AN invitation to go for a chat with a Garda mightn’t be everyone’s cup of tea but there’s a special event coming up when a Garda will buy anyone who wants a cup of coffee, no strings, charges or any other agenda attached.
The ‘Coffee With a Cop’ event is part of the Restorative Justice week of events and will happen on Monday, November 18 from 9.30 to 11 am in McDonald’s Castletroy and 11.15 to 12.45pm at McDonald’s at the Crescent.
Members of the public are invited to grab a free coffee and a chat with a Garda.
The idea comes from the USA and Limerick is the first place in Ireland to take it up, thanks to the Limerick Restorative Practices Project and Le Cheile Mentoring.
There will be a full schedule of events in Limerick, and for the first time in Clare, to introduce to concept of Restorative Justice (and its sister philosophy Restorative Practice) to as wide an audience as possible.
All events are free, mostly open to the public and will allow people the opportunity to see this philosophy in action, and ask questions about it to relevant practitioners.
Limerick Restorative Justice Officer, Joe Power said it was the third year they would be hosting the ‘Coffee with a Cop’ event. Last year we would have given out 20 to 30 coffees, with the associated amount of chats.”
There will also be a screening of the film ‘The Meeting’ on Thursday, November 21 at 6:30pm in UL at the Kemmy Business School.
The film covers the real-life Restorative Justice meeting of Ailbhe Griffith. It will be followed by a 40 minute Q&A session with Restorative Justice practitioner Dr. Marie Keenan who was also central to the real-life story and played herself in the film.
“As the film deals with the issues following sexual assault, it’s probably the most difficult of all restorative meetings but it contains the seeds for repair and the importance of victim’s needs,” said Joe.
Many of the events are already heavily booked and they include a session on Restorative Justice practices in schools and a Restorative Justice Symposium at the University of Limerick.
Full details of the events and how to book those still available can be had at http://www.restorativepracticeslimerick.ie/rj-week-2019.html
