Alan Cusack


 
researcher

Biography

Alan is a graduate of University College Cork (BCL, LLM, PhD), University College Dublin (Dip. Emp) and the Law Society of Ireland (Solicitor, 2012).

In 2017, Alan completed a PhD in the School of Law at University College Cork in the area of access to justice for victims of crime with intellectual disabilities. In pursuit of his studies, Alan was awarded a Government of Ireland PhD scholarship from the Irish Research Council as well as a Faculty of Law PhD Scholarship from University College Cork. Alan's research has been widely published in national and international journals including, The International Journal of Law and Psychiatry; Policing: An International Journal; The International Journal of Evidence and Proof; Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly and The Irish Judicial Studies Journal. He has has acted as an Expert Advisor to the Minister for Justice, Garda Commissioner, the Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee, the European Commission, the High Level Taskforce on Mental Illness, RCNI, and the Department of Justice and he has provided expert analysis on the treatment of vulnerable witnesses for national media outlets in Ireland including Drivetime (RTÉ Radio 1), Newstalk FM and The Irish Examiner. Alan 

In 2021 Alan was appointed by the Department of Justice to design, deliver and evaluate Ireland’s first training and accreditation programme for Registered Intermediaries. Alan has also been appointed, as principal investigator, to a series of outstanding policy and procedural reform projects within An Garda Síochána. These projects which are being conducted with the Human Rights Department of An Garda Síochána include:
 

  • Cusack, A. (2020). Review of An Garda Síochána Custody Record – Risk Assessment Form C.84(a) (University of Limerick) 1-23.
 
  • Cusack, A. et al. (2021) Disability Awareness Training Pilot for BA in Applied Policing and MA in Serious Crime Investigation (University of Limerick)
 
  • Cusack, A. et al. (2022) Introducing an Easy-Read Notice of Rights – Form C.72(s) for Persons in Garda Custody (University of Limerick).

  • Lacey, A., Cusack, A. & O'Shea, B. (2022) Report on a Roundtable Symposium with International Collaborators to Explore the Feasibility of Implementing a Community Safety Co-response Model in Ireland (Irish Research Council & Policing Authority)

Alan is a qualified solicitor and, subsequent to commencing his doctoral research, practiced for a number of years with Arthur Cox solicitors in Dublin.  In 2013 Alan was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights at University College Cork and, more recently, in 2018 he was elected to the Board of Directors for the Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network. Alan is a professional member of The Law Society of Ireland and is also a member of the Society of Legal Scholars and the Socio-Legal Studies Association. In 2015 Alan was an Academic Visitor at the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford (January - March 2015). Alan was appointed in 2018 to the editorial board for the Irish Judicial Studies Journal.

Research Interests

Alan’s research interests lie in the broad areas of criminal procedure, criminal law, victimology, criminology, the laws of evidence and disability studies.

Alan’s PhD thesis was entitled

"Ireland’s Criminal Justice System and its Response to Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities: Adversarial Procedure on Trial". The project involved a critical analysis of the manner in which Ireland's adversarial model of justice impacts upon victims of crime with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, the project assessed how Ireland's traditional adherence to normative adversarial processes at each of the pre-trial and trial stages of the criminal justice system inhibits participation by victims of crime with intellectual disabilities.

