A group of transition year students from Coláiste Iognáid is organising a fundraising raffle, with prizes including tickets to the autumn home rugby internationals, to raise funds for their trip to the US to represent Ireland in the Empire Mock Trial World Final in New York in October.
The group — Jes students Eoghan Finn, Patrick Dooley-Kelly, Alex Burke, Kate Carr, Kayleigh Power, Maedbh Tarpey, Alice Cunningham, Niamh Cunningham, Fiachra McInerney, and Fiona Power — won the National Mock Trial competition in April.
The team will travel to New York in October, along with teacher Stephen Reilly, legal tutor Caoimhe Clancy from RDJ Glynn solicitors, and one other teacher, to compete against like-minded students from some 40 schools from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Korea, the UK, and 26 US states.
In a mock trial, students are provided with a fictitious case and prepare briefs for both the prosecution and the defence. As the case is retried multiple times, they have to deliver both of these briefs.
“I personally gained a fantastic insight into the workings of a courtroom, and into the work of those in the legal profession, from my participation in these mock trials competitions,” said Eoghan Finn of the Coláiste Iognáid Law Society. “Speaking for myself and my teammates, our involvement has helped spur a keen interest in law and we hope to benefit from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to further develop our skills in the area.”
With projected costs for the trip to the world final expected to be in the region of €25,000. The team is looking for donations and has organised a raffle, at €5 a ticket, with prizes including a pair of tickets to each of the autumn home rugby internationals against New Zealand, Australia and Samoa; a €200 voucher for Dangan Nurseries; and a case of wine. Visit www.jesmocktrial.com to make a donation or buy a ticket and follow the team’s progress.
