Registry
Module Specifications
Archived Version 2009 - 2010
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| Module Aims | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This module aims: - to acquaint students with the origins and purpose of criminal law, including an examination of ever-evolving definition of criminal behaviour; - to teach students the elements of a crime (actus - to teach students the common law rules and legislation regulating the criminal law, with an appreciation of the context in which such rules have developed; - to equip students with sufficient knowledge to determine criminal liability, construct defences and critically analyse the criminal law. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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At the end of this module, students will be able to: - Appreciate the function of criminal law in society; - Understand the basic principles of criminal law, and the context of their development and application; - Understand the rules of criminal law and demonstrate knowledge of relevant case law and legislation; - Solve realistic problems with reference to case law and legislation; - Critique the development of Irish criminal law in relation to particular offences and defences. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Assume that a 5 credit module load represents approximately 75 hours' work, which includes all teaching, in-course assignments, laboratory work or other specialised training and an estimated private learning time associated with the module. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indicative Syllabus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Introduction to the Criminal Justice System – origins and purpose of criminal law; evolving and changing definitions of criminal behaviour; brief introduction to criminological theories;
Criminal Liability – burden and standard of proof; elements of a crime (actus
Inchoate offences – attempt, incitement, conspiracy; defences to inchoate offences
General defences – infancy, intoxication, insanity, automatism, self-defence, provocation, duress, necessity, entrapment, mistake, consent
Offences against the Person (Fatal) – Murder and manslaughter – critical analysis of murder rates in Ireland
Offences against the Person (Non-Fatal) – Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997: assault, reckless endangerment, false imprisonment, syringe attacks – societal influences on development of non-fatal offences
Sexual Offences – sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, rape, rape under section 4 – critical perspectives on sexual offences
Offences against Property – Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001: theft, robbery, burglary, handling stolen property, criminal damage
Within this module there will also be an opportunity for students to participate in a tour of Mountjoy Prison. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Indicative Reading List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Core - Hanly, An Introduction to Irish Criminal Law, 2nd Edition, Dublin - Charleton, McDermott and Bolger, Criminal Law, Dublin: Butterworths, 1999
- Lecture notes and links to relevant journal articles, case-law and websites will be available on the DCU Moodle page for this module. - Students should also regularly refer to relevant journals, such as the Irish Criminal Law Journal, the Judicial Studies Institute Journal, and the Dublin University Law Journal
Supplementary - Smith and Hogan, Criminal Law: Cases and Materials, 9th Edition, London: Oxford University Press, 2006 - Lacey and Wells, Reconstructing Criminal Law, 3rd Edition,
Cambridge University Press, 2003- McGreal, Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, Dublin: Thomson/Round Hall, 2003 - Walsh, Criminal Procedure, Dublin: Thomson Round Hall, 2002 - O’Mahony (ed.), Criminal Justice in Ireland, Dublin: Institute of Public Administration, 2002 - Smith and Hogan, Criminal Law, 10th Edition, Croyden: Butterworths Tolley, 2002 - Norrie, Crime, Reason and History: A Critical Introduction to Criminal Law, 2nd Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2001 - O’Donnell and O’Sullivan, Crime Control in Ireland: The Politics of Intolerance, Cork University Press, 2001 - McAuley and McCutcheon, Criminal Liability, Dublin: Round Hall, 2000 - Bibbings and Nicolson, Feminist Perspectives on Criminal Law, Routledge UK, 2000 - Bacik and O’Connell (eds.), Crime and Poverty in Ireland, Dublin; Round Hall, 1998 - O’Malley, Sexual Offences: Law, Policy and Punishment, Dublin: Round Hall/Sweet and Maxwell, 1996 - O’Mahony, Criminal Chaos, Dublin: Round Hall, 1996 - Fennell, Crime and Crisis in Ireland, Cork University Press, 1993 - Law Reform Commission Consultation Papers and Reports on criminal law issues, e.g. Report on Homicide: Murder and Involuntary Manslaughter (January 2008), Consultation Paper on Legitimate Defence (November 2006)
- Some useful electronic resources are: Justis, WestLaw IE, FirstLaw, LexisNexis, www.bailii.org, www.irishstatutebook.ie, www.lawreform.ie, www.courts.ie, www.echr.coe.int | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Programme or List of Programmes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BCL | BCL (Law and Society) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EPL | BA in Economics, Politics and Law | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EPLYA | BA in Economics, Politics and Law | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JR | BA in Journalism | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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