Books

  Year Publication
2022 Criminal Law in Ireland.
Campbell, L; Cusack, A, Kilcommins, S and O'Sullivan, C. (2022) Criminal Law in Ireland. Dublin: Clarus Press. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
2023 '‘People with Intellectual Disabilities as Accused'Persons in the Irish Policing Interface’'
Alan Cusack and Gautam Gulati (2023) '‘People with Intellectual Disabilities as Accused'Persons in the Irish Policing Interface’' In: Y. Daly (ed.) Police Custody in Ireland (London: Routledge). London: Routledge. [Details]
2022 '‘Calibrating the Right to Reasonable Access to a Lawyer for Vulnerable Suspects in Ireland’'
Alan Cusack, Shane Kilcommins, Gautam Gulati and Colum Dunne (2022) '‘Calibrating the Right to Reasonable Access to a Lawyer for Vulnerable Suspects in Ireland’' In: R. Dehaghani, S. Fairclough and L. Mergaerts (eds.) Vulnerability, The Accused, and the Criminal Justice System: Multi-jurisdictional Perspectives (eds.) (London: Routledge). London: Routledge. [Details]
2020 ''Reforming Ireland’s Adversarial Trial for Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities’'
Alan Cusack (2020) ''Reforming Ireland’s Adversarial Trial for Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities’' In: O. Lynch, L. O'Connell and J. Windle (eds.) 'Giving Voice to Diversity in Criminological Research'. London: Routledge. [Details]
2018 '‘The Pre-Trial Position of Vulnerable Victims of Crime in Ireland’'
Alan Cusack (2018) '‘The Pre-Trial Position of Vulnerable Victims of Crime in Ireland’' In: P. Cooper, and L. Hunting (eds.) 'Addressing Vulnerability in Justice Systems'. London: Wildy, Simmonds and Hill Publishing. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2022 ''Towards Inclusionary Policing: A Critical Inquiry into the Pre-Trial Treatment of Suspects with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland''
Alan Cusack, Gautam Gulati, Colum Dunne and Shane Kilcommins (2022) ''Towards Inclusionary Policing: A Critical Inquiry into the Pre-Trial Treatment of Suspects with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland''. Policing-An International Journal Of Police Strategies & Management, [Details]
2022 '‘From Special Measures to Separate Legal Representation: Charting Shifts in the Treatment of Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland’'
Alan Cusack (2022) '‘From Special Measures to Separate Legal Representation: Charting Shifts in the Treatment of Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland’'. Dublin University Law Journal, [Details]
2022 '‘Intermediaries in the Justice System for People with Communication Disability: Enacting SDG16 in Ireland, Northern Ireland and New Zealand’'
Áine Kearns, Alan Cusack, Alan Cusack, Alayne McKee, Aoife Gallagher, Dorothy Clarke, Jenny Humphreys, Sally Kedge (2022) '‘Intermediaries in the Justice System for People with Communication Disability: Enacting SDG16 in Ireland, Northern Ireland and New Zealand’'. International Journal Of Speech-Language Pathology, [Details]
2022 '‘Recognising And Responding to Vulnerability: Securing Access to Justice for Vulnerable Accused Persons in Ireland’'
Gautam Gulati, Alan Cusack, Brendan D. Kelly, Shane Kilcommins and Colum P. Dunne (2022) '‘Recognising And Responding to Vulnerability: Securing Access to Justice for Vulnerable Accused Persons in Ireland’'. Irish Judicial Studies Journal, [Details]
2022 '‘The Collaborative Development through Multidisciplinary and Advocate Consensus of an Accessible Notice of Rights for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Police Custody’'
Gulati, Gautam, Alan Cusack, Barry Lynch, Valerie Murphy, Mary Carey, John Bogue, Anne B. O'Connor et al. (2022) '‘The Collaborative Development through Multidisciplinary and Advocate Consensus of an Accessible Notice of Rights for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Police Custody’'. International Journal Of Law And Psychiatry, [Details]
2022 '‘The Evaluation of a Training Course to Enhance Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health Awareness amongst General Practitioners attending Police Stations’ Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine'
Gautam Gulati, Valerie Murphy, Gurjot Brar, Shane Kilcommins, Alan Cusack, Colum P. Dunne, Liam Glynn and Brendan D. Kelly (2022) '‘The Evaluation of a Training Course to Enhance Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health Awareness amongst General Practitioners attending Police Stations’ Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine'. Irish Journal Of Psychological Medicine, [Details]
2021 ''The Evaluation of a Training Course to Enhance Intellectual Disability Awareness amongst Law Enforcement Officers: A Pilot Study''
Gautam Gulati; Alan Cusack; Valerie Murphy; Brendan D. Kelly; Shane Kilcommins; Colum P. Dunne (2021) ''The Evaluation of a Training Course to Enhance Intellectual Disability Awareness amongst Law Enforcement Officers: A Pilot Study''. Irish Journal Of Psychological Medicine, [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2021 ''Challenges for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Law Enforcement interactions in Ireland: Thematic Analysis informed by 1537 Person-years' Experience''
Gautam Gulati; Alan Cusack; John Bogue; Áine O'Connor;Valerie Murphy; Darius Whelan; Walter Cullen; Cliona McGovern; Brendan D. Kelly; Elizabeth Fistein; Shane Kilcommins; Colum P. Dunne CP; (2021) ''Challenges for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Law Enforcement interactions in Ireland: Thematic Analysis informed by 1537 Person-years' Experience''. International Journal Of Law And Psychiatry, 75 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2021 ''What is the Role of Doctors in respect of Suspects with Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities in Police Custody?''
Gautam Gulati; Brendan D. Kelly; Walter Cullen; Shane Kukaswadia; Alan Cusack; Shane Kilcommins; Colum P. Dunne (2021) ''What is the Role of Doctors in respect of Suspects with Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities in Police Custody?''. Irish Journal Of Psychological Medicine, [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2020 '‘Addressing Vulnerability in Ireland’s Criminal Justice System: A Survey of Recent Statutory Developments’'
