Susan Leahy


Contact Details

Senior Lecturer
School of Law
Foundation Building
University of Limerick
Castletroy, Limerick.
T: +353 61 202386
E: Susan.Leahy@ul.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Susan Leahy, BCL, LLM, PhD (UCC), is a senior lecturer in law at UL. Susan’s primary research interests lie in the areas of criminal justice (with particular emphasis on sexual violence and victims of crime) and family law (specifically domestic abuse and marriage). Her PhD research was funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Her thesis was entitled The Rules and Realities of Consent in Irish Sexual Offences Law: Perspectives on Reform and examined the rules relating to consent in Irish sexual offences legislation. She has published her research on sexual offences, victims' rights and family law in both national and international journals including the Common Law World Review, the International Journal of Evidence and Proof, the Journal of Criminal Law, and the Child and Family Law Quarterly. She has co-authored two books: Sexual Offending in Ireland: Laws, Procedures and Punishment, (Clarus, 2018) (with Dr Margaret Fitzgerald-O'Reilly) and The Victim in the Irish Criminal Process (Manchester University Press, 2018) (with Prof Shane Kilcommins, Dr Kathleen Moore-Walsh and Dr Eimear Spain). She has completed  a number of funded research projects on sexual offences, gender-based violence and victims of crime. Her funded research includes a 2021 report, The Realities of Irish Rape Trials: Perspectives from Practice, which was funded by the Irish Research Council and conducted in partnership with Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. This research involved interviews with Irish legal professionals and court accompaniment workers who work within Irish rape trials.
Susan lectures in Criminology, Family Law and Media Law. She completed a specialist diploma in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship at UL in 2014. She is the director of the BA (Criminal Justice) and director of the Centre for Crime, Justice and Victim Studies (CCJVS).   

