Martin Tansey Memorial Lectures
The ACJRD marks the contribution Martin Tansey made to Criminal Justice in Ireland and to this association with a Memorial lecture each spring. Information and papers from the lectures which have taken place since the inaugural event in 2008 can be found below.
Remembering Martin
Martin grew up in County Roscommon and began his career as a teacher before joining the Probation and Welfare Service in 1965 where he served until his retirement in 2002 working tirelessly to bring Government support and public recognition to the work of the Probation Service.
During his long and distinguished Civil Service Career, he guided the development of the organisation to the nationwide service we have today. The work of service requires patience, humanity, courage, an understanding that there are competing human rights and the capacity to balance those rights. Martin had these qualities in abundance combined with a considerable helping of common sense.
Martin was a persistent advocate of community sanctions, where the justice system worked with the offender to give him/her a second chance. He believed that the rehabilitation of offenders was a supremely rational social objective. That was his life’s work. Martin had a keen interest in promoting independent criminal justice research. He was a founder member and ultimately chairperson of the Irish Association for the Study of Delinquency (now ACJRD).
His judgement and discretion are legendary and he was well respected by his former colleagues in the justice and law enforcement community. Typical of the man, Martin remained quiet about his achievements and worked tirelessly for his country and his local community.
Martin died in March 2007 after a long illness, bravely borne.
Excerpts from ACJRD Inaugural Martin Tansey Lecture, May 2008
The 13th Annual Martin Tansey Memorial Lecture, entitled "Reducing Reoffending: Choices and Challenges" was delivered online by Professor Ian O'Donnell, Professor of Criminology, University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law, on Monday, 29th June, 2020.
Professor Shadd Maruna, Professor of Criminology in the School of Law, University of Manchester, delivered this year’s Martin Tansey Memorial Lecture, entitled “Desistance as a Social Movement”.
Noel Waters, Acting Secretary General, Department of Justice and Equality, Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan, Finbarr O'Leary, ACJRD, and Eugene Corcoran, ACJRD.
Her Hon. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, Her Hon. Judge Rosemary Horgan, President of the District Court, Maura Butler (ACJRD Chairperson), Professor Paul Senior and Vivian Geiran (Probation Service Director)
