left) is leading a project focused on women’s experiences of armed group violence and responses by transitional justice processes.

https://people.ucd.ie/aisling.swaine/about

Professor Cathryn Costello (right) leads a project that relates to a set of activities broadly in the field of global migration and refugee law.

https://people.ucd.ie/cathryn.costello

This is a really interesting role which will suit candidates with excellent communication, planning, financial and project oversight skills.

Please share with anyone you think might be interested in working with us in University College Dublin 🙏 .

More details on the UCD website:

Job Ref :017573 https://ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/

Recent Law Graduates - we have an opportunity that might interest you!

UCD Sutherland School of Law is recruiting amongst recent graduates (both UCD and non-UCD) with strong GPAs who are interested in acquiring experience as graduate teaching assistants taking tutorials in the following subject areas: Constitutional Law, Contract Law, and Criminal Law.

Tutorials take place in person on campus during the daytime.

The role might, for instance, be suitable for students studying for the FE1 examinations. While not an essential qualification, the position would be particularly suitable for graduates with postgraduate degrees in law.

Law graduates who may be interested in acting as tutors are invited to send a CV (including transcript of grades) to [email protected] by Wednesday 21 August 2024.

Congratulations to our alumnus Seán Guerin SC, BCL (European Legal Studies) '95 LLM '99, who was recently elected Chair of the Council of the Bar of Ireland for 2024-25!

Déanaimid comhghairdeas le duine dár gcuid céimithe Seán Guerin AS, BCL (Staidéar Dlí Eorpach) '95 LLM '99, a toghadh le déanaí mar Chathaoirleach ar Chomhairle Bharra na hÉireann le haghaidh 2024-25!

Seán Guerin SC elected as forthcoming Bar Council Chair - Law Library The Council of The Bar of Ireland recommends further withdrawal of service to criminal members in July.

We warmly congratulate Ms Justice Caroline Costello whom the Government agreed in principle yesterday to advise the President of Ireland to appoint as the next President of the Court of Appeal when Mr Justice George Birmingham retires in early August. Her appointment will make her the second most senior judge in the State.

Justice Costello is a History and Classics alumna from University College Dublin. She was called to the Bar in 1988 and was appointed a judge of the High Court in 2014 and the Court of Appeal in 2018.

We wish her every success in her new role.

Déanaimid comhghairdeas ó chroí leis An mBreitheamh Caroline Costello ós rud é gur aontaigh an Rialtas i bprionsabal inné comhairle a thabhairt d'Uachtarán na hÉireann í a cheapadh mar an chéad Uachtarán eile ar an gCúirt Achomhairc nuair a scoirfidh an Breitheamh George Birmingham go luath i mí Lúnasa. Mar gheall ar an gceapachán sin beidh sí ar an dara breitheamh is sinsearaí sa Stát.

Céimí Staire agus Clasaicí de chuid An Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath í An Breitheamh Costello. Sa bhliain 1988 a glaodh chun an Bharra í agus sa bhliain 2014 a ceapadh ina breitheamh den Ard-Chúirt í agus sa bhliain 2018 a rinneadh breitheamh den Chúirt Achomhairc di.

Guímid gach rath uirthi sa chúram nua a bheidh aici.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ecee7-government-agrees-to-the-nomination-in-principle-to-the-role-of-president-of-the-court-of-appeal/

Hugh Geoghegan (1938-2024)

We were very sad to hear of the death of Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan, a former judge of the High Court and the Supreme Court. A graduate of the Bachelor of Civil Law degree the late 1950s, he went on to be Auditor of UCD LawSoc for the 1960-61 session and a tutor in the UCD Faculty of Law in the mid-1960s, which foreshadowed a career at the forefront of the Bar and Bench over the next five decades, Our condolences to his widow Ms Justice Mary Finlay-Geoghegan, his children Caren, Sarah and James, his other family, friends and former colleagues.

Bhí an-bhrón orainn cloisteáil faoi bhás An Bhreithimh Hugh Geoghegan, iarbhreitheamh den Ard-Chúirt agus den Chúirt Uachtarach. Céimí Baitsiléireachta sa Dlí Sibhialta sna 1950idí déanacha ab ea é agus chuaigh sé ar aghaidh le bheith ina Reachtaire ar Chumann Dlí UCD le haghaidh an tseisiúin 1960-61 agus ina theagascóir i nDámh an Dlí UCD i lár na 1960idí, rudaí ar tuar iad ar ghairm bheatha ar thús cadhnaíochta an Bharra agus an Bhinse sna caoga bliain a bhí le teacht. Déanaimid comhbhrón lena bhaintreach, An Breitheamh Mary Finlay-Geoghegan, lena chlann Caren, Sarah agus James, lena mhuintir eile, a chuid cairde agus lena chuid iar-chomhghleacaithe.