Alan Cusack (2020) '‘Addressing Vulnerability in Ireland’s Criminal Justice System: A Survey of Recent Statutory Developments’'. The International Journal of Evidence and Proof, [Details]
2020 'Beyond Special Measures: Challenging Traditional Constructions of Competence and Cross-Examination for Vulnerable Witnesses in Ireland''
Alan Cusack (2020) 'Beyond Special Measures: Challenging Traditional Constructions of Competence and Cross-Examination for Vulnerable Witnesses in Ireland''. Irish Judicial Studies Journal, [Details]
2020 ''Experiences of People with Intellectual Disabilities Encountering Law Enforcement Officials as the Suspects of Crime: A Narrative Systematic Review''
Gautam Gulati; Alan Cusack; Brendan D. Kelly; Shane Kilcommins; Colum P. Dunne (2020) ''Experiences of People with Intellectual Disabilities Encountering Law Enforcement Officials as the Suspects of Crime: A Narrative Systematic Review''. International Journal Of Law And Psychiatry, 71 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2020 ''The Experience of Law Enforcement Officers Interfacing with Suspects who have an Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review''
Gautam Gulati; Brendan D. Kelly; Alan Cusack; Shane Kilcommins; Colum P. Dunne (2020) ''The Experience of Law Enforcement Officers Interfacing with Suspects who have an Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review''. International Journal Of Law And Psychiatry, 72 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2020 ''Intellectual Disabilities in Irish Prisons: Could Article 13 of the UNCRPD Hold the Key?''
Gautam Gulati; Alan Cusack; Shane Kilcommins; Colum P. Dunne (2020) ''Intellectual Disabilities in Irish Prisons: Could Article 13 of the UNCRPD Hold the Key?''. International Journal Of Law And Psychiatry, 68 [DOI] [Details]
2017 '‘Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities and Ireland’s Adversarial Trial: Some Ontological, Procedural and Attitudinal Concerns’'
Alan Cusack (2017) '‘Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities and Ireland’s Adversarial Trial: Some Ontological, Procedural and Attitudinal Concerns’'. Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly, 68 (4) [Details]
2015 ''From Exculpatory to Inculpatory Justice: A History of Due Process in the Adversarial Trial’'
Alan Cusack (2015) ''From Exculpatory to Inculpatory Justice: A History of Due Process in the Adversarial Trial’'. Law, Crime and History, 2 ((1)) [Details]
2012 '‘Too Many Cooks: Overcrowding in the Labour Law Landscape and the Decline of Collective Negotiations’'
Alan Cusack (2012) '‘Too Many Cooks: Overcrowding in the Labour Law Landscape and the Decline of Collective Negotiations’'. Irish Employment Law Journal, 9 ((2)) [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
2021 ''Human Rights, Public Health, and Disability Awareness Training of Police''
Gautam Gulati, Brendan D. Kelly, Alan Cusack, Shane Kilcommins, and Colum P. Dunne (2021) ''Human Rights, Public Health, and Disability Awareness Training of Police'' Health and Human Rights Journal, . [Details]
2021 ''Trans-institutionalisation in Ireland: New and Emerging Congregated Settings for People with Disabilities''
Gautam Gulati, Alan Cusack, Brendan D. Kelly, Valerie E. Murphy, Shane Kilcommins, and Colum P. Dunne (2021) ''Trans-institutionalisation in Ireland: New and Emerging Congregated Settings for People with Disabilities'' Health and Human Rights Journal, . [Details]
2021 ''Dealing with Differences''
Alan Cusack, Gautam Gulati, Shane Kilcommins and Colum Dunne (2021) ''Dealing with Differences'' Garda Review, . [Details]
2020 ''Suspects with Intellectual Disabilities''
Alan Cusack and Gautam Gulati (2020) ''Suspects with Intellectual Disabilities'' Garda Review, . [Details]
2019 ''Addressing Vulnerability in the Irish Justice System: A Reflection on the Future of Policing in Ireland''
Alan Cusack (2019) ''Addressing Vulnerability in the Irish Justice System: A Reflection on the Future of Policing in Ireland'' Garda Review, . [Details]
2019 '‘Policing Vulnerable Communities: A Reflection on the Future of Policing in Ireland’'
Alan Cusack (2019) '‘Policing Vulnerable Communities: A Reflection on the Future of Policing in Ireland’' Cork Online Law Review, . [Details]
2018 'Book Review: ‘Inventing American Exceptionalism: The Origins of American Adversarial Legal Culture, 1800-1877’ by Amalia D. Kessler'
Alan Cusack (2018) 'Book Review: ‘Inventing American Exceptionalism: The Origins of American Adversarial Legal Culture, 1800-1877’ by Amalia D. Kessler' Journal of the Early Republic, . [Details]
2015 '‘The Right To Love: Over and Under-Criminalisation In The Sexual Autonomy Of Persons With Intellectual Disabilities’'
Alan Cusack (2015) '‘The Right To Love: Over and Under-Criminalisation In The Sexual Autonomy Of Persons With Intellectual Disabilities’' Human Welfare: An International Journal of Graduate Research, 4 . [Details]
2017 '‘Pre-Trial Cross-Examination for Vulnerable Witnesses: An Idea Whose Time Has Come’'
Alan Cusack (2017) '‘Pre-Trial Cross-Examination for Vulnerable Witnesses: An Idea Whose Time Has Come’' Cork Online Law Review, . [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
2019 Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2019, Strand Hotel, Limerick, 23 November 2019
Alan Cusack (2019) ‘Special Measures and Vulnerable Victims of Crime in Ireland: A Survey of Recent Statutory Developments’ Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2019, Strand Hotel, Limerick, 23 November 2019 Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2019, Strand Hotel, Limerick, 23 November 2019 [Details]
2019 The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2019, University of Ghent, Belgium, 20 September 2019
Alan Cusack (2019) ‘Policing Vulnerable Communities: The Pre-Trial Position of Crime Victims with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland’ The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2019, University of Ghent, Belgium, 20 September 2019 The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2019, University of Ghent, Belgium, 20 September 2019 [Details]
2019 The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2019,University of Ghent, Belgium, 19 September 2019
