Eimear Spain


Contact Details

Professor of Health Law
School of Law
Foundation Building
University of Limerick
Castletroy, Limerick
T: 061 234896
 
researcher

Biography

Eimear Spain is a Professor of Health Law in a joint appointment between the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences and the School of Law. Eimear graduated with a BA in Law and Accounting and was awarded the University Medal for first place in interdisciplinary programmes upon graduation. Following completion of her PhD, Eimear took up a research position in Macquarie University in Sydney. She was subsequently appointed as a Senior Lecturer in the University of Northumbria in England before returning to take up a lecturing position in the School of Law in 2010. Prof. Spain was appointed to the Psychologist Registration Board (CORU) by the Minister for Health in 2017. 

Research Interests

Eimear’s research focuses on issues of vulnerability on the frontline in the healthcare and criminal justice systems.  She has published in the areas of health, criminal, constitutional and administrative law both nationally and internationally. She worked with and secured funding from important stakeholders including the HSE, Cosc, The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, the Department of Justice, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Irish Research Council and the Council of Europe.

Much of her research is interdisciplinary and empirical in nature, interrogating the gap between theory and practice, with colleagues from a variety of disciplines including nursing, midwifery, medicine, allied health, psychology, policing, youth justice and prisons.

Books

  Year Publication
2018 The Victim in the Irish Criminal Process.
Shane Kilcommins, Susan Leahy, Kathleen Moore Walsh, Eimear Spain (2018) The Victim in the Irish Criminal Process. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
2019 Core Statutes on Public and Human Rights Law 2019-2020.
Rhona Smith, Eimear Spain and Richard Glancey (2019) Core Statutes on Public and Human Rights Law 2019-2020. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
2014 Constitutional and Administrative Law (Nutshells).
Richard Glancey, Eimear Spain and Rhona Smith (2014) Constitutional and Administrative Law (Nutshells). London: Sweet & Maxwell. [Details]
2011 The Role of Emotions in Criminal Law Defences; Duress, Necessity and Lesser Evils.
Eimear Spain (2011) The Role of Emotions in Criminal Law Defences; Duress, Necessity and Lesser Evils. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
2019 'Defining corporate, white–collar and regulatory crime: Offences, Defences and Procedure’'
Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain (2019) 'Defining corporate, white–collar and regulatory crime: Offences, Defences and Procedure’' In: White Collar Crime in Ireland. Dublin: Clarus. [Details]
2016 'The Development of Victims Rights in Ireland'
Shane Kilcommins, Susan Leahy, and Eimear Spain (2016) 'The Development of Victims Rights in Ireland' In: Criminal Litigation. OUP: Oxford University Press. [ULIR Link] [Details]
2016 'Regulatory Crime'
Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain (2016) 'Regulatory Crime' In: Criminal Litigation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details]
2016 'Engaging with Emotions in the Legal Profession'
Eimear Spain and Timothy Ritchie (2016) 'Engaging with Emotions in the Legal Profession' In: The Emotional Dynamics of Law and Legal Discourse. Oxford: Hart. [Details]
2016 'Criminal Law Pedagogy in Ireland: the absence of the emotive, the regulatory and the gendered'
Shane Kilcommins, Susan Leahy and Eimear Spain (2016) 'Criminal Law Pedagogy in Ireland: the absence of the emotive, the regulatory and the gendered' In: Criminal Law Pedagogy. London: Routledge. [Details]
2014 'Regulatory Crime'
Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain (2014) 'Regulatory Crime' In: Criminal Litigation. Dublin: Law Society. [Details]
2012 'Teaching Legal Writing Using the Web: Possibilities and Practicalities'
Ronán Kennedy, Jennifer Schweppe and Eimear Spain (2012) 'Teaching Legal Writing Using the Web: Possibilities and Practicalities' In: Evaluating the Impact of Digital Resources in Higher Education. Limerick: NDLR. [Details]
2008 'Pregnancy and Unwanted Third Party Interference: A Woman's Rights'
Eimear Spain (2008) 'Pregnancy and Unwanted Third Party Interference: A Woman's Rights' In: The Unborn Child, Art 40.3.3, and Abortion in Ireland: 25 Years of Protection?. Dublin: Liffey Press. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2023 'Factors Impacting On The Decision Of Graduate Entry Medical School Students To Pursue A Career In Obstetrics And Gynecology in Ireland'
Spain, E., Tumelty, ME., Hannigan, A., Cinnamond, K., Cheema, A., Cotter.A. (2023) 'Factors Impacting On The Decision Of Graduate Entry Medical School Students To Pursue A Career In Obstetrics And Gynecology in Ireland'. BMC medical education, 23 [DOI] [Details]
2022 'Compulsory vaccination against Covid 19; A concise novel legal and ethical perspective on arguments of public good versus personal reticence'
Dunne, C.P., Spain, E. (2022) 'Compulsory vaccination against Covid 19; A concise novel legal and ethical perspective on arguments of public good versus personal reticence'. Irish Journal Of Medical Science, :1-6 [DOI] [Details]
2021 '“Doctors can’t be doctors all of the time”: a qualitative study of how general practitioners and medical students negotiate public- professional and private-personal realms using social media”'
Marshall, M.,Niranjan, V., Spain, E., MacDonagh, J., O’Doherty, J., O’Connor, R., O’Regan, A. (2021) '“Doctors can’t be doctors all of the time”: a qualitative study of how general practitioners and medical students negotiate public- professional and private-personal realms using social media”'. British Medical Journal, [Details]
