The Concept of Evil: A Philosophical Perspective Speaker: Dr Daniel Esmonde Deasy Associate Professor of Philosophy, UCD School of Philosophy Chaired by Dr Ciara Molloy, Assistant Professor in Criminology, UCD Sutherland School of Law Abstract: This seminar provides an introduction to philosophical thought about the concept of evil. Some key questions that philosophers ask about evil are: What is the difference between the theological concept of evil and the secular concept? Relatedly: should we use the notion of evil in our moral and political discourse, or should it be abandoned as hopelessly out of date? What is the relationship between evil and (terrible) wrong-doing? Is an evil act an especially morally bad act, or is it of an essentially different kind? What are the necessary and sufficient conditions for evil action? What does it mean for a person or institution to be evil? Dr Deasy will discuss at least some of these questions and the positions philosophers have taken in response to them. All are welcome! No registration needed. Light lunch will follow. Questions? Contact ciara.molloy1@ucd.ie or colette.barry1@ucd.ie This event is part of the Sutherland School of Law Festival of Research and the Institute's Criminology Salon series.

We're launching our new interdisciplinary seminar series, 'In Pursuit of Evil', with a talk by @dandeasy.bsky.social: 'The Concept of Evil: A Philosophical Perspective'.

📆 Wednesday 22 April, 11:30-13:00
📍 L106 Harty Boardroom, Sutherland School of Law

All welcome! No registration needed.

Call for abstracts - 17th North South Criminology Conference (23rd & 24th June) in Cork. Hosted by Dep of Sociology & Criminology at University College Cork & supported by Collective Social Futures lnkd.in/dyiTAptN

Opinion: Here are four ways to reduce prison overcrowding, none of which require new jails Restorative justice is proven to be successful and can also contribute to significant financial savings

An important article in yesterday's Irish Times by Prof Ian O’Donnell on tackling prison overcrowding without building new jails - setting out practical, evidence-based humane alternatives to expansion. Well worth a read. www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...

Photograph of Keith, standing beside a roll up banner for the UCD Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Yesterday, the UCD Institute of Criminology & Criminal Justice was delighted to host @keithadams.bsky.social for a Criminology Salon. Keith spoke about human dignity and punishment, and how we conceptualise and measure the pains of imprisonment. Thanks to Keith and everyone who joined!

Photograph of Nicola, standing beside a roll up banner for the UCD Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, holding her recently published book, Parole Futures: Rationalities, Institutions and Practices.

We were delighted to host @nicolacarr.bsky.social for our first Criminology Salon of the academic year this week. Nicola discussed her new book Parole Futures (co-edited with @harryannison.bsky.social & Thomas Guiney) & the evolving landscape of parole. Many thanks to Nicola & all who joined us!

There’s still plenty of time to register for our upcoming Criminology Salon with @nicolacarr.bsky.social on Monday 20th October at 1pm at UCD Sutherland School of Law.

All welcome! Please register here: www.eventbrite.ie/e/ucd-crimin...

Looking forward to seeing you there!

UCD Institute of Criminology and Criminal JusticeCriminology Salon: Parole Futures: Rationalities, Institutions and PracticesMonday 20 October 2025, 13:00 – 14:30 Harty Boardroom, Sutherland School of Law, Belfield, Dublin 4 Professor Nicola Carr, Chair of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College DublinJoin us at our next Criminology Salon where Professor Nicola Carr will discuss her recent book co-edited with Harry Annison and Thomas Guiney, Parole Futures: Rationalities, Institutions and Practices, published by Bloomsbury. This book brings together a range of academic and practice perspectives to analyse the ideas, institutions and practices of contemporary parole. At a time when many parole systems are strained, this collection aims to encourage systematic reflection on parole’s rationalities, institutions, and practices and to pose ambitious “what if” questions about the possible futures of parole and prison release.

Join us at the next UCD Criminology Salon on Mon 20 Oct. @nicolacarr.bsky.social will discuss her recent book book co-edited with @harryannison.bsky.social & Thomas Guiney, Parole Futures: Rationalities, Institutions and Practices. All welcome! Please register here: www.eventbrite.ie/e/ucd-crimin...

*Another* heatwave arrives this week and it could be the most intense yet. But prisons are ill-prepared to protect prisoners & staff from environmental harm.

✍️ A new paper examines indoor environmental conditions across multiple prisons

❌ It’s not good.

www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/stale-and-st...

We are still looking to speak with people who worked as prison officers in Irish prisons at any time during 1970-2010. Interested in sharing your stories? Please get in touch (DM or email colette.barry1@ucd.ie) - we would love to hear from you! See further info in poster @louisebrangan.bsky.social

A group seeks to push the case for abolishing prisons in Ireland Along with a new understanding of what a just society looks like, say members of the Irish Penal Abolition Network.

Irish Penal Abolition Network seeks to push the case for abolishing prisons in Ireland, along with a new understanding of what a just society looks like.

www.dublininquirer.com/a-group-seek...

Call for participants Did you work as a prison officer in Ireland during 1970-2010? We are collecting an oral history of prison officer work in Ireland during 1970-2010 We want to learn about your experiences and memories of working in Irish prisons during this period Research team: Dr Louise Brangan, University of Strathclyde Dr Colette Barry, University College Dublin What's involved? Taking part in an interview (in-person or via Zoom) with one of the researchers This will cover your experiences and perspectives on working as a prison officer Who can take part? We want to interview people who worked as prison officers in any Irish prison(s) at any time during 1970-2010 This includes people who currently work as prison officers and people who have retired or moved on from this work. All participation is voluntary and confidential Interested in participating or would like more information? Please contact: Colette.Barry1@ucd.ie Ethical approval granted by University of Strathclyde Ethics Committee. Research approval granted by Irish Prison Service Research Office.

📌 Call for interview participants 📌

We (me and @louisebrangan.bsky.social) are looking to interview people who have worked as prison officers in Irish prisons at any point during 1970-2010. See further info in poster image. If you're interested in taking part, please consider getting in touch.

What does it mean to know? | Dublin City Council Arts Office Magdalene Laundries were once vast islands of abandonment marking our Irish social landscape. They are closed now, but their legacies linger. When the gates were locked for the last time in 1996,...

New exhibition, LAB gallery, Dublin: What does it mean to know?
Sinead McCann & I have two sculptural pieces. They're about Magdalene Laundries, but not the past. They are about the present, today, us, and the ways we remember (and misremember)the Laundries dublincityartsoffice.ie/programmes-p...

Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Criminology - Temp 5-year at University College Dublin Apply for the Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Criminology - Temp 5-year role on jobs.ac.uk, the top job board for academic positions in higher education. View details and apply now.

We are hiring a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Criminology at UCD. It's a really lovely place to work - join us! Closes 3rd June at 12pm (Irish time). www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNB652/l...

We are very lucky to have @cianoconcubhair.bsky.social and @tommygeaux.bsky.social joining us at UCD next week. It's my first event as new Director of the UCD Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and I'm pleased to be able to continue this series started by the wonderful Dr Deirdre Healy.