Human rights activist. Head of Nations & Regions and NI Programme Director at Amnesty International UK. Board member, Human Rights Consortium. Integrated school governor.
Patrick Corrigan
Happy #Pride Month to everyone helping make the world a little more colourful, positive and welcoming.
Patrick Corrigan
At 10 years old, children are still developing emotionally, psychologically and neurologically.
They are more impulsive, more vulnerable to peer pressure and less able to understand long-term consequences than those who are older.
The law should reflect that reality. 2/6
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child says the minimum age of criminal responsibility should be at least 14, and preferably higher. Yet Northern Ireland continues to criminalise children from the age of 10.
We are increasingly out of step with international standards. 5/6
Police Ombudsman ‘blocking’ own report into Martin O’Hagan murder
The murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan casts a long shadow on press freedom in Northern Ireland.
No more delay. The Police Ombudsman’s report must be published now - the O’Hagan family has been waiting too long.
Children belong in schools and families.
When they struggle, they need support. When they cause harm, they need intervention. When they make mistakes, they need the chance to change.
Raising the age to at least 14 would be an evidence-based reform. It’s time to raise the age. 6/6
The most tragic and serious cases are often cited as arguments against reform.
But hard cases should not make bad law.
Police investigations, safeguarding measures, intensive interventions - and victim support - can all happen without treating a 10-year-old as a criminal. 4/6
Evidence shows that early criminalisation can disrupt education, stigmatise children and increase the risk of future offending.
Yes - children who cause harm should be held accountable.
But accountability is not the same as criminalisation. 3/6
Many children who enter the justice system have experienced poverty, trauma, neglect, exploitation by adults or other adverse childhood experiences.
A smart society asks, 'What happened to this child?' as well as ‘What has this child done?' 🧵1/6
At just 10 years old, Northern Ireland currently has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the world.
Children belong in schools and playgrounds, not in police cells and prisons.
It’s time to raise the age #TenIsTooYoung
Self-styled 'defenders of women and children' latest...
One in five people arrested in England and Northern Ireland over 2024 racist riots have since been reported for domestic abuse www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
