Irish Sex Offender Laws and the Right to Privacy

Abstract

This article provides a general overview of sex offender laws in Ireland and their compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights, namely Article 8, the right to privacy. An analysis of public notification schemes such as Megan's Law in the US and Sarah's Law in England and Wales provide a backdrop for a discussion on the proposed introduction of such measures in Ireland. The competing interests of public protection and offenders' rights are also discussed in the context of punitive measures such as incarceration and registration versus rehabilitation and reintegration.