Capital Punishment in Independent Ireland: A Social, Legal and Political History

This book provides a detailed and comprehensive historical account of the death penalty in Ireland from the post-civil war period to its abolition. It explores the social,legal,and political contexts in which the death penalty operated and discusses its impact on justice,class,gender,community,and sanity. The political dimension of the death penalty is also highlighted,with emergency legislation and military courts being enacted to combat the IRA. The book demonstrates how the civilian and political strands converged in the story of abolition,with lingering anxieties about subversives dictating the pace of abolition and the scope of the relevant legislation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

This comprehensive and nuanced historical survey of the death penalty in Ireland spans from the immediate post-civil war period to its complete abolition. Drawing upon original archival material, the book sheds light on the various social, legal, and political contexts in which the death penalty operated and was discussed.

In Ireland, the death penalty served two distinct purposes: first, as a form of punishment in the civilian criminal justice system, and second, as a tool to combat periodic threats to the security of the state posed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Through a close examination of cases handled in the ordinary criminal courts, this study delves into the complex interplay of ideas such as class, gender, community, and sanity, exploring their profound impact on the administration of justice. Moreover, the application of the death penalty had a strong political dimension, most evident in the enactment of emergency legislation and the establishment of military courts specifically designed to address the challenges posed by the IRA.

As the book reveals, the civilian and political strands converged in the story of the abolition of the death penalty in Ireland. Even after decision-makers recognized that the death penalty was no longer an acceptable punishment for "ordinary cases of murder," lingering anxieties about the threat of subversives dictated the pace of abolition and the scope of the relevant legislation.

This comprehensive study provides a valuable insight into the complex history of the death penalty in Ireland, shedding light on the social, legal, and political factors that shaped its implementation and eventual abolition. It serves as a testament to the enduring power of human rights and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802077070