Dermot Kinlen
| Dermot Kinlen | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
24 April 1930 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died |
18 July 2007 County Kerry |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Residence | Dublin and County Kerry |
| Alma mater |
University College Dublin, King's Inns |
| Occupation | Barrister, Judge and Inspector of Prisons |
Dermot Patrick Kinlen (24 April 1930 – 18 July 2007) was best known for being the first inspector of prisons in Ireland. In his reports he was very critical of the way the prison service was being run and in particular of the lack of any focus on rehabilitation.[1][2]
He had previously been a High Court Judge, having been nominated by Dick Spring of the Labour Party, in spite of his links to Fianna Fáil. He practiced on the South Western Circuit. He had a charismatic personality, vast wide-ranging interests and was much admired.[3]
He was involved in the setting up of diplomatic relations between The People's Republic of China and Ireland. From 1977 onwards he was a frequent visitor to China.[4] The University of Limerick awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Law.[5]
In 1997, Pope John Paul II bestowed the Order of St. Gregory on Kinlen.[6]
Kinlen's maternal grandfather, Thomas O'Donnell, had been an MP for West Kerry for 18 years, at the beginning of the 20th Century.
Kinlen died in his Kerry home on 18 July 2007[7] and was buried in Dublin on 21 July 2007.[8]
References
- ↑ "Dermot P Kinlen, Obituary". The Times (London). 6 August 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ↑ "Making us aware of what is happening in our prisons, Socialist Voice, Communist Party Of Ireland".
- ↑ "Tributes to Judge Dermot Kinlen".
- ↑ "Letter posted on the web-site of the Chinese Embassy in Ireland".
- ↑ "Doctor of Laws, University of Limerick".
- ↑ Sunday Business Post article: Prisoners’ protector
- ↑ "RTÉ report". RTÉ News. 18 July 2007.
- ↑ "Former prisons inspector laid to rest". RTÉ News. 21 July 2007.