Tab 6 Content

Dr Charles O’Mahony and Dr.  Róisín Mulgrew acted as members for the Advisory Board to support Irish Penal Reform Trust’s annual publication – Progress in the Irish Penal System 2025.

Chaired by Ashling Golden, other Advisory Board members included Vivian Geiran, Keith Adams and Paula Kearney.

The Advisory Group, worked with report author, Martha Lewis (Policy and Research Coordinator), to review content and findings in relation to progress or regression over 35 standards.

The report provided evidence based recommendations for reform on effective and humane penal management, prison conditions and regime, complaints, accountability and inspection mechanisms, safety and protection, and release and reintegration.

The report also highlighted contemporary challenges around access to mental healthcare within Irish prisons, and how this is exacerbated by the high levels of overcrowding.

The report was launched at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission event space on 1 October 2026.