Alan Cusack (2019) ‘Crime Victims with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland’s Criminal Process: Confronting Challenges of Communication, Competence and Credibility’ The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2019, University of Ghent, Belgium, 19 September 2019 The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2019,University of Ghent, Belgium, 19 September 2019 [Details]
2019 North/South Criminology Conference 2019, University College Cork, 2 September 2019
Alan Cusack (2019) ‘Ireland’s Criminal Justice System and its Response to Crime Victims with Intellectual Disabilities: A Review of Recent Developments’, North/South Criminology Conference 2019, University College Cork, 2 September 2019 North/South Criminology Conference 2019, University College Cork, 2 September 2019 [Details]
2019 The Advocate’s Gateway 3rd International Advocacy Conference, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, 21 June 2019
Alan Cusack (2019) ‘Addressing Vulnerability in Ireland’s Criminal Justice System: A Lot Done, More To Do’ The Advocate’s Gateway 3rd International Advocacy Conference, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, 21 June 2019 The Advocate’s Gateway 3rd International Advocacy Conference, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, 21 June 2019 [Details]
2018 National Senior Investigating Officer Conference 2018, Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath, 14 November 2018
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Victims in the Irish Criminal Process’ National Senior Investigating Officer Conference 2018, Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath, 14 November 2018 [invited paper] National Senior Investigating Officer Conference 2018, Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath, 14 November 2018 [Details]
2018 Law of Evidence/Criminal Procedure, Dublin City University, Dublin, 12 October 2018
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Integration, Not Accommodation: Making the Case for Admitting Expert Testimony on Demeanour of Intellectually Disabled Witnesses’ Law of Evidence/Criminal Procedure, Dublin City University, Dublin, 12 October 2018 [invited paper] Law of Evidence/Criminal Procedure, Dublin City University, Dublin, 12 October 2018 [Details]
2018 The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2018, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 31 August 2018
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Victimological Others: Persons with Intellectual Disabilities as Casualties of Ireland’s Victims’ Rights Movement’, The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2018, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 31 August 2018 The European Society of Criminology Annual Conference 2018, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 31 August 2018 [Details]
2018 Institute of Guidance Counsellors Seminar, Killester College of Further Education, Dublin 5, 17 April 2018
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Privilege, Third Party Disclosure & Mandatory Reporting of Offences’ Institute of Guidance Counsellors Seminar, Killester College of Further Education, Dublin 5, 17 April 2018 [Details]
2018 Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network Seminar 2017, Central Criminal Court, Dublin 8, 12 April 2018
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Crime Victims with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland: Identifying Challenges and Recognising the Need for Change’ Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network Seminar 2017, Central Criminal Court, Dublin 8, 12 April 2018 [Details]
2018 SLSA Annual Conference, University of Bristol, 28 March 2018
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Invisible Victims: Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities and Ireland’s Criminal Justice System’ SLSA Annual Conference, University of Bristol, 28 March 2018 [Details]
2018 Centre for Crime, Justice and Victim Studies Seminar, University of Limerick, 12 March 2018
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Invisible Victims: Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities and Ireland’s Criminal Justice System’ Centre for Crime, Justice and Victim Studies Seminar, University of Limerick, 12 March 2018 [Details]
2018 Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network Seminar 2017, University of Limerick, 21 February 2018
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Crime Victims with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland: Identifying Challenges and Recognising the Need for Change’ Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network Seminar 2017, University of Limerick, 21 February 2018 [Details]
2017 Access to Justice for Vulnerable People: International Conference 2017, The Advocate’s Gateway, 113 Chancery Lane, London, 2 June 2017
Alan Cusack (2017) ‘Falling at the First Hurdle: The Pre-Trial Position of Vulnerable Victims of Crime in Ireland’ Access to Justice for Vulnerable People: International Conference 2017, The Advocate’s Gateway, 113 Chancery Lane, London, 2 June 2017 [Details]
2017 Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2017, Dunboyne Castle Hotel, 24 November 2017
Alan Cusack (2017) 'Vulnerable Crime Victims and the Irish Criminal Justice System: The Adversarial Trial on Trial' Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2017, Dunboyne Castle Hotel, 24 November 2017 [Details]
2016 British Crime Historians Symposium 2016, University of Edinburgh, 8 October 2016
Alan Cusack (2016) ‘From Private to Public Justice (And Back Again): Exploring Historical Shifts in the Criminal Narrative’s Relationship with Crime Victims’ British Crime Historians Symposium 2016, University of Edinburgh, 8 October 2016 [Details]
2016 SLS Conference 2016, University of Oxford, 8 September 2016
Alan Cusack (2016) ‘Adversarialism on Trial: Ontological, Procedural and Attitudinal Barriers to the Inclusion of Vulnerable Victims in Court’ SLS Conference 2016, University of Oxford, 8 September 2016 [Details]
2016 North/South Criminology Conference 2016, Maynooth University, 23 June 2016
