On Thursday 6th February, LL.M./M.A. Human Rights in Criminal Justice masters students visited Henry Street Garda Station to experience the practicalities and challenges associated with an operational divisional garda station.

Students were given a comprehensive and interactive tour of the garda station by Detective Garda Mark Deasy and Detective Garda Cathal O’Sullivan, which included the reception area, interview rooms, communications room, Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), custody suite. Students also met with a number of Gardaí to discuss aspects of their work. Students were also given a presentation on the Protective Services Unit by Detective Sergeant Vincent Brick and strategies for combatting illicit drugs by Detective Sergeant Martin McCarthy.

This experiential active learning opportunity served to remove discussion from the abstract in academic seminars and this in turn facilitated students’ deep and flexible understanding of some the practical issues and challenges in policing contemporary society.

We are very grateful to members at Henry Street Garda station for facilitating the student visit. Students gained valuable 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 event was organised by Dr Ger Coffey, Course Director, LLM/MA in Human Rights in Criminal Justice and member of the Centre for Crime, Justice & Victim Studies.