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]
2018 Sexual Offending in Ireland: Laws, Procedures and Punishment.
Susan Leahy and Margaret Fitzgerald O'Reilly (2018) Sexual Offending in Ireland: Laws, Procedures and Punishment. Dublin: Clarus Press. [Details]
2017 Sports Law in Ireland.
Donnellan L, (with Leahy S) (2017) Sports Law in Ireland. Netherlands: (2nd edn, Kluwer 2017). [Details]
2014 Sports Law in Ireland.
Donnellan L, and Leahy S, (2014) Sports Law in Ireland. Netherlands: (Kluwer 2014). [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
2023 ''Protection from Family Abuse''
Leahy, S (2023) ''Protection from Family Abuse'' In: Harding, M & McGowan, D (eds). 'Family Law in Context'. Dublin: Clarus Press. [Details]
2022 '‘Effectively Recognizing and Punishing Sexual Coercion: Proposals for Reform’'
Leahy, S. (2022) '‘Effectively Recognizing and Punishing Sexual Coercion: Proposals for Reform’' In: Bows, H & Herring, J (eds). 'Rough Sex’ and the Criminal Law: Global Perspectives'. UK: Emerald Publishing. [Details]
2019 'Sexual Offences Law in Ireland Countering Gendered Stereotypes in Adjudications of Consent in Rape Trials'
Leahy, S (2019) 'Sexual Offences Law in Ireland Countering Gendered Stereotypes in Adjudications of Consent in Rape Trials' In: LAW AND GENDER IN MODERN IRELAND: CRITIQUE AND REFORM. OXFORD: HART PUBLISHING LTD. [Details]
2021 ''Regulation of media and social media comment on rape trials: Achieving best practice''
Leahy, S. (2021) ''Regulation of media and social media comment on rape trials: Achieving best practice'' In: Killean, Dowds and McAlinden (eds). 'Sexual Violence on Trial: Local and Comparative Perspectives'. Oxon: Routledge. [DOI] [Details]
2019 '‘Recognition of Muslim Marriages Ceremonies in Ireland: An Analysis’'
Leahy, S and O'Sullivan, K (2019) '‘Recognition of Muslim Marriages Ceremonies in Ireland: An Analysis’' In: O'Sullivan, K (eds). Minority Religions under Irish Law: Islam in National and International Context. Leiden: Netherlands: Brill. [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2016 'The absence of regulatory crime from the criminal law curriculum'
Kilcommins S.;Leahy S.;Spain E. (2016) 'The absence of regulatory crime from the criminal law curriculum' In: The Teaching of Criminal Law: The pedagogical imperatives. [DOI] [Details]
2018 '‘Sexual Offences Law: the Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Adjudications of Consent in Rape Trials in Ireland’'
Leahy, S (2018) '‘Sexual Offences Law: the Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Adjudications of Consent in Rape Trials in Ireland’' In: Law and Gender in Modern Ireland: Critique and Reform. Oxford: Hart. [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]
2018 '‘Section 5 Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 (Ireland)’'
Leahy, S (2018) '‘Section 5 Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 (Ireland)’' In: 'Women's Legal Landmarks: Celebrating 100 Years of Women in Law in the UK and Ireland'. Oxford: Hart. [Details]
2016 '‘The Absence of Regulatory Crime from the Criminal Law Curriculum''
Kilcommins, S, Leahy, S and Spain, E (2016) '‘The Absence of Regulatory Crime from the Criminal Law Curriculum'' In: The Teaching of Criminal Law: The Pedagogical Imperatives. London: Routledge. [ULIR Link] [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2023 'Consent in Irish Rape Trials: Rules, Realities and Reform'
Leahy, S. (2023) 'Consent in Irish Rape Trials: Rules, Realities and Reform'. Irish Judicial Studies Journal, 7 (1):82-96 [Details]
2023 'Still a private matter? Evaluating the Irish State's response to domestic abuse'
Leahy S. (2023) 'Still a private matter? Evaluating the Irish State's response to domestic abuse'. International Journal of Law, Policy & the Family, 37 (1) [DOI] [Details]
2022 '‘What Is Next for Irish Law and Policy on Domestic Abuse?: Lessons from our Neighbours’'
Leahy, S (2022) '‘What Is Next for Irish Law and Policy on Domestic Abuse?: Lessons from our Neighbours’'. Irish Journal Of Family Law, 25 (4):65-72 [Details]
2021 'Regulation of media and social media comment on rape trials: Achieving best practice'
Leahy S. (2021) 'Regulation of media and social media comment on rape trials: Achieving best practice'. Sexual Violence On Trial: Local And Comparative Perspectives, :149-161 [DOI] [Details]
2020 'Female Sex Offenders in Ireland: Examining the Response of the Criminal Justice System'
Leahy S. (2020) 'Female Sex Offenders in Ireland: Examining the Response of the Criminal Justice System'. Journal Of Contemporary Criminal Justice, [DOI] [Details]