Alan Cusack (2016) ‘The Position of Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities at Trial: Some Ontological, Procedural and Attitudinal Concerns’ North/South Criminology Conference 2016, Maynooth University, 23 June 2016 [Details]
2016 SLSA Annual Conference, Lancaster University, 6 April 2016
Alan Cusack (2016) ‘The Collapse of the Public Character of Justice: The Costly Consequences of Victim Participation in Criminal Proceedings’ SLSA Annual Conference, Lancaster University, 6 April 2016 [Details]
2015 SLS Annual Conference 2015, University of York, 1 September 2015
Alan Cusack (2015) 'Casualties in the Victims’ Rights Movement: The Myopic Focus of Legal Adversarialism & The Exclusion of Victims with Disabilities' SLS Annual Conference 2015, University of York, 1 September 2015 [Details]
2015 Victims’ Rights: An Agenda for Change Conference 2015, University of Limerick, 11 September 2015
Alan Cusack (2015) 'Addressing the Exclusionary Effect of Adversarialism: The Victims’ Rights Directive and the Inclusion of Victims of Crime with Disabilities' Victims’ Rights: An Agenda for Change Conference 2015, University of Limerick, 11 September 2015 [Details]
2015 Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Ninth Annual Postgraduate Conference, University College Cork, 8 June 2015
Alan Cusack (2015) ‘Victim Participation in Criminal Proceedings: Growing Tension in the Adversarial Paradigm and the Slow Decline of Due Process’ Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Ninth Annual Postgraduate Conference, University College Cork, 8 June 2015 [Details]
2015 Teaching & Learning for Graduate Studies, Postgraduate Symposium 2015, University College Cork, 26 February 2015
Alan Cusack (2015) 'Under and Over-Preparation by Tutorial Students: Challenges for a Higher Education Tutor' Teaching & Learning for Graduate Studies, Postgraduate Symposium 2015, University College Cork, 26 February 2015 [Details]
2015 Centre for Criminology, Informal Seminar Series 2015, University of Oxford, 12 February 2015
Alan Cusack (2015) 'Victim Inclusion in the 21st Century' Centre for Criminology, Informal Seminar Series 2015, University of Oxford, 12 February 2015 [Details]
2015 Irish Society of Comparative Law Annual Conference 2015, University of Limerick, 6 June 2015
Alan Cusack (2015) 'Justice as a Matter of Public Interest: The Marginalisation of Crime Victims in the Late 18th Century & the Birth of Legal Adversarialism' Irish Society of Comparative Law Annual Conference 2015, University of Limerick, 6 June 2015 [Details]
2014 Edinburgh Postgraduate Law Conference 2014, University of Edinburgh, 1 December 2014
Alan Cusack (2014) 'An Inconvenient Truth: Epistemic Flaws in the Adversarial Legal Tradition' Edinburgh Postgraduate Law Conference 2014, University of Edinburgh, 1 December 2014 [Details]
2014 Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Eight Annual Postgraduate Conference, University College Cork, 6 June 2014
Alan Cusack (2014) 'Charting the Shift from an Exculpatory to an Inculpatory Model of Justice in the Late 18th Century: The Impact of Adversarialism and the Birth of Due Process Rights' Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Eight Annual Postgraduate Conference, University College Cork, 6 June 2014 [Details]
2014 University of Kent Graduate Research Conference, University of Kent, Canterbury, 10 June 2014
Alan Cusack (2014) 'The Historical Migration of Victims in the Criminal Narrative: The Impact of Adversarialism' University of Kent Graduate Research Conference, University of Kent, Canterbury, 10 June 2014 [Details]
2014 Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2014, Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, 9 November 2014
Alan Cusack (2014) 'Everything But The Truth: A Critical Consideration of Adversarial Epistemology' Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2014, Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, 9 November 2014 [Details]
2010 Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Fourth Annual Postgraduate Conference, University College Cork, 29 April 2010
Alan Cusack (2010) ‘De-civilised Punishment in the 21st Century: The Effects of Reactionary Politics’ Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Fourth Annual Postgraduate Conference, University College Cork, 29 April 2010 [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
2022 Report on a Roundtable Symposium with International Collaborators to Explore the Feasibility of Implementing a Community Safety Co-response Model in Ireland.
Andrew Lacey, Alan Cusack, Bláithín O'Shea (2022) Report on a Roundtable Symposium with International Collaborators to Explore the Feasibility of Implementing a Community Safety Co-response Model in Ireland. Policing Authority, Dublin. [Details]
2020 Review of An Garda S och na Custody Record – Risk Assessment Form C.84(A).
Alan Cusack (2020) Review of An Garda S och na Custody Record – Risk Assessment Form C.84(A). An Garda Síochána, Dublin. [Details]
2020 Review of Services to Assist in the Finalisation, Promotion and Circulation of the New Victims Charter.
Susan Leahy, Alan Cusack and Shane Kilcommins (2020) Review of Services to Assist in the Finalisation, Promotion and Circulation of the New Victims Charter. Department of Justice, Dublin. [Details]
2020 Review of Services to Assist in the Finalisation, Promotion and Circulation of the New Victims Charter.
Alan Cusack, Susan Leahy and Shane Kilcommins (2020) Review of Services to Assist in the Finalisation, Promotion and Circulation of the New Victims Charter. Department of Justice, Dublin. [Details]
2019 Analysis of Text for the Mid-term Review of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021.
Leahy, S, Cusack, A, Kilcommins, S, Spain, E & Vaughan, E (2019) Analysis of Text for the Mid-term Review of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021. Department of Justice, Dublin. [Details]
2018 Hearing Every Voice-Towards A New Strategy on Vulnerable Witnesses in Legal Proceedings.
Alan Cusack et al. (2018) Hearing Every Voice-Towards A New Strategy on Vulnerable Witnesses in Legal Proceedings. Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Dublin. [Details]
2015 Victim Participation in Criminal Procedures.
Lucia Zedner et al. (2015) Victim Participation in Criminal Procedures. Oxford: Oxford Pro Bono Publico/REDRESS, University of Oxford. [Details]

