Using the European Convention on Human Rights in prison law cases: Lessons from Scotland | Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)

 

The Irish Penal Reform Trust and Dublin Institute of Technology are pleased to announce that Tony Kelly, leading Scottish human rights and prison law solicitor, will speak to the topic: Using the European Convention on Human Rights in prison law cases: Lessons from Scotland.

The seminar takes place on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 from 6-7.30pm in Room 5034 (fifth floor), Dublin Institute of Technology, Aungier Street, Dublin 2 (for directions see:
http://www.dit.ie/tools/locations/
).

The event will be followed by a reception.

Tony Kelly, partner in Taylor & Kelly, solicitors, Scotland, has been involved in some of the most high-profile and difficult human rights cases in the United Kingdom. Tony Kelly is also a part-time Professor of Law at the University of Strathclyde.

Taylor & Kelly have been forefront of prisoner’s litigation since their inception some 12 years ago.  The firm took forward, on behalf of petitioner Robert Napier, proceedings which challenged the conditions in C Hall in HM Prison Barlinnie.  Mr Napier was successful in obtaining an interim order transferring him out of the appalling conditions. Taylor and Kelly also successfully argued that Mr. Napier should receive damages as a result of being subjected to conditions which breached Article 3 of the European Convention in Human Rights.  Taylor & Kelly also represented the petitioners in Greens, Stanger and Wilson, where it was successfully argued that the slopping out of chemical toilets was in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Taylor & Kelly have also been involved in landmark cases concerning the voting rights of prisoners and segregation in prisons. Chambers, a highly regarded guide in the legal profession, gives Taylor & Kelly a ranking of 1 in civil liberties. Chambers has also consistently recognised Taylor & Kelly as being at the cutting edge of human rights work, through its involvement in litigation on behalf of prisoners and also in representing Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi in his high profile appeal.

A certificate of attendance will be provided for those wishing to claim CPD points. Please contact mary.rogan@dit.ie if you require such a certificate. 

This seminar is funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences, as part of its Research Development Initiative. It is part of a collaborative project between Dublin Institute of Technology and the Irish Penal Reform Trust. See:
http://www.irchss.ie/awrads/rdi

 

 

Using the European Convention on Human Rights in prison law cases: Lessons from Scotland | Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT).

NI Prisoner Ombudsman to speak on Prisoner Complaints and Investigations into Prison Deaths | Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)

REMINDER: NI Prisoner Ombudsman to speak on Prisoner Complaints and Investigations into Prison Deaths | Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT).

 

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is delighted to welcome Northern Ireland Prisoner Ombudsman, Pauline McCabe, to Dublin as keynote speaker at a seminar and launch event taking place this Friday, 30th March 2012 at 11am in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle.

 

Strengthening Accountability Behind Bars: Prisoner Rights and Prisoner Complaints will outline the rights of prisoners while they are in custody, whilst also examining the structures that need to be in place in order to protect these rights. A new publication, the Know Your Rights – Your Rights as a Prisoner, produced jointly with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, will be launched at the event.

 

Pauline McCabe has established her office at the cutting edge of prison accountability internationally and she will speak about her work investigating prisoner complaints and deaths in custody, and will address wider themes of accountability within the prison system in Northern Ireland.

 

A panel discussion, chaired by Gráinne McMorrow SC, will follow the address. Panellists will include:

 

• Mr Jimmy Martin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Justice and Equality
• Brian Murphy, Deputy Director, Operations, Irish Prison Service
• Mr John Clinton, General Secretary, Prison Officers Association

 

A former prisoner will also speak about his experiences.

 

For all media enquiries, interviews with speakers, and images, please contact: Fíona Ní Chinnéide: T: (01) 874 1400; M: 087 181 2990; E: communications@iprt.ie

 

This publication and seminar are funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences, as part of its Research Development Initiative. It is part of a collaborative project between Dublin Institute of Technology and the Irish Penal Reform Trust. See:
http://www.irchss.ie/awrads/rdi

 

NOTES

 

1. NI Prisoner Ombudsman | www.niprisonerombudsman.com

 

The Prisoner Ombudsman is appointed by the Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland and is completely independent of the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS). The Prisoner Ombudsman investigates complaints from prisoners held in Northern Ireland who remain unhappy with how their complaint has been responded to by the Prison Service. The Prisoner Ombudsman also investigates all deaths in Prison Service custody in Northern Ireland. The current Prisoner Ombudsman is Pauline McCabe. She is supported in her work by a team of investigators and other support staff.

 

2. Know Your Rights: Your Rights as a Prisoner

 

Produced jointly by the ICCL and IPRT, the Your Rights as a Prisoner pack aims to help prisoners understand the rights they have while in prison. It is written in everyday language and is informative and easy to use. Following its launch on Friday 30th March, the booklet will be available online at www.knowyourrights.ie and www.iprt.ie; it will also be available in print on request from IPRT (01-8741400 or info@iprt.ie) Your Rights as a Prisoner will be available in audio format and in translation from summer 2012.

 

3. IPRT Position Paper 7: Complaints, Monitoring and Inspection in Prisons

 

This Position Paper assesses the current complaints and investigation structures in Ireland against international human rights standards and obligations, and makes a series of recommendations for the improvement of current mechanisms, including a call for the establishment of an Office of Prisoner Ombudsman to deal with individual complaints. Download the paper here.

 

4. Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) | www.iprt.ie

 

IPRT is Ireland’s leading non-governmental organisation campaigning for the rights of everyone in prison and the progressive reform of Irish penal policy, with prison as a last resort.

 

5. Know Your Rights | www.knowyourrights.ie

 

The Irish Council for Liberties (ICCL) Know Your Rights public information project is designed to inform people in clear and accessible language about their rights under various key areas of the law in Ireland. Topics covered in Know Your Rights booklets include: Criminal Justice and Garda Powers, Privacy and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The Old Triangle: A Celebration for the Benefit of IPRT | Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)

The Old Triangle: A Celebration for the Benefit of IPRT | Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT).

President Michael D. Higgins will join artists including Christy Moore, Karan Casey, Peter Sheridan, Shaz Oye, GREENSHINE, and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill for an evening celebrating arts in prison and prison in arts.

The celebration takes place this Sunday night (26th February) at 8pm in the Abbey Theatre.

Hope to see you there!