2019 'Criminal Offences Relating to Marriage Formation: Reflections on Recent Developments'
Leahy, S (2019) 'Criminal Offences Relating to Marriage Formation: Reflections on Recent Developments'. Irish Journal Of Family Law, 22 (4):87-93 [Details]
2019 'Unrecognised Muslim Marriage in Ireland: Incidence and Implications'
Leahy S.;OżSullivan K. (2019) 'Unrecognised Muslim Marriage in Ireland: Incidence and Implications'. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, [DOI] [Details]
2018 '‘Changing Conceptions of Marriage in Ireland: Law and Practice’'
Leahy, S and O'Sullivan, K (2018) '‘Changing Conceptions of Marriage in Ireland: Law and Practice’'. Child and Family Law Quarterly, 30 (3):279-300 [ULIR Link] [Details]
2017 ''The Domestic Violence Bill: A Good Start but Not Enough''
Leahy, S (2017) ''The Domestic Violence Bill: A Good Start but Not Enough''. Irish Journal Of Family Law, [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 ''Responding Effectively to Domestic Burglary: A Critique of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015''
Kiely, T and Leahy, S (2017) ''Responding Effectively to Domestic Burglary: A Critique of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015''. Irish Criminal Law Journal, [ULIR Link] [Details]
2017 '‘Exploring the impact of the Victims’ Directive on service provision for victims of crime in Ireland’'
Leahy, S and Spain, E (2017) '‘Exploring the impact of the Victims’ Directive on service provision for victims of crime in Ireland’'. Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly, [ULIR Link] [Details]
2016 '‘Too Much Information? Regulating Disclosure of Complainants’ Personal Records in Sexual Offence Trials’'
Leahy, S (2016) '‘Too Much Information? Regulating Disclosure of Complainants’ Personal Records in Sexual Offence Trials’'. Criminal Law Review, (4):229-244 [ULIR Link] [Details]
2014 ' ‘“No Means No” But Where’s the Force? Addressing the Challenges of Formally Recognising Non-Violent Sexual Coercion as a Serious Criminal Offence’'
Leahy, S (2014) ' ‘“No Means No” But Where’s the Force? Addressing the Challenges of Formally Recognising Non-Violent Sexual Coercion as a Serious Criminal Offence’'. Journal Of Criminal Law, 78 (4):309-325 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2014 ''Book Review: Thomas O'Malley, Sexual Offences, 2nd ed''
Susan Leahy (2014) ''Book Review: Thomas O'Malley, Sexual Offences, 2nd ed''. Irish Jurist, 52 :174-176 [Details]
2014 ''Whether Rules or Discretion? Developing a Best Practice Model for Controlling the Admissibility of Sexual Experience Evidence in Sexual Offence Trials''
Susan Leahy (2014) ''Whether Rules or Discretion? Developing a Best Practice Model for Controlling the Admissibility of Sexual Experience Evidence in Sexual Offence Trials''. Irish Journal of Legal Studies, 4 (1):65-91 [ULIR Link] [Details]
2014 ''The corroboration warning in sexual offence trials: final vestige of the historic suspicion of sexual offence complainants or a necessary protection for defendants?''
Susan Leahy (2014) ''The corroboration warning in sexual offence trials: final vestige of the historic suspicion of sexual offence complainants or a necessary protection for defendants?''. The International Journal of Evidence and Proof, 18 (1):41-64 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2014 ''Bad Laws or Bad Attitudes? Assessing the Impact of Societal Attitudes upon the Conviction Rate for Rape in Ireland''
Leahy, S (2014) ''Bad Laws or Bad Attitudes? Assessing the Impact of Societal Attitudes upon the Conviction Rate for Rape in Ireland''. Irish Journal Of Applied Social Studies, 14 (1):18-29 [ULIR Link] [Details]
2014 '‘Reform of Irish Rape Law: The Need for a Legislative Definition of Consent’'
Leahy, S (2014) '‘Reform of Irish Rape Law: The Need for a Legislative Definition of Consent’'. Common Law World Review, 43 (3):231-263 [DOI] [Details]
2014 ' 'Acknowledging the role of the Criminal Justice System in Combatting Domestic Violence: Assessing the Recent Law Reform Commission's Recommendations''
Leahy, S (2014) ' 'Acknowledging the role of the Criminal Justice System in Combatting Domestic Violence: Assessing the Recent Law Reform Commission's Recommendations''. Irish Journal Of Family Law, (1) [ULIR Link] [Details]
2013 ''Summing Up in Rape Trials: The Challenge of Guiding Effectively and without Prejudice''
Leahy, S. (2013) ''Summing Up in Rape Trials: The Challenge of Guiding Effectively and without Prejudice''. Irish Criminal Law Journal, 23 (4):102-107 [ULIR Link] [Details]
