PILA regretfully said farewell to Project Officer Lianne Murphy in May. Lianne, who has taken up the position of Development Officer with Age Action Ireland, was instrumental in the creation and development of the PILA pro bono referral scheme as it exists and continues to grow today.
However, PILA is delighted to welcome Mairead Healy on board as its new Project Officer. Mairead is the Founder/Director of Future Voices Ireland, a widening access legal project, and co-host of a radio show focusing on social justice issues. Her background is in European law. Previously, she was employed by the London School of Economics to draft a country report on the UK, which was commissioned by the European Commission. She also worked for the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party. In 2010/2011 she was employed by the Irish Traveller Movement in the UK as Policy/Legal officer where she led the European and international work alongside human rights and education policy, and was heavily involved in the Dale Farm eviction. Prior to this, she worked in the Competition Directorate at the European Commission where she also chaired the charity committee, coordinating a number of projects. Mairead has lectured in public international law and tutored in EU law. While at college, she interned for the British Institute of International and Comparative law for two years. As a student she was a co-founder of a pro bono law clinic and was also twice elected as Postgraduate Officer and Part-time students Officer for the Student Unions.
Speaking about her new role Mairead said, “I have long been an admirer of PILA and the groundbreaking work with which it is engaged. Particularly at this time, when the charity and voluntary sectors in Ireland are suffering so heavily from funding cuts and resulting decreased operational capacity, the work of PILA in facilitating assistance to NGOs with their policy and campaigning work and day to day legal matters, has never been more vitally needed. The PILA model of course heavily relies upon the generosity and goodwill of legal practitioners each giving their time entirely for free, who in doing so, are making a real difference to the lives of the marginalised and disadvantaged groups the NGOs ultimately represent. I feel incredibly humbled and privileged to be able to be involved in this process and to be working with the fantastic PILA team.”
Mairead can be contacted directly at mairead.healy@flac.ie