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James Gallen

@jamesgallen.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.1K following 89 posts

Associate Professor, School of Law and Government, DCU. #TransitionalJustice and Historical Abuses of Church and State (CUP 2023) available here: shorturl.at/AJnT1

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Reposted by James Gallen
Reuters @reuters.com · 30/09/2026
Sweden should apologise for injustices against Sami people, commission says reut.rs/4AVTuQG
reut.rs
Sweden should apologise for injustices against Sami people, commission says
The Swedish government should apologise to the indigenous Sami people for past injustices and Sami interests should be given stronger ​consideration against mining and wind power projects, a government-appointed commission ‌said on Wednesday.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
An important intervention @conorom.bsky.social Irish authorities must show some courage. We deferred to religious authorities in the past and ignored widespread child abuse. We should not ignore the risks and responsibilities of Twitter/X to prevent harms to children today. shorturl.at/dvVqL
irishexaminer.com
Ireland could prosecute Twitter/X for AI 'child porn' deepfakes
The horrific child sex abuse material produced every day by Grok is already banned under Irish law. The real test is if we are ready to enforce that law against large tech companies
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
"While Africa and the Caribbean are institutionalising reparations as a development and justice agenda, the former colonial metropoles remain stuck at the level of avoidance. The result is an asymmetry: one side is building frameworks while the other is offering silence." shorturl.at/PUxf7
theguardian.com
In 2025 reparations became central to UK ties with the Caribbean and Africa – so how do we move forward? | Kenneth Mohammed
This year was a pivotal one, in which the issue of restorative justice began to frame the UK’s post-imperial relationship with the global south
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Lovely to start the year by seeing a glowing review of our Transforming Justice Responses book by Professor Pádraig McAuliffe published in @slsjournal.bsky.social. Read it here: shorturl.at/Toeqp
journals.sagepub.com
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
This is an important first step from the state for the survivors of Micheal Shine. A scoping inquiry can inform and shape the terms of reference for a statutory public inquiry and other justice responses to meet victim-survivor needs www.thejournal.ie/michael-shin...
thejournal.ie
'Scoping exercise' into Michael Shine abuse to get Cabinet approval
“There should be no stone left unturned and no ‘what-ifs’ at the end of this process,” a solicitor for the victims said.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Further evidence of the lack of seriousness and rigor with which the state has treated archives and non-recent records. We have access to all of the large tech companies on this island, the lack of support, political will and budget for modern solutions is absurd. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
irishtimes.com
Mother and baby home records held in database ‘not fit for purpose’
Tusla warned Government that system would require ‘significant’ redevelopment to ensure preservation
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Happy birthday! Very much looking forward to the book, it looks great!
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Delighted to see my PhD student Lia O'Broin's first publication out in the world: www.ushrj.org.uk/ushrj-2025-i...
ushrj.org.uk
The Scope and Implementation of the Right of Indigenous Peoples - Lia O'Broin / USHRJ 2025 Issue | University of Stirling Human Rights Journal (USHRJ)
On The ‘Belgium Ruling’: The Need To Establish The Status of Non-human Animals within The Human Rights Corpus and Law
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
I was honoured that Prof Kathy Daly ‪@griffith.ed.au reflected at length on my work applying a transitional justice approach to institutional abuses. This is my response to her proposed alternative of a distinct conception of "institutional justice". www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Response to Kathleen Daly (2024) Stepping Out of the Shadow of Transitional Justice: A Theoretical Framework for Institutional Justice
In “Stepping Out of the Shadow of Transitional Justice: A Theoretical Framework for Institutional Justice,” Kathleen Daly recently developed a new theoretical framework of institutional justice and...
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Reposted by James Gallen
International Bar Association @ibanews.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
We are recruiting for the Legal Voluntary Internship Programme with the IBA’s Human Rights Institute, Legal Policy & Research Unit, Executive Director in international Criminal Law and eyeWitness to Atrocities in London from January–March 2026. Email your application to internprogramme@int-bar.org
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Delighted that my first monograph #Transitionaljustice and Historical Abuses of Church and State has got over 10,000 unique downloads/views #openaccess www.cambridge.org/core/books/t...
cambridge.org
Transitional Justice and the Historical Abuses of Church and State
Cambridge Core - Twentieth Century Regional History - Transitional Justice and the Historical Abuses of Church and State
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Gardai need more resources to address these investigations in a systemic manner www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
irishtimes.com
Investigating historic schools abuse a ‘major pull’ on Garda resources, authority warns
Fewer offences of possession of child sexual abuse material due to resource issues at online child exploitation unit
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
www.thejournal.ie/john-mcmahon...
thejournal.ie
A victim of historical abuse in Ireland on confronting his attacker twenty years on
John McMahon – who was abused by social worker Ken Larmour over 50 years ago – secretly taped and confronted his attacker in the 1990s.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
www.thejournal.ie/schools-abus... As in other jurisdictions sexual abuse sits on a spectrum of abuse of children. The forthcoming Commission will likely just address sexual abuse - it wont tell a coherent truth if doesnt acknowledge the other forms of violence present at the time of sexual abuse.