2013 'When Honest is not Good Enough: The Need for Reform of the Honest Belief Defence in Irish Rape Law'
Leahy, Susan (2013) 'When Honest is not Good Enough: The Need for Reform of the Honest Belief Defence in Irish Rape Law'. Irish Criminal Law Journal, 23 (1):2-10 [Details]
2012 'The Defendant's Right or a Bridge Too Far? Regulating Defence Access to Complainants' Counselling Records in Sexual Offence Cases Part 1''
Leahy, S (2012) 'The Defendant's Right or a Bridge Too Far? Regulating Defence Access to Complainants' Counselling Records in Sexual Offence Cases Part 1''. Irish Criminal Law Journal, 22 (1) [Details]
2012 'The Defendant's Right or a Bridge Too Far? Regulating Defence Access to Complainants' Counselling Records in Sexual Offence Cases Part 2'
Leahy, S (2012) 'The Defendant's Right or a Bridge Too Far? Regulating Defence Access to Complainants' Counselling Records in Sexual Offence Cases Part 2'. Irish Criminal Law Journal, 22 (2) [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
2021 'Education and training for nurses and midwives to conduct Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations (SAFE): a systematic Review'
Noonan, M. Coffey, A. Doody, O. Atkinson, S. Bradshaw, C. Hennessey, T. McCarthy, M. Dore, L. Leahy, S. O'Connor, S. Bannerman, M. McSherry, E. Grealish, AM. (2021) 'Education and training for nurses and midwives to conduct Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations (SAFE): a systematic Review' PROSPERO, . [Details]
2008 '‘In a Woman’s Voice: A Feminist Analysis of Irish Rape Law’'
Leahy, S (2008) '‘In a Woman’s Voice: A Feminist Analysis of Irish Rape Law’' Irish Law TImes, 26 . [Details]
2008 'Review of Sexual Assault and the Justice Gap: A Question of Attitude?'
Leahy, S (2008) 'Review of Sexual Assault and the Justice Gap: A Question of Attitude?' Web Journal of Current Legal Issues, 5 . [Details]
2008 '‘Hard Cases and Bad Law: An Overview of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006’'
Leahy, S (2008) '‘Hard Cases and Bad Law: An Overview of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006’' Irish Law Times, 26 . [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
2021 'The Realities of Rape Trials in Ireland: Perspectives from Practice'.
Leahy, S (2021) 'The Realities of Rape Trials in Ireland: Perspectives from Practice'. Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Dublin. [Details]
2021 Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Training for Nurses and Midwives: National and International Evidence to Inform Future Training in Ireland.
Noonan, M., Doody, O., Atkinson S., Grealish, AM, Hennessey, T., Bradshaw, C., McCarthy, J., Dore, L., Leahy, S., Bannerman, M., McSherry, E., Coffey, A. (2021) Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Training for Nurses and Midwives: National and International Evidence to Inform Future Training in Ireland. University of Limerick and Health Service Executive, Limerick. [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]
2016 National or transnational projects to support victims of crime Justice Programme (JUST/2014/SPOB/AG/VICT): Draft National Report Ireland.
Ryan, A; Leahy, S and Kilcommins, S (2016) National or transnational projects to support victims of crime Justice Programme (JUST/2014/SPOB/AG/VICT): Draft National Report Ireland. Greece, Greece. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
2022 National Sexual Assault Treatment Unit Study Day,
Noonan, M., Doody, O., Atkinson S., Grealish, AM, Hennessey, T., Bradshaw, C., McCarthy, J., Dore, L., Leahy, S., Bannerman, M., McSherry, E., Coffey, A. (2022) Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Training for Nurses and Midwives: National and International Evidence to Inform Future Training. [Invited Oral Presentation], National Sexual Assault Treatment Unit Study Day, National Sexual Assault Treatment Unit Study Day , 20-OCT-22 [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
2022 Annual North-South Criminology Conference
Leahy, S (2022) ‘The Realities of Irish Rape Trials: Perspectives from Practice’ Annual North-South Criminology Conference [Details]
2022 Crime, Justice and the Human Condition: Howard League for Penal Reform
Leahy, S (2022) ‘Re-Imagining Justice in Rape Trials: Irish Practitioners’ Perspectives on Reform’ Crime, Justice and the Human Condition: Howard League for Penal Reform [Details]
2022 , Research GBA- Online Conference on Best Practice in Engaged Research & Research Translation in DSGBA
