Biography

Dr Ger Coffey BA (UL), LLB (NUI), MA (NUI), PhD (NUI), Associate Professor, School of Law
Ger graduated from UL with a BA in Law and European Studies and subsequently undertook postgraduate studies at the University of Galway (National University of Ireland, Galway), where he graduated with LLB and PhD degrees in Law. His doctoral thesis examined the common law principle against double jeopardy and the related principle of ne bis in idem in the EU criminal justice and Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
He subsequently completed an MA in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education at University College Cork (National University of Ireland, Cork) based on a dissertation that examined the benefits and limitations of experiential learning to facilitate criminal justice students to bridge the pedagogical gap between theory and practice.While at the University of Galway, Ger taught criminal law and constitutional law, and was appointed research assistant with the Faculty of Law. He was co-editor in the planning and production of volume 4 of the Judicial Studies Institute Journal (2004) that the Faculty of Law was commissioned to produce on behalf of the Judicial Studies Institute. He was awarded a research fellowship by the Faculty of Law, University of Galway, for the duration of his doctoral research. In 2005, he was awarded 2nd place in the Law Society of Ireland Annual Law Reform Essay Competition for an essay entitled 'Reforming the Law on Double Jeopardy'.
From 2005–2007 he was post-doctoral research officer in criminal justice in the Centre for Criminal Justice at UL. During this period he contributed to the Centre's research activities on the impact of globalisation on criminal law and criminal justice. In 2007, Ger was appointed to the position of lecturer in law. His specialisation is criminal law and related issues pertaining to criminal procedure and the criminal justice process; he has been published widely in domestic and international law journals.
In 2016, Ger founded Criminal Justice in Ireland, a collaborative academic blog, with a focus on criminal justice issues to inform those involved in the criminal justice field and to share information and resources, as well as many other aspects of criminal justice. He is a member of the Centre for Crime, Justice & Victim Studies in UL and also a member of the Complementarity in International Criminal Law Committee of the International Law Association. Ger is also the Course Director for the LLM/MA Human Rights in Criminal Justice masters programme and School of Law Representative on the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee.In 2020, Ger was appointed Editor of the Irish Criminal Law Journal published by Round Hall, Ireland's leading law publisher.
In 2021, Ger was appointed Council Member (Alternate) of the Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development (ACJRD).
In 2021, Ger was also appointed to the Discipline Appeals Committee having been nominated by Academic Council, UL.
In 2022, Ger was elected Treasurer of the International Law Association-Irish Branch.

Research Interests

My research interests lie mainly in substantive and theoretical criminal law including a range of issues pertaining to criminal justice and criminal procedure. I am currently engaged in research on the double jeopardy principle in common law jurisdictions; the principle of ne bis in idem in the prosecution of transnational crimes within the European Union; approximation of the criminal laws of Member States; the principle of complementarity in international criminal law; and conflicts of jurisdiction in criminal cases.Other areas of potential research supervision include: codification of the criminal law; history and development of the criminal law; the sentencing process; international criminal law; judicial review and the criminal process.

Professional Activities

Award

  • 2023 - Digital Badge in Recognition of Prior Learning
  • 2022 - Digital Badge in Universal Design for Teaching & Learning
  • 2018 - Teaching and Learning Board Funding Award
  • 2014 - Book Completion Award
  • 2005 - Law Society of Ireland: Law Reform Essay Competition 2005, second place award
  • 2001 - School of Law, University of Galway: Postgraduate Research Fellowship in Law for PhD Research (2001-2004)

Association

  • 2022 Treasurer, International Law Association: Irish Branch - Treasurer
  • 2022 Council Member (Alternate), Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development - Council Member
  • 2009 Member, International Law Association: Irish Branch - Member

Committee

  • 2020 Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development, The Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development (ACJRD) seeks to promote reform, development and effective operation of the criminal justice system. It does so mainly by providing a forum where experienced personnel can discuss ways of working in an informal setting, by promoting study and research in the field of criminal justice and by promoting the highest standards of practice by professionals associated with criminal justice. Its activities are designed to lead to increased mutual understanding and provide insights into the problems with which all are confronted. In opening unofficial channels of communication, it improves co-operation between the different parts of the criminal justice system.
  • 2014 Complementarity in International Criminal Law Committee (2014-2022), International Law Association, Committee member (2014-2022)
  • 2010 International Human Rights Law Committee (2010-2014), International Law Association, Committee Member (2010 - 2014)

Education

  • 2019 University College Cork - MA in TLHE - Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Inquiry Portfolio)
  • 2018 University College Cork - PGDipTLHE - Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Course Portfolio)
  • 2017 University College Cork - PGCertTLHE - Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Teaching Portfolio)
  • 2005 University of Galway - PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
  • 2001 University of Galway - LLB - Bachelor of Laws
  • 1998 University of Limerick - BA - Bachelor of Arts

Employment

  • 2012 School of Law, University of Limerick - Associate Professor
  • 2007 School of Law, University of Limerick - Assistant Professor
  • 2005 School of Law, University of Limerick - Post-Doctoral Research Officer in Criminal Justice (2005-2007)
  • 2004 School of Law, University of Galway - Assistant Editor, Judicial Studies Institute Journal (2004)
  • 2003 School of Law, University of Galway - Research Assistant, School of Law (2002-2004)
  • 2003 School of Law, University of Galway - Lecturer in Criminal Law (Part-time) (2002-2004)
  • 2002 School of Law, University of Galway - Teaching Assistant in Constitutional Law (2002-2004)

Other

  • External Examiner in Law, South East Technological University, Carlow
  • External Examiner in Law, South East Technological University, Waterford
  • External Examiner in Law, Institute of Public Administration
  • External Examiner in Law, Technological University of the Shannon

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

2004

Law Reform Update

Coffey, G. (2004) Law Reform Update. Dublin Judicial Studies Institute Journal :224-262

2004

Law Reform Update

Coffey, G. (2004) Law Reform Update. Dublin Judicial Studies Institute Journal :220-260

Books

2010

Criminal Law

Coffey, G. (2010) Criminal Law. Dublin : Round Hall

Book Chapters

2023

Crime in Ireland

Coffey, G. and Kilcommins, S. (2023) Crime in Ireland. London : Elgar Elgar Encyclopedia of Crime and Criminal Justice

2018

Country Report: Ireland

Coffey, G. (2018) Country Report: Ireland. Berlin : Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law Economic and Industrial Espionage in Germany and Europe: History, Developments and Present Legislative Frameworks in a Comparative Perspective

2008

Reforming the Law on Double Jeopardy

Coffey, G. (2008) Reforming the Law on Double Jeopardy. Dublin : Clarus Press and the law Society of Ireland Law and Practice: Essays on Reform :331-351

Edited Books

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Other Journals

Conference Publications

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Conference Contributions

Published Reports

Editorials

Book Reviews

Other Publications

2020

Parole Act 2019

Coffey, G. (2020) Parole Act 2019. Dublin : Thomson Round Hall

2016

Double jeopardy law revisited

Coffey, G. (2016) Double jeopardy law revisited. Criminal Justice in Ireland: A Contemporary Blog on Criminal Justice Issues