Dr Mark Coen of UCD Sutherland School of Law is launching a new book The Offences Against the State Act at 80 on Tuesday, 29 June, at 5pm.

Speakers include Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh of the Court of Appeal, who will chair the virtual launch.

The judge is well known for her interest in the Offences Against the State Acts. She regularly appeared in the Special Criminal Court during her career at the Bar and was consultant editor on the textbook The Special Criminal Court, by Alice Harrison.

Ms Justice Ní Raifeartaigh will be joined on the night by two discussants, Professor Liora Lazarus of the University of British Columbia and Prof Colm O Cinneide of University College London. 

Published by Hart, the book is an important edited collection and brings together leading domestic and international scholars to conduct a wide-ranging analysis of this controversial and ever-topical statute.

Timely

The launch is particularly timely given the establishment of the Offences Against the State Acts Independent Review Group by the Government.

The book examines the scope and impact of the Offences Against the State Acts from a variety of perspectives, using historical, doctrinal, empirical and comparative approaches.

The content has a broad range, taking the reader from pre-Independence emergency legislation to the emerging issue of Irish citizens being prosecuted for associating with international terrorist organisations outside the State.

Dimensions

Chapters analyse dimensions of the legislation as diverse as:

• Parliamentary oversight,
• Disclosure in the Special Criminal Court,
• Alternative means of safeguarding jurors, and,
• The impact of the legislation on freedom of expression. 

Those interested in attending the virtual launch may register here.