The School of Law is delighted to report that Richard Roche successfully defended his doctoral thesis today, and was awarded his PhD with minor amendments. Richard’s thesis is entitled “Changed by the job – the impact that working in a prison has on prison officers” and examines the hidden world of Irish prisons and the men and women that work within them.

Many congratulations to Richard on his accomplishment, all the greater given his demanding role with the Irish Prison Service. He has worked diligently and enthusiastically over the past number of years to produce a thesis of this quality. Richard also provides consultancy services to the Council of Europe, including, most recently, on police and penitentiary reform in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, “The Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia”, Montenegro, Serbia as well as Kosovo.

Many thanks to his examiners, Professor Andrew Coyle (Kings College London) and Dr. Susan Leahy, and the chair Mr Ray Friel for making time in their busy work schedules to facilitate Richie’s viva today.