Blog

  Year Publication
2019 'Policing Vulnerable Communities: A Reflection on the Future of Policing in Ireland', Criminal Justice in Ireland Blog, 20 February 2019.
Alan Cusack (2019) 'Policing Vulnerable Communities: A Reflection on the Future of Policing in Ireland', Criminal Justice in Ireland Blog, 20 February 2019. Blog [DOI] [Details]
2014 'The Right To Love: Over And Under-Criminalisation In The Sexual Autonomy Of Persons With Intellectual Disabilities', HumanRights.ie, 3 December 2014.
Alan Cusack (2014) 'The Right To Love: Over And Under-Criminalisation In The Sexual Autonomy Of Persons With Intellectual Disabilities', HumanRights.ie, 3 December 2014. Blog [Details]
2014 ‘An Inconvenient Truth: Epistemic Flaws in the Adversarial Legal Tradition’, University of Edinburgh, Law PhD Conference Blog, 19 November 2014.
Alan Cusack (2014) ‘An Inconvenient Truth: Epistemic Flaws in the Adversarial Legal Tradition’, University of Edinburgh, Law PhD Conference Blog, 19 November 2014. Blog [Details]

Book Review

  Year Publication
2018 Inventing American Exceptionalism: The Origins of American Adversarial Legal Culture, 1800-1877.
Cusack, A (2018) Inventing American Exceptionalism: The Origins of American Adversarial Legal Culture, 1800-1877. PHILADELPHIA: Book Review [Details]

Invited papers

  Year Publication
2022 ‘Policing Vulnerability: Understanding the Pre-Trial Position of Suspects with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland’, Police Custody in Ireland Conference, Law Society of Ireland, 30 September 2022 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2022) ‘Policing Vulnerability: Understanding the Pre-Trial Position of Suspects with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland’, Police Custody in Ireland Conference, Law Society of Ireland, 30 September 2022 [invited paper]. Invited papers [Details]
2022 ‘Suspects and Defendants with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland: A Rights-Based Analysis of the CIT Pilot Scheme’, CIT Roundtable Symposium, University of Limerick, 21 April 2022 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2022) ‘Suspects and Defendants with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland: A Rights-Based Analysis of the CIT Pilot Scheme’, CIT Roundtable Symposium, University of Limerick, 21 April 2022 [invited paper]. Invited papers [Details]
2021 ‘Policing Vulnerable Communities: The Pre-Trial Position of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in the Irish Criminal Process’ Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee (SHRAC), Office of the Commissioner of An Garda S och na, 10 November 2021 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2021) ‘Policing Vulnerable Communities: The Pre-Trial Position of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in the Irish Criminal Process’ Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee (SHRAC), Office of the Commissioner of An Garda S och na, 10 November 2021 [invited paper]. Invited papers [Details]
2021 ‘An Overview of the Legal Position of Vulnerable Suspects & Defendants in Ireland’, Annual Irish Criminal Justice Agencies Conference, Online Seminar, 4 June 2021 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2021) ‘An Overview of the Legal Position of Vulnerable Suspects & Defendants in Ireland’, Annual Irish Criminal Justice Agencies Conference, Online Seminar, 4 June 2021 [invited paper]. Invited papers [Details]
2021 ‘Navigating the Criminal Justice System: Persons with Intellectual Disabilities as Victims and Suspects of Crime’ National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities, Online Seminar, 31 March 2021 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2021) ‘Navigating the Criminal Justice System: Persons with Intellectual Disabilities as Victims and Suspects of Crime’ National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities, Online Seminar, 31 March 2021 [invited paper]. Invited papers [Details]

