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The Crime, Punishment and Rights Research Cluster recently hosted an engaging and highly insightful masterclass with Conor Ryan of the RTÉ Investigations Unit.  The event, held in Áras Moyola, brought together members of the research cluster alongside students from the LLM in Criminology, Criminal Justice and Human Rights for what proved to be a compelling exploration of the role of investigative journalism in exposing injustice and wrongdoing.

Drawing on over a decade of experience, Ryan guided attendees through a series of major investigations he has led, offering a behind the scenes account of how complex public interest stories are developed, researched and brought to broadcast.  Central to the discussion was the recent RTÉ Investigates: The Psychiatric Care Scandal (2026), a two part documentary examining Ireland’s mental health and the prison system.  The programme exposed significant delays and systemic failures within forensic mental health services, including at the Central Mental Health Hospital, and highlighted the lived experiences of people and families affected by the criminalisation of mental illness.

Conor also reflected on a number of earlier investigations, including RTÉ Investigates: Horses – Making a Killing (2024), which uncovered serious abuses and regulatory failures in the horse industry across Europe; RTÉ Investigates: The Department, The Data & The Disclosure (2021), which revealed the unlawful creation of dossiers on children with autism; and RTÉ Investigates: Greyhounds Running for Their Lives (2019), which exposed serious animal welfare violations.  Through these examples, he demonstrated the breadth of investigative techniques employed in his work, from undercover reporting and data analysis to long form documentary storytelling.

The masterclass provided valuable insight into the legal, ethical and practical challenges of investigative journalism.  Conor also spoke candidly about the painstaking research involved in this work, the risks associated with investigative work, and the ethical considerations that arise when working with vulnerable people and sensitive material.  His reflections on navigating legal constraints, ensuring accuracy, and maintaining public trust offered a valuable perspective for students interested in criminal justice, human rights and regulatory accountability.

He also the screened selected clips from his documentaries, allowing attendees to see first-hand how investigative work is translated into impactful storytelling.  The examples used illustrated the power of journalism in uncovering wrongdoing and driving public debate, regulatory action and, in some cases, criminal investigation.