On Saturday 10 April 2021, Maynooth University FLAC held their inaugural moot court competition The Johanna Airey Moot. The question was very much in line with MU FLAC ethos and focused on human rights issues. The question centred around compulsory vaccination and legislated lockdowns, very topical issues which have seen the European Court of Human Rights issue judgement on compulsory vaccination only days before the moot. This engaging question was kindly written by Maynooth University alumni Conor Duff BL.
Teams from Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, and Griffith College all competed on the day. Judges consisted of Maynooth University lecturers, lecturers from other Irish Universities, Barristers, and PhD Students. Each moot has its own timekeeper which were made up of members of MU FLAC.
The Final was judged by the retired Supreme Court Judge and President of the Law Reform Commission, Ms. Justice Mary Laffoy, alongside Rosario Boyle SC, and Conor Duff BL.
The standards of the teams were very high and proved for difficult judging. Adam O’Carroll, student at Maynooth University won Best Speaker. Anna Offergeld and Daniel Walsh of Trinity College, and Darragh Gorman and Jesutofunmi Omokri of Maynooth University reached the Final with Darragh and Jesutofunmi succeeding to become the winners of The Johanna Airey Moot Court Competition 2021.
This event was sponsored by the Department of Law at Maynooth University and City Colleges.
The Johanna Airey Moot Court Competition 2021 will go down in history for MU FLAC as not only the first ever mooting competition hosed by the society but also for taking place in strange online conditions. However, it could not have went down better. Here‘s to next year’s Johanna Airey Moot Court Competition in person and becoming a major annual event for all to look forward to!