Leahy, S (2022) ‘The Realities of Irish Rape Trials Project: Key Findings and Recommendations’ , Research GBA- Online Conference on Best Practice in Engaged Research & Research Translation in DSGBA [Details]
2021 Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Cardiff (virtual event)
Leahy, S. (2021) ‘The Realities of Irish Rape Trials: Perspectives from Practice’ Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Cardiff (virtual event) [Details]
2020 Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Webinar
Leahy, S. (2020) ‘Best Practice in Capturing Attitudes to Consent and Designing Appropriate Education and Awareness Initiatives in Ireland’ Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Webinar [Details]
2020 Round-Table on Consent in Sexual Offences Law, Queen’s University Belfast
Leahy, S. (2020) ‘Rape within Relationships: Addressing the Challenges of Proving an Absence of Consent’ Round-Table on Consent in Sexual Offences Law, Queen’s University Belfast [Details]
2019 6th Annual Irish Criminal Justice Agencies Conference: Sexual Offences: The Challenge of Balancing Rights in the Criminal Justice System, Dublin Castle
Leahy, S. (2019) ‘Consent in Rape trials: Turning Laws into Reality’ 6th Annual Irish Criminal Justice Agencies Conference: Sexual Offences: The Challenge of Balancing Rights in the Criminal Justice System, Dublin Castle [Details]
2019 New Directions in Sexual Violence Workshop, University of Bristol
Leahy, S. (2019) ‘Reflecting Women’s Lived Experience of Rape within Relationships in the Irish Criminal Justice System’ New Directions in Sexual Violence Workshop, University of Bristol [Details]
2019 Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Birmingham
Leahy, S. (2019) ‘Current Debates and Controversies Regarding the Rape Trial Process in Ireland: An Overview’ Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Birmingham [Details]
2018 Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Bristol
Leahy, S., Fitzgerald-O'Reilly, M. (2018) ‘Exploring the Irish Legal System’s Response to Women Who Sexually Abuse and Exploit Children’ Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Bristol [Details]
2018 Europe’s New Migrants: Marriage Practices and Policies, University of Birmingham, 17th April 2018
Leahy, S. O'Sullivan, K. (2018) ‘The Position of the Unrecognised Muslim “Spouse”: A Comparative analysis of Ireland and England’ Europe’s New Migrants: Marriage Practices and Policies, University of Birmingham, 17th April 2018 [Details]
2018 Sexual Offences on Trial Conference, Queen's University Belfast
Leahy, S. (2018) ‘Best Practice in Rape Trials: Reflections from the Republic of Ireland’ Sexual Offences on Trial Conference, Queen's University Belfast [Details]
2017 Minority Religions under Irish Law Symposium, University of Limerick, Ireland
O'Sullivan K; Leahy S (2017) ‘Recognition of Muslim Marriages Ceremonies in Ireland: An Analysis’ Minority Religions under Irish Law Symposium, University of Limerick, Ireland [Details]
2017 Unregistered Muslim Marriages – Regulations and Contestations Symposium
OSullivan, K; Leahy S (2017) ‘Muslim Marriage Recognition in Ireland: Theory and Practice?’ Unregistered Muslim Marriages – Regulations and Contestations Symposium De Monfort University, Leicester, England, [Details]
2017 Unregistered Muslim Marriages: Regulations and Contestations, De Montfort University, Leicester
Leahy, S and O'Sullivan, K (2017) 'Muslim Marriage Recognition in Ireland: Theory and Practice' Unregistered Muslim Marriages: Regulations and Contestations, De Montfort University, Leicester [Details]
2017 Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference 2017
Leahy, S (2017) 'Sexual Offences Law Reform in Ireland: The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017' Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference 2017 [Details]
2016 Institute of Guidance Counsellors National Conference 2016
Kilcommins, S, Ryan, A & Leahy, S (2016) 'Privilege, Mandatory Reporting of Offences, Third Party Disclosure' Institute of Guidance Counsellors National Conference 2016 [Details]
2016 Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2016
O'Sullivan, K and Leahy, S (2016) ''The Civil Registration Act 2004- Implications for Muslim Marriages' Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2016 [Details]
2016 Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference
O'Sullivan, K; Leahy, S (2016) ‘Muslim Marriage Recognition in Ireland: Unseen Challenges’ Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference University of Oxford, England, [Details]