2021 '‘Gross Negligence ‘Medical’ Manslaughter in Ireland: Legal Context and Clinician Concerns’'
Tumelty, M. and Spain, E. (2021) '‘Gross Negligence ‘Medical’ Manslaughter in Ireland: Legal Context and Clinician Concerns’'. Medical Law International, 21 (4):321-342 [DOI] [Details]
2021 ''An Exploratory Study of the Impact of the Medico-Legal Environment on Surgical Practice in Ireland''
Tumelty, ME, Cinnamond, K, Hannigan, A, Tierney, S, and Spain, E. (2021) ''An Exploratory Study of the Impact of the Medico-Legal Environment on Surgical Practice in Ireland''. European Journal of Health Law, 28 :1-18 [DOI] [Details]
2020 'Covid-19: Is it reasonable to ask retired doctors to return to “duty”?'
Colum Dunne and Eimear Spain (2020) 'Covid-19: Is it reasonable to ask retired doctors to return to “duty”?'. Bmj (Online), [Details]
2019 'The psychiatric management of prisoners on hunger strike: developing a management algorithm using the Delphi technique'
Gulati G., Kelly B., O Neill C,.O Connell P., Linehan S., Spain E., Meagher D., Dunne C. (2019) 'The psychiatric management of prisoners on hunger strike: developing a management algorithm using the Delphi technique'. International Journal Of Prisoner Health, [DOI] [Details]
2019 'Study of the Attitudes and Knowledge of Irish General Practitioners to their potential role in crisis pregnancy following repeal of the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution'
Raymond O'Connor, Jane O'Doherty, M O'Mahony,Eimear Spain (2019) 'Study of the Attitudes and Knowledge of Irish General Practitioners to their potential role in crisis pregnancy following repeal of the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution'. Bjgp Open, 10 (3(4)) [Details]
2018 'GSOC, the legislative process, and the privacy rights of citizens'
Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain (2018) 'GSOC, the legislative process, and the privacy rights of citizens'. Irish Criminal Law Journal, 28 (1):1-15 [Details]
2017 'Social media and professional identity: Pitfalls and potential'
Andrew O’Regan, W.H. Smithson and Eimear Spain (2017) 'Social media and professional identity: Pitfalls and potential'. Medical teacher, [DOI] [Details]
2017 'Exploring the impact of the Victims’ Directive on service provision for victims of crime in Ireland'
Susan Leahy and Eimear Spain (2017) 'Exploring the impact of the Victims’ Directive on service provision for victims of crime in Ireland'. Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly, 68 (4):519-538 [Details]
2017 'Hunger strikes in prison: a legal perspective for psychiatrists'
Gulati G, Whelan D, Spain E, Meagher D and Dunne CP (2017) 'Hunger strikes in prison: a legal perspective for psychiatrists'. Irish Journal Of Psychological Medicine, [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2015 'Deaths in Prison Custody’ Capstone Course: Engaging Final-Year Law Students In Service Learning and Public Value'
Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain (2015) 'Deaths in Prison Custody’ Capstone Course: Engaging Final-Year Law Students In Service Learning and Public Value'. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, Online (Online):1-14 [Details]
2014 'Interpreting Life in the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act 2013'
Jennifer Schweppe and Eimear Spain (2014) 'Interpreting Life in the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act 2013'. Medico-Legal Journal of Ireland, 20 (2):93-97 [Details]
2013 'Love in Life and Death'
Eimear Spain (2013) 'Love in Life and Death'. Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly, 64 (1) [Details]
2013 'When is a Foetus not an Unborn? Fatal Foetal Abnormalities and Article 40.3.3'
Jennifer Schweppe and Eimear Spain, (2013) 'When is a Foetus not an Unborn? Fatal Foetal Abnormalities and Article 40.3.3'. Irish Journal of Legal Studies, [Details]
2013 'Article 40.3.3 and the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: The Impetus for, and Process of, Legislative Change'
Catherine O’Sullivan, Jennifer Schweppe and Eimear Spain (2013) 'Article 40.3.3 and the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: The Impetus for, and Process of, Legislative Change'. Irish Journal of Legal Studies, [Details]
2008 'Duress and Necessity in Ireland: Reform on the Horizon'
Eimear Spain (2008) 'Duress and Necessity in Ireland: Reform on the Horizon'. Irish Criminal Law Journal, 18 (3):70-76 [Details]
2006 'Vo v France: Reasonable Settlement or Missed Opportunity?'
Eimear Spain (2006) 'Vo v France: Reasonable Settlement or Missed Opportunity?'. Irish Journal Of Family Law, 9 (2):16-20 [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
2017 'Pioneering Police Training'
Eimear Spain, Lydia Bracken and Shane Kilcommins (2017) 'Pioneering Police Training' Garda Review, 45 (6) . [Details]
2015 'Pioneering Police Training'
Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain (2015) 'Pioneering Police Training' Garda Review, 43 (3) :4-5. [Details]
2012 'Miscarriages of Justice in Ireland; A University of Limerick Student Project'
Jennifer Schweppe and Eimear Spain (2012) 'Miscarriages of Justice in Ireland; A University of Limerick Student Project' Education, 25 (3) :28-29. [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
2014 Analysis of Text for the Final Review of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, 2010-2014.
Eimear Spain, Sarah Gibbons and Shane Kilcommins (2014) Analysis of Text for the Final Review of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, 2010-2014. Cosc, Dublin. [Details]
2016 Deaths in the Custody of the Irish Prison Service.
Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain (2016) Deaths in the Custody of the Irish Prison Service. IPS, Limerick. [Details]

