Shows
Saturday with Colm Ó MongáinShould those who serve under the Irish flag be held to a higher standard?Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn, the first Ombudsman of the Defence Forces; Martin Heydon, Minister of State at Dept of Agriculture, Food & Marine; Peadar Tóibín, Aontú leader and TD for Meath West; Claire Kerrane, Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon-Galway2024-06-2929 min
IMI Talking LeadershipPaulyn Marrinan Quinn - Women in LeadershipPaulyn Marrinan Quinn is a senior council and former ombudsman. In this edition of the IMI Talking Leadership podcast, we discuss the changing role of women in leadership.2022-12-1536 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Episode 6. Cases That Changed People's Lives - Revisited: the "Murphy Case"In episode 6, which was the last in the series, we hear about the “Murphy Case” (1982), which dealt with the taxation of married women at that time in Ireland. The sequence of events and the challenges involved in bringing this case successfully to the Supreme Court are described by acclaimed lawyer and academic Professor Yvonne Scannell who had been pivotal in raising awareness about the injustices involved with regard to the taxation of married women and ultimately bringing this case to court as a significant legal challenge - which changed the lives of many people.
2021-07-0630 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Episode 5. Cases That Changed People's Lives - Revisited: "The State (Healy) v O'Donoghue".This episode recalls the significance of the Supreme Court decision in the case of: “The State (Healy) v O’Donoghue”, and outlines the sequence of events leading to the Supreme Court decision establishing legal representation and legal aid as part of a fair trial, in Ireland at that time. There is a detailed account of the circumstances with regard to the prosecution of young offenders at a time when they could be sent to places of detention, without having had a solicitor representing them, presented by leading Irish lawyer Ercus Stewart, S.C. who had been involved in a constitutional challenge t...2021-07-0628 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Episode 3. Cases That Changed People's Lives - Revisited: the " Katharine O'Shea Divorce Case"This episode involves an analysis of the legal complexities in the divorce case of Mrs Katharine O’Shea, taken by her husband - Captain William O'Shea - in London (1890) which involved Irish Statesman - Charles Stewart Parnell.
The commentary on the 'O’Shea Divorce Case' in which Irish Politician Charles Stewart Parnell, was named as co-respondent, is provided by esteemed Irish author, biographer, and historian Frank Callanan, S.C.
2021-07-0628 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Episode 4. Cases That Changed People's Lives - Revisited: "Byrne v Ireland"Episode 4 brings to light the significance of a High Court case, the decision of which was overturned in the Supreme Court in 1971. The name of the case was “Byrne v Ireland”, the outcome of which was that the former “prerogative of immunity from suit” did not exist in Ireland after the enactment of the Constitution of the Irish Free State,1922, and therefore was not vested or continued by Articles 49 and 50 of the Constitution of Ireland, 1937. The “prerogative of immunity from suit” refers to the principle “The king could do no wrong” – meaning that the citizen could not sue the Monarch or the State.