Invited Seminars

  Year Publication
2022 ‘Suspects with Intellectual Disabilities’, Law Library Online Seminar, 3 February 2021 [invited seminar].
Alan Cusack, Gautam Gulati and Valerie Murphy (2022) ‘Suspects with Intellectual Disabilities’, Law Library Online Seminar, 3 February 2021 [invited seminar]. Invited Seminars [Details]
2020 ‘Beyond Special Measures: Addressing the Needs of Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities within Ireland’s Criminal Trial’ Lay Participation in Criminal Proceedings Symposium, LSE Department of Law, London, 6 April 2020 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2020) ‘Beyond Special Measures: Addressing the Needs of Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities within Ireland’s Criminal Trial’ Lay Participation in Criminal Proceedings Symposium, LSE Department of Law, London, 6 April 2020 [invited paper]. Invited Seminars [Details]
2019 ‘Access to Justice for Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland’ HSE National Safeguarding Office Learning and Development Seminar, Strand Hotel, Limerick, 15 October 2019 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2019) ‘Access to Justice for Victims of Crime with Intellectual Disabilities in Ireland’ HSE National Safeguarding Office Learning and Development Seminar, Strand Hotel, Limerick, 15 October 2019 [invited paper]. Invited Seminars [Details]
2019 ‘Policing Vulnerable Communities: A Reflection on the Future of Policing in Ireland’ Policing, Human Rights and Communities Conference, National University of Ireland, Galway, 26 April 2019 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2019) ‘Policing Vulnerable Communities: A Reflection on the Future of Policing in Ireland’ Policing, Human Rights and Communities Conference, National University of Ireland, Galway, 26 April 2019 [invited paper]. Invited Seminars [Details]
2018 ‘Integration, Not Accommodation: Making the Case for Admitting Expert Testimony on Demeanour of Intellectually Disabled Witnesses’ Law of Evidence/Criminal Procedure, Dublin City University, Dublin 12 October 2018 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Integration, Not Accommodation: Making the Case for Admitting Expert Testimony on Demeanour of Intellectually Disabled Witnesses’ Law of Evidence/Criminal Procedure, Dublin City University, Dublin 12 October 2018 [invited paper]. Invited Seminars [Details]
2018 ‘Victims in the Irish Criminal Process’ National Senior Investigating Officer Conference 2018, Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath, 14 November 2018 [invited paper].
Alan Cusack and Shane Kilcommins (2018) ‘Victims in the Irish Criminal Process’ National Senior Investigating Officer Conference 2018, Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath, 14 November 2018 [invited paper]. Invited Seminars [Details]
2016 ‘Exclusion by Design: Adversarial Barriers to Achieving Best Evidence from Victims of Hate Crime with Disabilities’, International Network for Hate Studies Conference, University of Limerick, 24- 27 May 2016.
Alan Cusack (2016) ‘Exclusion by Design: Adversarial Barriers to Achieving Best Evidence from Victims of Hate Crime with Disabilities’, International Network for Hate Studies Conference, University of Limerick, 24- 27 May 2016. Invited Seminars [Details]
2015 ‘Deaf Victims of Crime in Ireland: Identifying Challenges and Recognising the Need for Change’, Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights Seminar Series, (Discussant), 29 April 2015.
Alan Cusack (2015) ‘Deaf Victims of Crime in Ireland: Identifying Challenges and Recognising the Need for Change’, Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights Seminar Series, (Discussant), 29 April 2015. Invited Seminars [Details]
2014 ‘Life in a Corporate Law Firm’, Invited Company Law Lecture, School of Law, NUI Galway, 24 March 2014.
Alan Cusack (2014) ‘Life in a Corporate Law Firm’, Invited Company Law Lecture, School of Law, NUI Galway, 24 March 2014. Invited Seminars [Details]

Media

  Year Publication
2020 RTE Drivetime Interview, RTE Radio 1.
Alan Cusack (2020) RTE Drivetime Interview, RTE Radio 1. Media [Details]
2017 ‘Live Link Testimony' - Invited Radio Interview for Sean Moncrieff Show, Newstalk FM (11 January 2017).
Alan Cusack (2017) ‘Live Link Testimony' - Invited Radio Interview for Sean Moncrieff Show, Newstalk FM (11 January 2017). Media [Details]
2018 'Radio Interview with Josh Prenderville (Legal Aid) on Limerick Today Show', Live 95FM (8 June 2018).
Alan Cusack (2018) 'Radio Interview with Josh Prenderville (Legal Aid) on Limerick Today Show', Live 95FM (8 June 2018). Media [Details]
2018 'Radio Interview with Joe Nash on Limerick Today Show', Live 95FM (3 May 2018).
Alan Cusack (2018) 'Radio Interview with Joe Nash on Limerick Today Show', Live 95FM (3 May 2018). Media [Details]

Newspaper Articles

  Year Publication
2018 ‘Enabling Vulnerable Victims to Report Crime’, Irish Examiner, 19 December 2018.
Alan Cusack (2018) ‘Enabling Vulnerable Victims to Report Crime’, Irish Examiner, 19 December 2018. Newspaper Articles [DOI] [Details]
2016 ‘Making the Case for Introducing Pre-Trial Cross-Examination', Irish Examiner, 28 September 2016.
Alan Cusack (2016) ‘Making the Case for Introducing Pre-Trial Cross-Examination', Irish Examiner, 28 September 2016. Newspaper Articles [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2021 Special Merit Award, HSE Open Access Research Awards 2021, December 2021 Health Service Executive (HSE)
2017 Postgraduate Course of the Year in Law, LLM General (Author) Gradireland Higher Education Awards
2017 Gold Medal, Best Letter to the Editor, Cork Online Law Review University College Cork
2015 Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford University of Oxford
2014 PhD Research Training Scheme Scholarship, Graduate School of the College of Business and Law, University College Cork Graduate School of the College of Business and Law, University College Cork
2014 IALT Conference 2014 PhD Scholarship, Irish Association of Law Teachers Irish Association of Law Teachers
2013 Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Scholarship The Irish Research Council
2013 Faculty of Law PhD Scholarship, University College Cork Faculty of Law, University College Cork

