Timeline & History

Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2024-2027 finalised

Website and Logo development

Work underway to develop a new website and update the ICPO logo

Transfer of Sentenced Persons (Repatriation)

The Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on the 01 March 2023.  This Act transposes Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA which governs intra-EU prisoner transfers into Irish law.  The Act also amends existing Irish law on the transfer of prisoners to facilitate transfers between Ireland and non-EU states including the UK, which has long been problematic.

Client Survey specific to Female clients

The ICPO’s first client survey specific to our female clients was sent to approximately 73 clients in UK prisons. At that time all our female clients were in the UK.

Client Survey

One of the Strategic Priorities of the ICPO Strategic Plan 2020 – 2023 is “Undertaking further research into clients’ needs to better understand the nature of the supports required.”  To this end, the ICPO devised a survey which was included in the Christmas Newsletter which was sent to ICPO clients in almost 30 countries.

ICPO Strategic Plan

ICPO first Strategic Plan covering the years 2020-2023 was agreed

Covid 19

Like many organisations, ICPO had to adapt its services as a result of the pandemic.  The majority of ICPO clients were subjected to heightened restrictions and lockdown during the pandemic.  In addition to individual casework via phone, email and letter, the ICPO increased its provision of hardship grants to enable clients to stay in contact with loved ones and the ICPO

New ICPO Database

ICPO database came online in May.

30^th Anniversary Conference

The 30^th Anniversary Conference was held in Dublin Castle with the theme Reaching Out-Supporting Irish Prisoners Overseas and Their Families. The Conference was addressed by President Higgins and the then Minister for Justice. ICPO commissioned research Resettlement Needs of Returning Ex-Prisoners to Ireland was presented at the Conference

ICPO Website

The ICPO launched a new website (www.icpo.ie) containing information for prisoners and their families and links to other support organisations.

Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award

The Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award was awarded to Sr Agnes Hunt, volunteer with ICPO

ICPO 25^th Anniversary

To mark the 25^th Anniversary of the ICPO a conference was held in Dublin. The theme was ‘Bridging the Distance-Supporting Irish Prisoners Overseas and their Families’

The Flood Report

The Report on Irish Prisoners Abroad (Flood Report) was a direct result of the research commissioned by the IECE Emigration and Emigrant Services: Research Project and Strategic Plan for 1998-2010. The report’s recommendations reflected the campaigns and strategies spearheaded by ICPO since 1985 and made a number of recommendations.

ICPO Twentieth Anniversary

ICPO marked its twentieth anniversary with a conference in Dublin entitled ‘Doing Time: Prisoners Overseas and their Families’.

Listowel Writers Week

ICPO partnered with Listowel Writers Week and the first entries for Irish people in prison overseas were accepted in the competition.

St Vincent De Paul Grant

After learning about the work of the ICPO from ICPO staff, the St Vincent De Paul committed to ongoing support for the work of the ICPO

Move to Columba Centre, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

The ICPO moved its offices from Parnell Street in Dublin to Maynooth

Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995

This Act enabled Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and provided for the transfer of sentenced persons in and out of the State

Penfriend Scheme

The ICPO introduced a penfriend scheme for Irish prisoners overseas

Birmingham Six convictions quashed

The six men were wrongly convicted of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings and sentenced to life. They were finally released after spending 17 years in prison when their conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal after being declared unsafe and unsatisfactory.

ICPO Development Plan

This set out ICPO objectives for the following four years and identified key areas

ICPO review.

Arose from ICPO’s attendance at the failed appeal by the Birmingham Six in early 1988. The negative decision indicated the need for the expansion of ICPO services to include casework

ICPO formally established.

Founders included, Anastasia Crickley, Breda Slattery and P J Byrne of Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants (IECE) with the support of Bobby Gilmore of the Irish Chaplaincy. Initial set up funds were provided by the Bishops’ Conference. ICPO championed cause of wrongfully convicted Irish people including the Birmingham Six.

Annual Chaplains Conference in Dublin

Cardinal Ó Fiaich recognised the “obvious need for some group or agency which will disclose the hardship being caused to the detainees and their families

Plea by Sr Sarah Clarke

Sr Sarah called on the Irish Bishops to offer pastoral support to families of Irish prisoners in UK