2021-07-0629 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Episode 2. Cases That Changed People's Lives - Revisited: the "Mc Gee Case"This episode reviewed the “McGee Case” (1973), in which Mary McGee, a 27-year-old mother of four, took a case against the Attorney General and the Revenue Commissioners, in Ireland, because at that time, she could not get access to contraceptives. This case was selected by, Gerard Hogan, S.C., a leading Irish lawyer, author, and academic who provided the commentary and analysis. It must be pointed out that Gerard Hogan’s career advanced significantly, in the legal world, since the recording of his observations and contribution in 2005. Having served in the High Court and Court of Appeal, he was Ireland’s appointee...2021-07-0628 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Episode 1. Cases that Changed People's Lives - Revisited: the" De Burca Case".The first programme in the series reviewed the “De Burca Case” (1976) which was about the automatic right of women to sit on juries, or put the other way, the right of women not to have to be tried by a jury of all men. This episode benefitted from observation, commentary, and analysis from leading Irish lawyer and academic – now Judge of the Irish Supreme Court, Gerard Hogan, S.C., and had the benefit of an interview with one of the protagonists in the case – Irish journalist and writer - Máirín De Burca - who gives her first hand experience...2021-07-0628 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Bonus: Eavan Boland PostscriptIn the postscript to the Podcast Series, Paulyn pays respect to the Poet Eavan Boland who died suddenly in April 2020. In Chapter six of the Book where Mumu discusses the Corn Laws and the Great Famine in Ireland, she had referred to one of Eavan Boland’s poems – ‘Quarantine’ – never imagining that, in 2020, we would be experiencing quarantines in face of the Covid – 19 pandemic. It seems appropriate to refer to Ms Boland’s significant contribution as a woman Poet and to read her poem ‘Night Feed’.2020-07-0604 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 14
In Episode 14: we discuss many subjects in this last chapter of the Book. We reflect on words and their meanings and the need for precise clear communications in human interactions – we recognise that the essential element of good communication is listening – active listening We discuss the fact that ‘ignorance of the law is no defence’. That led us to an interesting discussion about Latin – the language of learning - and the part it plays in some legal concepts. We reflect on the fact that so many of the questions, that had come from the group of young people, that gave rise to this Book...2020-07-0628 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 13
In Episode 13: we reflect on topics with reference to the continuing unrest in the United States and the focus on violations of police power in communities that already feel alienated and are subjected to an excessive amount of police surveillance and even police brutality which is recognised to be rooted in prejudice and racism . We also look at bullying as a subject and we reflect on the difference between bullying and harassment and we delve into the many programmes that are there, both in schools, colleges and in work places which have the aim and objective of having zero tolerance for...2020-07-0622 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 12
In Episode 12: we discuss some connected themes from the ‘walk and talk’ that opened up so many relevant topics. We reflect on the wisdom handed down by some of our poets over time and we recall a comment made by Seamus Heaney, the Poet Laureate who referred to every generation being on its own conveyor belt. This led us to a discussion about technology, social media, and all of the landscape on which the upcoming generation is living and attempting to navigate. We discuss the need for scrutiny over the dissemination of information and scrutiny with regard to the potentially damagi...2020-07-0617 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 11
In Podcast Series 11: we discuss the coincidence that some of the violence we have witnessed in recent times in the United States, particularly in Minneapolis -where, as a result of excessive force by police officers in the arrest of an African American man resulting in the person’s death in front of bystanders in the street, at the side of the pavement, which has led to huge outcry worldwide. We reflect on the fact that our Book in which a number of the questions, asked by the young people, propelled us towards discussions about police forces - how they work- how they...2020-07-0627 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 10
In Episode 10: we discussed ‘breaking the mould’ and how the old pomp and circumstance and traditions at the bar and the practice of the law were gradually modified. We also shared an interesting anecdote about an eminent female Senior Counsel who caused a stir when she wore tailored black trousers in Court We recall a Bar Counsel committee meeting about a female Senior Counsel daring to wear black trousers with her senior counsel outfit. We also discussed the delays and costs of the adversarial system and looked at the emergence of mediation and the new Alternative Dispute Resolution processes (ADRs) that have...2020-07-0631 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 9
In Episode 9: we find ourselves discussing the implications of a referendum and how these can lead to outcomes that, perhaps, were not fully understood at the time of the vote - in circumstances where arguably the vote in the referendum was not a matter that was appropriate or amenable to merely a ‘yes or no vote’. The European Union Project. Brexit and questions about the influence of Social Media platforms in voting processes – harvesting votes. The role of an Ombudsman.2020-07-0626 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 8
In Episode 8: we discuss our right to ‘our good name’. Libel Laws are there to protect our right to protect our reputation and, if we take a Court Case against someone who we assert has has defamed us – the jury makes the decision on the amount that should be paid in damages if our claim is upheld. What is the value of our reputation measured? We look at written Constitutions.