thejournal.ie
Survivors want 'barbaric' corporal punishments in schools to be included in new inquiry
Corporal punishment was banned in Ireland in 1982, but many former pupils allege violent attacks still took place as a form of discipline.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
The Irish state historically outsourced "care" of vulnerable children to Church until the 1990s - and has not adequately invested in children since. This is a large structural injustice for generations: www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
irishtimes.com
Tusla and Government clash over bed spaces for at-risk children
Correspondence shows disagreement between department and agency over handling of special care placement shortages
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
theguardian.com
Caribbean leaders back Jamaica petition to King Charles for slavery reparations
Caricom summit gives ‘broad support’ for request to Charles as region steps up campaign for justice
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j... justice work only possible due to long slow and relentless work of victims families and advocates
theguardian.com
Man kidnapped by Argentina’s military regime as baby is reunited with relatives
Forty-nine-year-old is 140th child found by Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, who search for people ‘disappeared’ under 1976-83 dictatorship
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
observer.co.uk/news/interna... "Everyone knew and nobody did anything." Sadly so familiar
observer.co.uk
What did the PM know? France reels at ‘absolute cruelty’ ...
A report accuses prime minster François Bayrou of failing to act over the depravity of Bétharram
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Well done Mark, brilliant journalism and vital public service.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
theguardian.com
Slavery reparations group takes fight to Westminster and Brussels
Lobbying effort by independent delegation follows Jamaica’s move to ask King Charles to request legal advice
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Glad to support survivors in pursuit of meaningful investigation of the systemic failures related to Michael Shine's decades of abuse: www.thejournal.ie/michael-shin...
thejournal.ie
Victims of paedophile Michael Shine outline what inquiry into his abuse would look like
It follows a recent meeting with the Health Minister, during which she asked the victims to return with a list of their key demands.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025... An important step in justice for survivors in this case
irishtimes.com
George Gibney arrested in US on foot of extradition request
Gardaí seek extradition of former swimming coach after investigation into alleged child sex abuse
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j... Further evidence that the need to address child sexual abuse in the Catholic church is an ongoing global issue that needs national and Vatican level changes in law policy and practice to meet survivor justice needs.
theguardian.com
‘A supermarket for sexual predators’: abuse scandal at elite boarding school shakes France
Legal complaints filed by former pupils accuse priests and staff of physical or sexual abuse from 1957 to 2004
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Full report here: fpcc.ca/resource/rep...
fpcc.ca
Repatriation Cost Analysis: A Framework and Model - First Peoples Cultural Council
The Repatriation Cost Analysis is a tool for Nations to assess stage of repatriation and estimate the resources needed for this work.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
A new report estimates it would cost nearly C$663m (£353m) over five years to the fund repatriation for all 204 First Nations in British Columbia. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
After 150 years, a prized box returns to an Indigenous nation in Canada: ‘I felt like royalty traveling with it’
The unlikely return of the bentwood box underscores the challenges facing Indigenous communities working to reclaim items raided from their lands
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/co... Victim-survivors of non-recent abuses across different sectors have a terrible time when seeking justice through litigation. Reform of our civil procedure (cost protections, statute of limitations, legal aid) is necessary for effective access to justice.
irishtimes.com
Abuse survivors left waiting too long for redress from Scouting Ireland
Youth organisation continues to fight historical sex abuse cases in the courts, despite apologies and promises
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci... This would not have happened without the tireless work of Catherine Corless, survivors, families, advocates and the international scrutiny that the truth brought on Ireland. Necessary, painstaking work ahead.
irishtimes.com
Work to excavate Tuam mother and baby home site to begin
Catherine Corless says the 796 children kept her going during ‘painful’ fight for justice
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
www.ncronline.org/opinion/pope... Ability to control and regulate the diverse Catholic religious orders and groups is a key to an effective and consistent approach to addressing child sexual abuse in Catholic church.
ncronline.org
Pope Leo XIV faces major test over Opus Dei reforms
When Pope Leo XIV summoned the leader of Opus Dei to see him, in one of his first official papal audiences, Vatican watchers immediately began to wonder what the meeting meant.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
www.thejournal.ie/increase-abu... Combined with Scoping inquiry report, this further evidences the widespread nature of child abuse in day schools in Ireland.
thejournal.ie
'Significant increase' in allegations of abuse against Catholic Church members, report says
The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church said there were 385 allegations made last year.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...
irishtimes.com
The Dublin scout leader who died a day before his trial and the men who accuse him of abuse
Neville Kearns died in a crash in 2024, a day before he was due to stand trial on charges relating to assault, rape and attempted rape of boys in the 1980s and 1990s
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
The state has been ignoring this since the failure of the Retention of Records Bill 2019. Legislation preserving and regularising the CICA RIRB and McAleese inquiry records can and should proceed the establishment of the National Centre for Research and Remembrance www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
irishtimes.com
Thousands of child abuse records kept in storage costing €80,000 a year
Long-promised law to transfer documents to the National Archives of Ireland has not been passed
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
www.thejournal.ie/michael-shin...
thejournal.ie
Eight more men come forward alleging sexual abuse by paedophile surgeon Michael Shine
The fresh claims come just weeks after Shine’s first media interview.
