New briefing: Realising victims’ right to receive information about restorative justice in Ireland

The VICINFO Project explored the barriers to victims receiving information about restorative justice in Ireland, and the systems in five European countries that have overcome some of these challenges. In this new briefing, Dr. Sophie van der Valk and I outline what a system which realises victims’ right to information would look like. We also make three recommendations to develop such a system in Ireland. You can read the briefing here. VICINFO is funded by Research Ireland and supported by Restorative Justice Services and a steering group.

Infographic from VICINFO briefing

Restorative justice policy and practice in Ireland

• Restorative justice was mentioned in the Department of Justice’s budget statement as a service that is due to be expanded. Subsequently, and although the deadline to apply has now passed, it will interest you to see that the Probation Service sought expressions of interest for new restorative justice provision in Donegal, Sligo, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan.
• Three projects which involve restorative justice or practices were awarded funding under the Community Safety Fund. Congratulations to Restorative Justice Services, Childhood Development Initiative, and the Canal Communities Regional Addiction Service!
• A recent Dáíl resolution on anti-social behaviour included a ‘commit[ment] to providing a full list of implementable legislative and resourcing reforms to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas within six months of this motion being passed, based on contributions made during this debate, best practice in Ireland and internationally, and specifically assessing the following measures: […] meaningful restorative justice to pay back any damages.’
• Restorative justice was the subject of several parliamentary questions in recent months, including Marie Sherlock on the proportion of offenders participating (here), Mark Ward on funding in 2025 and 2026 (here), and Ivana Bacik on legislation (here), funding and referrals (here).
• Le Chéile recent hosted their annual restorative justice conference on the theme of empathy – you can read a review of the conference by Simon Keating, a practitioner from Le Chéile, here.
• Restorative Practices Ireland has launched its call for members – you can join RPI as a member here.

Restorative justice in the Irish media

• A new episode of The Women’s Podcast (Irish Times) interviews Prof Marie Keenan and two women who participated in restorative justice after serious crime. The podcast is on Spotify here, or can be accessed via this Irish Times article.
• A woman in Co. Clare who lost her husband to dangerous driving has lamented the fact that she was not offered restorative justice – read her views in the Clare Champion here.
• The Irish Examiner covered our recent publication of the 2024 restorative justice referral figures – read it here.

Restorative justice in Europe

• The European Forum for Restorative Justice is seeking proposals to speak at its conference in Poland in June – check it out (and consider attending!). You can also read about all the International RJ Week events around the world on the EFRJ website here.
• Our colleagues from Catalonia have written an outline of their new pilot project to make restorative justice available to all victims in the region – read it here.
• Paul Kohler, an MP who participated in restorative justice, tabled an amendment in to give victims the right to a referral to restorative justice in England and Wales.