On Thursday 6th April graduate students on the LL.M./M.A. Human Rights in Criminal Justice masters programme attended Henry Street Garda Station for an educational tour.

Students were given a comprehensive tour of the station by Garda Colin McCarthy which included the reception area, interview rooms, communications room, Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and they also met with a number of Gardaí to discuss aspects their work. Following the tour, students were given presentations by Garda Natasha Walsh from the Garda Victim Service Office and also by Sergeant John Flanagan on the importance of human rights in policing.

Dr Ger Coffey, Course Director of the LL.M./M.A. Human Rights in Criminal Justice masters programme who organised the tour, said:

“Our graduate students gained invaluable insights into some of the practicalities of policing modern Ireland and the opportunity to meet with members of An Garda Síochána and hear their experiences greatly enhanced students’ knowledge of policing and human rights in the criminal justice process.”

The educational tour also served to remove discussion from the abstract in seminars and this in turn facilitated students’ understanding of some the practical issues and challenges facing policing today.