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Reposted by James Gallen
Justice Info @justiceinfo.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
⛪ #SexualCrimes - "It was important for me to speak out for all the people who are silent." 🇫🇷 In 2021, France discovers the extent of sexual abuse in its #Church: a commission has counted 330,000 victims. 3 years later, Justice Info gives victims a voice. www.justiceinfo.net/en/146003-vi...
justiceinfo.net
Victims of Church abuse speak (Part 1): whether or not to ask for reparation
In 2021, France discovered the extent of sexual abuse in its Church. A commission reported 330,000 victims. Two reparation bodies were quickly set up. Three and a half years on, victims spoke to Justi...
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Reposted by James Gallen
London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 29/05/2025
‘How can a museum be decolonised if the descendants of colonised Congolese can't gain access to its archives?’ Jeremy Harding on the Museum of Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Jeremy Harding · Paths to Restitution: Leopold’s Legacy
The Royal Museum of the Belgian Congo became the Royal Museum of Central Africa after Brussels choked back its fury and...
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
www.dcu.ie/deli/news/20... PhD Scholarship @deli-dcu.bsky.social
dcu.ie
Fully Funded PhD Opportunity in EU Law – Apply by 3 June 2025 | DELI
The School of Law and Government at Dublin City University invites applications for its four-year fully funded PhD programme, starting in September 2025.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
www.thejournal.ie/readme/mothe... The abusive aspects of our past should form part of our taught curriculum. A true accounting of our past is a civic responsibility for every successive generation.
thejournal.ie
Opinion: To learn the lessons of Ireland's institutional past, we must teach it in schools
Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley and Elaine Feeney welcome plans to teach the history, legacy and literature of Ireland’s dark past at Junior Cert level.
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Reposted by James Gallen
Neil Renic @ncrenic.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
This is bleak reading
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Reposted by James Gallen
Anonymous @youranoncentral.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
WHO’s emergencies director, Mike Ryan, sounds the alarm on Israel’s ongoing genocide operation in Gaza. Netanyahu has turned the strip into an open air concentration camp and is deliberately starving civilians.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
www.thejournal.ie/readme/micha...
thejournal.ie
Opinion: Michael O'Brien's intervention was a watershed moment in our reckoning with abuse
Dr Sinéad Ring of Maynooth University says Ireland owes a huge debt of gratitute to Michael O’Brien, survivor of abuse, who passed away this week.
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Reposted by James Gallen
Reuters @reuters.com · 24/04/2025
Victim's advocates criticise cardinal's role in Pope Francis' funeral reut.rs/3YhVqkO
Victim's advocates criticise cardinal's role in Pope Francis' funeral
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Great analysis Miguel. Good for the competition their planning is fallible, but it is sad if Qatar is the beneficiary. Not replacing Kroos or Modric with someone similar is negligent
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Europe's race to rearm is pointless if its adversaries are waging war online | Johnny Ryan
Ireland holds the algorithm off-switch. Ursula von der Leyen must force Dublin to use it says civil liberties campaigner Johnny Ryan
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Ireland’s mother-and-baby homes are a stain on the Catholic church - but this latest refusal to atone is a new low | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
The reluctance of religious organisations to offer recompense for the lives ruined fits a pattern of denial and evasion, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
www.thejournal.ie/mother-and-b... This is a little late - perhaps the drafting of legislation may have productively influenced a negotiation and enabled a voluntary contribution?
thejournal.ie
AG to be consulted on what steps can be taken to make religious orders pay mother and baby home redress
Tánaiste Simon Harris previously said legislation could not be ruled out.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
As states continue to obfuscate and minimise FOI and GDPR obligations a duty of candour with individual responsibility would be welcome and a model for other countries. Labour should see the obvious truth - Hillsborough families have been promised enough without delivery, time to do the right thing.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
"A government media briefing last week that said the draft law could have led to civil servants being prosecuted for telling a white lie about being late for work to bosses has prompted fury from families" Disingenuous briefing to press is such a common tactic to muddy the clarity of a reform.
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
www.theguardian.com/football/202... "families have been told that the government’s new draft is based more on public authorities signing up to a charter, without strong legal enforcement, and does not include the funding for legal representation." What would be the point of this except a tick box?
theguardian.com
Hillsborough families call for ‘all or nothing’ law as Labour expected to break pledge
Report released as Labour admits it will break promise to enact law by 36th anniversary and rewrites key proposals
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
theguardian.com
Christian missionary group accused of public shaming and rituals to ‘cure’ sexual sin
Exclusive: young volunteers also allege spiritual abuse and controlling behaviour at bases of Youth With a Mission
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Los Angeles agrees to $4bn deal to settle thousands of sexual abuse claims
County’s offer – largest of its kind – would settle lawsuits filed over alleged abuse in juvenile facilities since 1959
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James Gallen @jamesgallen.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
In including the voices of victim/survivors and church and state actors, it considers how we might reframe discourses on accountability and responsibility, improve justice processes at the level of praxis, and increase engagement between victim/survivors and institutional actors
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