Sexual offending laws to be examined in new book

Sexual Offending in Ireland: Laws, Procedures and Punishment has been written by Dr Susan Leahy and Dr Margaret Fitzgerald O’Reilly, law lecturers at the University of Limerick.

The book comes in the wake of recent reforms under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016.

Part 1 provides a comprehensive account of the substantive law on sexual offences, covering the primary sexual offences against adult victims, as well as those relating to victims who are under the age of consent or who have limited decision-making capacity.

Part 2 looks at procedural issues surrounding trial and evidence. It incorporates a critical analysis of recent developments in evidence-related issues that have arisen in recent years. This part covers the special rules of evidence which apply in sexual offence trials, as well as describing the special procedures which may apply in sexual offence trials to protect victims from secondary victimisation.

Part 3 provides a comprehensive examination of how those convicted of sexual offending are sentenced in the Irish courts, and explains the post-release orders and requirements a convicted sex offender may be subject to in the aftermath of imprisonment.

The 500-page book is due to be published this Autumn/Winter.