Undergraduate Irish Criminal Law — 24 practice questions
Sixteen problem questions and eight essays, each with a full model answer: the issues to spot, the structure to follow, and the authority for every step. Written for undergraduate Criminal Law courses, and built on the same verified case law and statutory provisions as the Criminal Law notes on this site.
Every case and statutory provision in these answers is checked against the judgment or the Act itself, and printed with a full citation. An independent study aid — not affiliated with or endorsed by any examining or professional body, including King’s Inns or the Law Society of Ireland.
What is in the set
Each answer follows the same shape: the question, a checklist to work from before you read on, the model answer itself, the authorities to know, and a note on why the answer scores.
- 01Omissions, a Duty to Act and CausationProblem
- 02Intention, Recklessness and a Fire That SpreadProblem
- 03Strict Liability and the Presumption of Mens ReaEssay
- 04Murder: Intention, the Wrong Victim and SentenceProblem
- 05Involuntary Manslaughter in Irish LawEssay
- 06Provocation and Excessive Self-DefenceProblem
- 07Provocation After McNamaraEssay
- 08Assault, Harm and Serious Harm — and a Consent That Does Not CountProblem
- 09Notes, a Syringe and a Threat — Harassment, Stalking and HatredProblem
- 10Consent to Harm after The People (DPP) v BrownEssay
- 11A Party, a Kitchen Window and a Phone — Burglary, Aggravated Burglary and RobberyProblem
- 12Duress and Murder after Dunne v DPPEssay
- 13A Borrowed Car, a Found Wallet and the Wrong Bicycle — Theft and Claim of RightProblem
- 14A Party, a Joke and a Sleeping Guest — Sexual Assault, Rape and ConsentProblem
- 15A Taxi, a Hotel Dinner and a Cheap Laptop — Deception, Making Off and HandlingProblem
- 16Bottles Outside a Chip Shop, a Broken Window and a Text Message — Public Order, Criminal Damage and BlackmailProblem
- 17A Balaclava, a Post Office Door and an Empty Pocket — AttemptProblem
- 18A Business Partner, a Nephew and a Warehouse — Soliciting Murder, Conspiracy and IncitementProblem
- 19Impossibility in the Inchoate OffencesEssay
- 20A Hiding That Became a Killing — Joint Enterprise and Accessory Liability for MurderProblem
- 21Presence, Withdrawal and Helping After the Event — the Edges of Secondary LiabilityEssay
- 22A Missed Meal, a Voice and a Bottle of Vodka — Insanity, Automatism and IntoxicationProblem
- 23A Getaway Driver Under Threat and a Hurley at Two in the Morning — Duress and Defence of the DwellingProblem
- 24Honest Belief in Consent: Should the Test for Rape Be Objective?Essay
How to use it
Read the question, write your own answer or plan, then open the model answer and compare the issues you found with the ones it identifies. The authorities list at the end of each answer is the revision material: if you can state each case and what it decides, you can answer most of what the topic can throw at you.