Monday, 13 December 2021

On Friday, 10 December 2021, Dr. Alan Cusack of the School of Law at the University of Limerick was invited to address Commissioner Drew Harris and members of the National Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee (SHRAC). SHRAC is chaired by the Garda Commissioner and is attended by bodies who have an interest in the area of Human Rights.  This includes but is not limited to IHREC, GSOC, Policing Authority, Garda Inspectorate, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and the National Disability Authority. 

 

Dr. Cusack’s presentation was entitled, ‘Policing Vulnerable Communities: The Pre-Trial Position of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in the Irish Criminal Process’ and it offered an overview of the manner in which Ireland’s criminal justice system responds to the needs of both victims and suspect who have an intellectual disability.

 

This presentation drew attention to a number of ongoing collaborative initiatives that have been undertaken by Dr. Cusack and relevant stakeholders in recent months, including:

 

  • The delivery of a training and accreditation programme for registered intermediaries;
  • The evaluation of An Garda Síochána’s Risk Assessment practices;
  • Drafting an easy-read Notice of Rights Form C.72(s) for suspects with intellectual disabilities in Ireland;
  • Delivering a pilot disability awareness training programme for students on the BA in Applied Policing and MA in Serious Crime Investigation; and
  • Delivering a Policing and Human Rights Law in Ireland module.