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Irish Criminal Justice and Disability Network Director 01-JUL-18 / 24-FEB-19
Garda Training College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary Alternate Chair, Quality Assurance Board 01-SEP-17 / 24-FEB-19
Irish Judicial Studies Journal Member of Editorial Board 01-AUG-18 / 24-FEB-19
Centre for Crime, Justice and Victim Studies, University of Limerick Member & Media Manager 01-SEP-17 /
The Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 Member 01-JAN-12 /
Arthur Cox Alumni Network, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 Member 01-SEP-13 /
Society of Legal Scholars Member 01-JUN-15 /
Socio-Legal Studies Association Member 01-JUN-15 /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
North-South Criminology Conference Organising Committee, University of Limerick Conference Organiser 2021 / 2023
FAHSS Athena Swan Committee, University of Limerick Chair, Student Data Working Group 2018 / 2023
COST Action 18121: Cultural Victimology Management Committee Delegate 2019 / 2023
FAHSS Athena Swan Committee, University of Limerick Chair, Student Data Working Group 2018 / 2023
Victimology Working Group, European Society of Criminology Member 2018 / 2019
The Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights (CCJHR), University College Cork Board Director 2014 / 2017
The Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights (CCJHR) Postgraduate Conference Organising Committee, University College Cork Graduate Conference Organiser 2013 / 2014

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Arthur Cox, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 Associate Solicitor 01-FEB-09 / 01-AUG-13
School of Law, University College Cork Part-Time Assistant Lecturer in the Law of Evidence 01-SEP-14 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2017 University College Cork PhD Law
2011 The Law Society of Ireland Solicitor's Parchment Law
2011 University College Dublin Diploma in Employment Law Law
2008 University College Cork LLM Law
2007 University College Cork BCL Law

Outreach Activities

  Description

  • June 2011: Participated as an on-site construction volunteer for an infrastructure relief project in Mwandi, Zambia.  

Other Activities

  Description

  • Principal Investigator, Design and Evaluation Intermediary Training Scheme, Department of Justice (2022-2025).

  • Investigator, Review of Risk Assessment Form – C.84(A), An Garda Síochána (2020 - To Date)

  • Investigator, Disability Awareness Training Pilot, An Garda Síochána (2021 - To Date)

  • Investigator, Design Easy-Read Notice of Rights (Form C.72s) for vulnerable suspects, An Garda Síochána (2021 - To Date)

  • Investigator, Review of Services to Assist in Finalisation of New Victims Charter, Department of Justice (2019 - 2020)

  • Investigator, Review of Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence 2016-2021 (2019 - To Date).

  • Researcher, Vulnerable Witness Inter-Agency Group, Rape Crisis Network Ireland (2016- To Date)

  • Researcher, Victim Participation in Criminal Proceedings, University of Oxford (February - April 2015)

  • Editor, Irish Judicial Studies Journal (2018 - To Date).

  • Management Committee Delegate, COST Action CA18121: Cultural Victimology (2019 - 2023).

  • Reviewer, Journal of Criminology (2021 - To Date)

  • Reviewer, Criminology and Criminal Justice (2021 - To Date)

  • Reviewer, International Journal of Evidence and Proof (2019 - To Date)

  • PhD Examiner, Andrew Lacey, University of Limerick (20 April 2021)

  • PhD Examiner, Stephen Strauss Walsh, University of Limerick (21 November 2020)

  • Convener and Founder, CCJHR Working Group Book Club (2014- 2017)

  • Completed Disability Law Summer School, Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway (June 2014)

Teaching Interests

Teaching Courses Completed:
Sep-May 2016: Scholarly Approaches to Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, University College Cork. 
Sep-May 2015: Teaching and Learning for Graduate Students, University College Cork.
Sep-May 2019: Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, University College Cork.

Recent Postgraduates

  Graduation Student Name University Degree Thesis
2023 Gautam Gulati University of Limerick PhD “Enhancing Intellectual Disabilities Awareness in Irish Law Enforcement Interactions”
2020 Gráinne Jennings University of Limerick PhD Product, Process and Planning: Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap: Re-conceptualising Initial Police Education and Training Through a Problem-Based Pedagogy

Modules Taught

  Term (ID)) Title Link Subject
2022 Covert Operations Management LA5212Covert Operations Management
2021 Penology and Victimology (Online) LA5061Penology and Victimology (Online)
2021 Advanced Legal Research Methods (Online) LA5051Advanced Legal Research Methods (Online)
2021 Policing and Human Rights Law in Ireland LA4009Policing and Human Rights Law in Ireland
2021 GNCSIS - Foundation Principles LA4009GNCSIS - Foundation Principles
2021 The Law of Evidence LA4082The Law of Evidence
2020 Commercial Law LA4022Commercial Law
2018 Commercial Law (Revenue) TT4112Commercial Law (Revenue)
2020 Advanced Legal Research Methods LA6001Advanced Legal Research Methods
2020 Intellectual Property Law LA4036Intellectual Property Law
2020 Law of Evidence (Online) LA4101Law of Evidence (Online)
2020 Penology and Victimology LA6051Penology and Victimology
2017 Law of the European Union 1 LA4033Law of the European Union
2020 International Protection of Intellectual Property Rights LA6112International Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
2020 Dissertation Methodology LA6002Dissertation Methodology