US Bound! The Bar of Ireland is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Innocence Project Scholarships.
This August, three junior barristers practicing in criminal law have been selected to work on wrongful conviction cases with the Wisconsin Innocence Project and the Innocence Project of Florida in the United States. Since 2010, The Bar of Ireland has supported junior members to travel to the US to work on innocence project cases, aimed at exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals.
This year, Simon Wilson BL, Róisín O’Mara BL, and Gemma McLoughlin Burke BL will spend three months advocating for the release and/or exoneration of cases presenting meritorious innocence claims based on evidence of innocence and promote necessary criminal justice reform to avoid wrongful incarcerations in the future.
The Bar of Ireland Innocence Scholarships
Established in 2010, the Innocence Project underscores The Bar’s commitment to promoting justice and supporting the professional development of its members.
The scholarships cover travel and living expenses for the three-month period, enabling the recipients to fully immerse themselves in their work with the respective innocence projects. During their time in the US, they will collaborate with legal experts, review case files, conduct investigations, and assist in preparing legal documents aimed at exonerating individuals who have been wrongfully convicted.
Speaking in advance of their travels to the United States, recipients said,
I am delighted to be heading to Florida to work with the Innocence Project this year and am very grateful to the Bar of Ireland for giving me the opportunity to do so. In a state which still imposes the death penalty, work by volunteers such as those in the Innocence Project is absolutely vital. I look forward to helping as many voiceless and vulnerable individuals as I can in their pursuit for truth, justice and exoneration.
-Gemma McLoughlin Burke BL
I am honoured to be selected as a recipient the innocence scholarship this summer and am confident my time working with the Wisconsin Innocence Project will be a valuable experience and will further develop and diversity my practice in criminal law from a US perspective.
-Simon Wilson BL
The Innocence Project scholarship is a unique opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of the wrongfully convicted. I look forward to applying my own legal and non-legal experience to the review of cases. I strongly encourage all junior members interested in developing a practice in criminal law to apply.
-Róisín O’Mara BL
The Value of Innocence Work
Innocence projects play a crucial role in the justice system by identifying and rectifying wrongful convictions. These projects not only seek to free innocent individuals but also work to prevent future injustices through legal reforms and advocacy. The experience gained by the barristers will not only enhance their legal skills but also deepen their understanding of the profound impact of wrongful convictions on individuals and society.
Learn more about the Innocence Project of Florida
Learn more about the Wisconsin Innocence Project
Innocence Project 2025
Keep an eye out for when applications open for the Innocence Scholarship later this year.