Webinar: Judicial Discretion & the Justice & Welfare Dichotomy

27 May 2022


On Monday 23 May 2022, DRCC and Children's Rights Alliance co-hosted a webinar on 'Judicial Discretion and the Justice and Welfare Dichotomy: The Sentencing of Child & Adolescent Sexual Offences in the Irish Youth Justice System'.

The keynote speaker was His Hon Dr John O’Connor, Judge of the Circuit Court, who recently completed his doctorate on the sentencing of underage sexual offenders. In his address, Judge O’Connor examined how juvenile offenders charged with sexual offences are treated in the Irish criminal justice system. He looked at current judicial practice, from the perspective of judges, and also through the lens of young people’s probation officers, Garda Diversion Programme and child victims. Observing international best practice, he made a number of key recommendations, including the rehabilitation of these young people.

A panel chaired by Mary Carolan, Legal Affairs Correspondent with The Irish Times, offered responses to Judge O’Connor’s address:

Interpretation in Irish Sign Language is given. (Note that intermittent poor audio may impact on the signing and that elements of the presentation are subject to copyright.)

Further reading: