Dr Grealy takes the reins of the independent law centre, which provides free legal advice to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, from Aoife Kelly-Desmond, who recently left to take up a new role as CEO of Community Law & Mediation.

She brings a wealth of experience, having led the Law Society of Ireland Diploma Centre for over a decade and pioneered public legal education initiatives like the Street Law Programme and rule of law projects with the CEELI Institute in Central and Eastern Europe.

In a statement, Mercy Law said: “Freda’s commitment to human rights, social justice and legal empowerment makes her a perfect fit for Mercy Law. We look forward to this exciting new chapter under her leadership.”

Dr Grealy added: “It’s an honour to join a team doing such essential, frontline legal work.

“I’m committed to building on the strong foundation already in place — ensuring our service remains client-focused, strategic, and driven by a commitment to justice.”