The Trial That Exposed Society’s Darkest Truths In a small courtroom in Avignon, where justice often feels like an abstract concept, one woman, Gisèle Pelicot, stood unshaken against a wall of darkness. Fifty defendants, their faces etched with denial, shame, and arrogance, made their final statements. Fifty men who had lived among us as normal…
Sara’s Bruises Were Seen. Her Screams Were Heard. So Why Was Nothing Done? The case of Sara Sharif’s horrific abuse and murder is a damning indictment of a child protection system that has once again failed a vulnerable child. Sara’s story is not just a tragedy, it is an urgent call for society to reassess…
How Character References Continue To Diminish Victim’s Trauma The case of Martin O’Brien, a 54-year-old man from Gurrane, Belclare, Tuam, Co Galway, who was sentenced to six years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting his children’s teenage babysitter, Áine McHugh, is a harsh reminder of the pervasive issues surrounding sexual abuse and the justice system’s…
Shattering the Silence The conviction and sentencing of Barry Murphy for his crimes against Lisa O’Meara is a sobering reminder of the dark reality of domestic violence. Murphy, a 39-year-old from Offaly, was sentenced to 14-and-a-half years for coercive control, rape, assault, and false imprisonment of his former partner. While justice has been served,…
Time for Irish Rugby to Tackle the Deep-Rooted Culture of Misogyny The recent sentencing of Irish rugby player Denis Coulson to 14 years in prison for the 2017 gang rape of a student in France shines a light on the deep-seated misogyny within the sport and the structural failures of the Irish Rugby Football…
When will women be able to walk through the world without fear of violence? This is the question that haunts us all. On December 1, 2024, Vanessa O’Callaghan was brutally assaulted as she left a soup kitchen in Cork City. The 36-year-old mother of three succumbed to her injuries three days later, leaving behind grieving…
Domestic Violence Does Not Discriminate – A Society Failing Women and Children Eight-year-old Malika Noor Al Katib tragically lost her life after trying to protect her mother during a violent altercation in New Ross, Wexford. Malika, in her innocence and bravery, stepped between her mother and an alleged assailant, believing her presence could shield her…
Ending the Blame Game – How Ireland Can Lead in Tackling Gender-Based Violence A recent survey conducted by the European Commission offers a sobering reminder of the work still needed to combat violence against women and the stereotypes that enable it. While Ireland demonstrates leadership in rejecting some forms of abuse, harmful attitudes remain entrenched…
When public figures like Gregg Wallace dismiss harassment allegations, what message does it send to employees experiencing similar issues in their own jobs? Gregg Wallace’s response to accusations of inappropriate behaviour has ignited widespread backlash and raised serious questions about workplace culture and accountability. The allegations against the MasterChef presenter include inappropriate sexual jokes, undressing…
Women on Trial: How Nikita Hand’s Case Highlights the Treatment of Rape Survivors The civil rape case brought against Conor McGregor has captured national and international attention, drawing intense scrutiny to the treatment of victims in sexual assault trials. The case, which concluded with a jury finding McGregor guilty of rape and awarding the plaintiff,…