2020-07-0625 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 7
In Episode 7: we go behind the subject of that chapter and discuss restorative justice and the Penal Law Reform Trusts that advocate for custodial sentences being a last resort. Prisons should just, humane, and effective. We discuss rehabilitation and reintegration into society. We discuss the famous debate that went on for many years between two eminent lawyers - one Prof. Hart, a professor of jurisprudence at Oxford University, and the other a former Judge -Lord Devlin who debated aspects of law and morality and law and its relationship to society in the 1960s. This linked to our thoughts about young of...2020-07-0625 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 6
In Episode 6: we consider the notion of bad laws, in answer to a question from one of the Learners: “Is law always right, are the courts always right, do they always get it right?”- we reviewed some laws that have brough great misery and have been introduced for the wrong reasons with the intentions of the ruling class being served rather than the people. We talk about the ‘The Fugitive Slave Act’ – when in 1850 in the southern states of the U.S they introduced the Law to punish anyone who helped a slave escape with a sanction of a 1,000 dollar fin...2020-07-0620 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 5
In Episode 5: we discuss the question of evidence and the significance of DNA fingerprinting, DNA typing and DNA profile that has assisted in more accurate identification of people who were implicated in crimes.
We also took a visit to a former British military barracks in Dublin – Collins Barracks - which is now a museum and provides an opportunity of reflecting on the cycle of wars. We then recalled the life story of a man called Harry Patch – known as ‘the last fighting Tommy’ who died at the age of 111. Harry Patch had only begun to talk about the horrors that he ha...2020-07-0616 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 4
In Episode 4: we go to visit the Courts and get a flavour of the ‘theatre of justice’ where the system plays out – we view this traditional world with its distinctive dress code and discuss the powerful image that ‘Lady Justice’ represents worldwide. I share a story about ‘the yellow V.W Beetle case’ where no remedy was available for a couple whose beautiful car was vandalised.
2020-07-0618 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 3
In Episode 3: we discuss the treatment of people in prison and consider the experience of Nelson Mandela and the length of time he was restrained in a top security prison at Robben Island. We discuss my visit to that prison and the introduction to the conditions and experience by a member of the staff who was also a prisoner called Derick Bossen. We discuss the hypocrisy of the different churches who condoned Apartheid and who appeared to close their eyes and ears to what was going on and the way that the prisoners were treated. We discuss then the importance of...2020-07-0631 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 2
Episode 2: goes a little behind the subject of policing where the discussion extends to the exploration of the necessary relationship between the police force and the community – community policing is discussed and the trust that is conveyed by members of a community to their police force into whose hands they give the power to police and at the same time respect the needs of the community and discharge their duties with a degree of restraint, balance and fairness. We discuss the issue of police complaints systems and the benefits of having a police ombudsman who can deal with complaints from member...2020-07-0612 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Behind Chapter 1
In Episode 1: we discuss the penfriend project and go behind the subject of standards of proof and the question of evidence in cases taken against an accused. We also discuss letter writing and take a backward look at history and some of the outstanding people who were known for their letter writing – whose letters have provided a valuable memoirs of their experiences at different times in their history. One such mentioned is Countess Markievicz whose collection of ‘Prison Letters’ gives us a sense of her life as a political prisoner after the 1916 Uprising in Ireland. We also look at the fictional c...2020-07-0616 minWhat does Law mean, Mumu?Behind the MusicAt the opening of the Podcast Series – which accompanies the Book:
“WHAT DOES LAW MEAN, MUMU?” – the author, Paulyn Marrinan
introduces the composer of the theme music - ‘Fledgling’ – the late
Jolyon Jackson – musician and composer. Paulyn recalls meeting him in
the Freshers Week in Trinity College Dublin and celebrates his memory
by giving some insights into the breadth of his talent.2020-07-0607 min
What does Law mean, Mumu?Introduction - What Does Law Mean, Mumu?Paulyn Marrinan has written a book about some core legal principles for young people entitled 'What Does Law Mean, Mumu'.
The Book shares the story of a group of friends – whom she calls ‘Learners’ -
who hear a little about the way our administrative systems are held together, and justice upheld, in a ‘one thing leads to another’ nomadic style as they walk and talk with a trusted guide - Mumu, over the course of a few days.2020-04-2902 min
Yates on SundayIvan's Newspaper Panel May 14thIvan is joined by Dearbhail McDonald, John Lee and Paulyn Marrinan Quinn to go through the main stories from the Sunday Newspapers2017-05-1400 min