Educational Tour of Henry Street Garda Station

On Wednesday 27th March graduate students on the LL.M./M.A. Human Rights in Criminal Justice masters programme (accompanied by Course Director, Dr Ger Coffey) visited Henry Street Garda Station for an educational tour. This opportunity to experience an insight into the workings of a Garda Station, meet with members of An Garda Síochána and hear their experiences provided a forum for students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of policing and human rights in the criminal justice process.  The educational tour was very beneficial to facilitate students’ deep understanding of the practicalities associated with and the challenges of policing in contemporary Ireland.

Students were given a comprehensive tour of the Garda Station by Detective Garda Mark Deasy and Detective Sergeant Paraig O’Dwyer which included the reception area, interview rooms, detention cells, communications room and talked to several Gardaí about the complexities of work. Students were shown the evidenser (breathalyser) and Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).  Students also met with members of the Armed Support Unit and were shown an array of non-lethal and lethal weapons that may be used in combatting serious threats of force. The importance of human rights in policing were emphasised throughout the tour.

The educational tour was very beneficial for our students which served to remove discussion from the abstract in academic seminars.  This in turn facilitated students’ deep understanding of some the practical issues and challenges to ensure effective human rights policing.

We are very grateful to Detective Garda Mark Deasy and Detective Sergeant Paraig O’Dwyer (both of whom are current part-time students on the LL.M. in Human Rights in Criminal Justice masters programme) and their colleagues at Henry Street Garda Station for facilitating our visit.