Deirdre Malone

Ms Malone, who has previously worked as a barrister in private practice, stepped down as executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) earlier this month in order to take up the new role.

Eilis Barry, FLAC chief executive, told Irish Legal News: “We are delighted to welcome Deirdre Malone to the PILA team in FLAC. Deirdre brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom to the new role and we look forward to working with her.”

Ms Malone added: “FLAC has an admirable reputation as a human rights and social justice organisation that works tirelessly for the most marginalised in society.

“I am honoured to be part of their PILA project, a public interest law network that seeks to engage civil society and the legal community in using the law to advance social change and I look forward very much to contributing to building the capacity of non-governmental organisations to engage in public interest law in Ireland.”