Mock Trials and Court Visit 2022

This week 14 students from Blackrock and 14 from our neighbours Sion Hill College undertook a fantastic programme to gain an insight into the law profession. There were two parts to the programme; firstly a day of court visits and secondly a mock trial.

A team of volunteers was put together by Judge Tony O’Connor (Blackrock parent), Judge Melanie Greally (Past Pupil Sion Hill), Eoin Martin (Class of 2005) and Morgane Conaty to coordinate the visit. The team ranged from the different stages of the law profession and brought them to various trials of interest in the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) and the Four Courts and throughout the day gave wonderful insights into the various aspects of the journey into the law profession.

The Mock Trial was an opportunity for the group to put what they had seen during the court visits on Tuesday into practice. There was a meeting on Monday evening where different roles were assigned for the Mock Trial, with a preparation morning on Wednesday in advance of the mock trials taking place in two courtrooms in the CCJ Wednesday evening.

The Blackrock Students taking part were: Jack Murphy, Will Probert, Philip Guinan, Lochlainn Maher, Luke O’Sullivan, Shane Cowhey, Aran O’Flaherty, Harry Pierce, Ryan Sheridan, Gavin McNabb, Luke Murphy, Cathal Geraghty, Malachy McLoughlin and Matty Keane.

My sincere thanks to Judge O’Connor, Judge Greally, Eoin and Morgane and their team of volunteers for the huge effort that went into putting together such a wonderful programme for the students.

As always, we thank Mr O’Neill for his coordination of another great TY event.