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2024/07/08/retired-supreme-court-judge-hugh-geoghegan-dies-aged-86/

Funeral arrangements / Socruithe sochraide:

https://rip.ie/death-notice/hugh-geoghegan-dublin-561762

Retired Supreme Court judge Hugh Geoghegan dies aged 86 Father of Dublin Lord Mayor James Geoghegan came from family steeped in law

Congratulations to our colleague Dr Suzanne Egan, who was conferred with her second doctorate yesterday - in Human Rights Education from Queen's University Belfast. She already has a Higher Doctorate of Laws (LLD) from the National University of Ireland.

For more details, see:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7214547984800215042/

The European Public Prosecutor's Office - EPPO is currently advertising traineeships with a deadline for applications of Friday 24 May 2024.

The traineeships are in the EPPO Communications Sector, Legal Service Unit, the Data Protection Office, Digital Services Unit, and HR Unit.

For more information, see:

https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/careers/vacancies-and-open-calls

We were saddened to hear of the death of Sir Tony O'Reilly BCL '58, who was one of the first group of students to complete our Bachelor of Civil Law degree, which began in 1955. His prowess on behalf of IrishRugby and Official Lions Rugby and his career as a solicitor and more notably in business brought him national and international attention and acclaim, as did he many philanthropic ventures, particularly in co-founding, guiding and supporting The Ireland Funds.

RTÉ News gave this overview of his life and career.

Bhí brón orainn a chloisteáil faoi bhás An Ridire Tony O’Reilly BCL ’58, a bhí ar dhuine den chéad ghrúpa neacha léinn a chríochnaigh ár gcéim Bhaitsiléara sa Dlí Sibhialta, ar cuireadh tús sa bhliain 1955 léi. De bharr an chumais a bhí aige ar son fhoireann rugbaí na Éireann agus Leoin na Breataine agus na hÉireann agus a ghairme bheatha mar aturnae agus go háirithe i gcúrsaí gnó bhí aird agus cáil náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta air, mar a fuair sé mar gheall ar a chuid tionscnamh daonchairdis iomadúil, go háirithe i The Ireland Funds a chomhbhunú agus a threorú agus tacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh.

Thug RTÉ an léargas seo ar a shaol agus a ghairm bheatha.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0519/1449981-tony-oreilly-tributes/

Well done for many years of outstanding achievements - such as silver medals at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Women's World Cup and representing Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics - to our alumnae Deirdre Duke BCL Law with Social Justice '17 and Anna O'Flanagan BCL Law with Economics '13, who yesterday, along with UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business alumna Chloe Watkins BComm '15, announced their retirement from Hockey Ireland's Green Army!

Tréaslaímid le beirt dár gcuid céimithe: Deirdre Duke BCL Dlí le Ceartas Sóisialta '17 agus Anna Ní Fhlannagáin BCL Dlí le hEacnamaíocht '13, a d'fhógair inné, in éineacht le duine ar céimí de chuid Scoil Gnó Lochlainn Uí Choinn UCD í Chloe Watkins BComm '15 go rabhadar i ndiaidh éirí as foireann mhná haca na hÉireann! Rinneadar éachtaí measúla thar na blianta - amhail an dara háit i gCorn Domhanda na mBan de Chónaidhm Idirnáisiúnta Haca (FIH) sa bhliain 2018 agus ionadaíocht ar Éirinn ag Cluichí Oilimpeacha Tóiceo.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/hockey/2024/0515/1449297-star-trio-walk-announce-ireland-hockey-retirements

Conor Gearty | 2024 Las Casas Annual Lecture

On Thursday 2 May, our alumnus Professor Conor Gearty BCL '78 LLD (hc) '14 (Professor of Human Rights Law, The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE) gave the 2024 Las Casas Institute Annual Lecture, on “Human Rights After Gaza”.

This is the text of his lecture.

https://conorgearty.co.uk/2024/05/human-rights-after-gaza/

This is a recoding of the lecture and the Q&A that followed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSAtcUR6fR8

Human Rights in Gaza: a lecture Conor Gearty on Human Rights in Gaza at the Las Casas Institute, Blackfriars Hall, Oxford