Seven senior Ukrainian judges have completed a high-level judicial exchange to Ireland, as Ukraine’s justice system continues to function under the strain of more than three years of full-scale Russian invasion.
Organised by Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) in partnership with the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine) and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the visit enabled direct engagement between the Ukrainian delegation and Irish and Northern Irish judges, academics, and international legal experts.
Despite severe wartime challenges — including damaged or destroyed court buildings, the displacement and death of judicial personnel, and some judges serving on the frontline — Ukraine’s courts continue to operate. They are also managing one of the largest international-crimes caseloads in modern history, with over 200,000 crimes related to Russian aggression registered in the national case system.
Why the visit matters
Ireland and Northern Ireland offer internationally recognised experience in judicial independence under pressure, human rights, international criminal law, post-conflict justice, and institutional resilience. For the Ukrainian delegation, Northern Ireland’s experience during the Troubles — when the courts continued to function even as other institutions were suspended — provided a powerful example of how a judiciary can uphold the rule of law during prolonged conflict. This visit builds on previous Ukrainian judicial exchanges to Dublin and Belfast facilitated by IRLI and EUAM Ukraine.
Programme highlights
Across five days, the delegation visited courts, held judicial roundtables, and participated in focused working sessions. Contributors included Professor Shane D’Arcy, Professor Ray Murphy, Professor Yvonne McDermott Rees, Nick Waters, Jason Antley, Judge Fergal Gaynor, Louise Mallinder, Luke Moffett, and Brice Dickson. In Belfast, the judges met the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Dame Siobhán Keegan, who is co-patron of Irish Rule of Law International. The delegation also visited the courts and engaged with members of the Northern Ireland judiciary.