2016 Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference
Leahy, S (2016) A Defendant’s Right or Information Overload? The Introduction of Complainants’ Personal Records in Sexual Offence Trials Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference [Details]
2015 Legal Practitioners' CPD Event, University of Limerick
Susan Leahy (2015)  ‘Some Thoughts on the Children and Relationships Act 2015: The Parental Perspective' Legal Practitioners' CPD Event, University of Limerick [Details]
2015 ADAPT Domestic Abuse Services 40th Anniversary National Conference, 'The Changing Face of Domestic Abuse'
Susan Leahy (2015) 'Legal Responses to Domestic Violence: A Lot Done but More to Do' ADAPT Domestic Abuse Services 40th Anniversary National Conference, 'The Changing Face of Domestic Abuse' [Details]
2015 'Victims' Rights: An Agenda for Change'
Susan Leahy (2015) “Sexual Offences Law Reform in the Shadow of the Victims’ Directive: Reflections on the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014” 'Victims' Rights: An Agenda for Change' [Details]
2014 Institute of Guidance Counsellors CPD Event
Shane Kilcommins, Andrea Ryan, Susan Leahy (2014) 'Privilege, Third Party Disclosure and Mandatory Reporting of Offences' Institute of Guidance Counsellors CPD Event [Details]
2014 Criminal Law Pedagogy Workshop
Shane Kilcommins, Eimear Spain, Susan Leahy (2014) 'Paradigmatic Criminal Law: Assumptions and Commitments' Criminal Law Pedagogy Workshop [Details]
2014 Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference
Margaret Fitzgerald-O'Reilly and Susan Leahy (2014) 'Reform of the Rules Relating to Bad Character Evidence in Rape Trials' Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference [Details]
2013 University of Limerick Student Law Society Conference: Women's Rights
Susan Leahy (2013) 'Reform of Irish Rape Law: Socio-Legal Perspectives' University of Limerick Student Law Society Conference: Women's Rights [Details]
2013 North-South Criminology Conference
Susan Leahy (2013) 'Summing Up in Rape Trials: The Challenge of Guiding Effectively without Prejudicing the Complainant or the Defendant' North-South Criminology Conference [Details]
2013 Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference
Margaret Fitzgerald O'Reilly and Susan Leahy (2013) 'Sentencing in Sexual Offence Cases in Ireland: Contemporary Challenges' Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference [Details]
2012 North-South Criminology Conference
Susan Leahy (2012) ‘Protecting Complainants in Sexual Offence Trials: Reform of the Rules Regulating the Admissibility of Sexual Experience Evidence in Sexual Offence Trials’ North-South Criminology Conference [Details]
2010 University College Cork Postgraduate Conference
Susan Leahy (2010) ‘Avoiding the Dangers of Reactionary Law-Making in Sexual Offences Law Reform: Protecting the Rights of Complainants and Defendants’ University College Cork Postgraduate Conference [Details]
2010 North-South Criminology Conference
Susan Leahy (2010) ‘Reform of the Rules on Consent in Irish Sexual Offences Legislation’ North-South Criminology Conference [Details]
2009 University College Cork Postgraduate Conference
Susan Leahy (2009) ‘Beyond Balance: Achieving Fairness for Complainants and Defendants in Sexual Offences Legislation’ University College Cork Postgraduate Conference [Details]
2009 University College Dublin Annual Criminology Conference
Susan Leahy (2009) ‘Exploring the Law’s Approach to Intoxicated Consent to Sexual Activity’ University College Dublin Annual Criminology Conference [Details]
2008 Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference
Susan Leahy (2008) ‘A Consideration of the Impact of Societal Attitudes on the Operation of Sexual Offences Legislation’ Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference [Details]
2008 University College Cork Postgraduate Conference
Susan Leahy (2008) ‘Reflections on the Concept of Consent in Sexual Offences Legislation’ University College Cork Postgraduate Conference [Details]
2008 North-South Criminology Conference
Susan Leahy (2008) ‘In Search of Clarity: Suggestions for the Reform of the Law Surrounding Consent in Rape Law’ North-South Criminology Conference [Details]
2007 University College Dublin Institute of Criminology: Criminology Conference
Susan Leahy (2007) ‘A Feminist Analysis of the Irish Law on Rape’ University College Dublin Institute of Criminology: Criminology Conference [Details]