Newspaper Articles

  Year Publication
2015 Clear and ambitious vision of Ireland’s police training.
Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain (2015) Clear and ambitious vision of Ireland’s police training. Dublin: Newspaper Articles [Details]
2013 Analysis: Draft abortion law has gaps which require clarification.
Jennifer Schweppe and Eimear Spain (2013) Analysis: Draft abortion law has gaps which require clarification. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2013 Column: Legal clarity needed after Marie Fleming ‘right to die’ verdict.
Eimear Spain (2013) Column: Legal clarity needed after Marie Fleming ‘right to die’ verdict. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2013 Column: Families who assist their loved ones to die will continue to feel the full wrath of the law.
Eimear Spain (2013) Column: Families who assist their loved ones to die will continue to feel the full wrath of the law. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2013 Column: Assisted suicide not permitted, but we still must find a humane path.
Eimear Spain (2013) Column: Assisted suicide not permitted, but we still must find a humane path. Newspaper Articles [Details]

Legal Rule/Regulation

  Year Publication
2013 Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No. 2) Bill 2013, Bill Number 115 of 2013 tabled in Dáil Éireann, 21st November 2013.
Fletcher, Schweppe, Spain (2013) Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No. 2) Bill 2013, Bill Number 115 of 2013 tabled in Dáil Éireann, 21st November 2013. Dublin: Legal Rule/Regulation [Details]
2013 Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No. 2) Bill 2013, Bill Number 122 of 2013.
Fletcher, Schweppe, Spain (2013) Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No. 2) Bill 2013, Bill Number 122 of 2013. Dublin: Legal Rule/Regulation [Details]