Blog

  Year Publication
2018 'A Question of Consent'.
Leahy (2018) 'A Question of Consent'. Blog [Details]
2018 Time to reconsider whether Irish law protects complainants in rape trials.
Leahy (2018) Time to reconsider whether Irish law protects complainants in rape trials. Blog [Details]
2018 Defining Consent in Irish Sexual Offences Law: Unfinished Business.
Leahy (2018) Defining Consent in Irish Sexual Offences Law: Unfinished Business. Blog [Details]
2015 'The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014: A Step in the Right Direction but Not Far Enough'.
Susan Leahy (2015) 'The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014: A Step in the Right Direction but Not Far Enough'. Blog [Details]
2013 'Reform of Irish Sexual Offences Legislation'.
Susan Leahy (2013) 'Reform of Irish Sexual Offences Legislation'. Blog [Details]
2013 'LRC Report on Sexual Offences and Capacity to Consent: A Timely Assessment of a Complex Area'.
Susan Leahy (2013) 'LRC Report on Sexual Offences and Capacity to Consent: A Timely Assessment of a Complex Area'. Blog [Details]

Conference Paper

  Year Publication
2017 Privilege, Third Party Disclosure, and Mandatory Recording of Offences.
Shane kilcommins, Susan Leahy, Andrea Ryan (2017) Privilege, Third Party Disclosure, and Mandatory Recording of Offences. Institute of Guidance Counsellors, AGM, Limerick, May 5th, 2017: Conference Paper [ULIR Link] [Details]

Editorial

  Year Publication
2017 Special Edition of the Irish Criminal Law Journal.
Susan Leahy and Margaret Fitzgerald O'Reilly (2017) Special Edition of the Irish Criminal Law Journal. Editorial [Details]
2013 Special Edition of the Irish Criminal Law Journal on Sexual Offences.
Margaret Fitzgerald O'Reilly and Susan Leahy (2013) Special Edition of the Irish Criminal Law Journal on Sexual Offences. Editorial [Details]

Newspaper Articles

  Year Publication
2022 'Unnecessary Intrusion? Disclosure of Counselling Records in Sexual Offence Trials'.
Leahy, S (2022) 'Unnecessary Intrusion? Disclosure of Counselling Records in Sexual Offence Trials'. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2021 'Opinion: Justice delayed really is justice denied in rape trials', TheJournal.ie, 22 June 2021.
Leahy, S (2021) 'Opinion: Justice delayed really is justice denied in rape trials', TheJournal.ie, 22 June 2021. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2020 Overcoming the ‘Justice Gap’: Tackling the Attitude Problem in Rape Trials.
Leahy, S (2020) Overcoming the ‘Justice Gap’: Tackling the Attitude Problem in Rape Trials. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2019 The New Offence of Coercive Control: Opportunity and Challenge.
Leahy, S (2019) The New Offence of Coercive Control: Opportunity and Challenge. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2019 'Proper training and resourcing key to safeguarding women'.
Susan Leahy (2019) 'Proper training and resourcing key to safeguarding women'. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2015 'Rape Law Needs To Be Based on A Clear Definition of Consent'.
Susan Leahy (2015) 'Rape Law Needs To Be Based on A Clear Definition of Consent'. Newspaper Articles [Details]
2014 'Law reform may change attitudes on sexual violence'.
Susan Leahy (2014) 'Law reform may change attitudes on sexual violence'. Newspaper Articles [Details]

Teaching Interests

Susan teaches Media Law (LA4013 and LA5021), Family Law (LA4038), Family Law Online (LA4081) and Criminology (LA6052). She completed a specialist diploma in Teaching, Learning and Scholarship in 2014. Susan has a keen interest in legal pedagogy and has organised workshops on legal pedagogy involving national and international experts on law teaching in UL (2014 and 2016).  Susan has co-authored (with Professor Shane Kilcommins and Dr Eimear Spain) a chapter on criminal law pedagogy which was published in Gledhill & Livings (eds), The Teaching of Criminal Law: The pedagogical perspectives (Routledge, 2017).
Susan has supervised a number of Advanced Lawyering projects for 4th year Law Plus students. These projects have focused on family law issues (e.g.  the Child and Family Relationships Act 2015 and domestic abuse legislation) and victims' rights (e.g. rights of victims of sexual offences and of families of victims of homicide). Partners on these projects have included ADAPT Domestic Abuse Services, OneinFour, Advic, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Sexual Violence Centre Cork.    

Modules Taught

  Term (ID)) Title Link Subject
Criminology LA4052
Media Law LA5021
Media Law LA4013
Family Law LA4038