Mooting

Mooting in the ICHR

2025

2025 was a very active and successful year for mooting teams at the Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR).

In February, a team of LLM students from the ICHR participated in the national rounds of the Jessup Competition, held in the Law Society in Dublin. The team argued complex issues of public international law, including jurisdiction and immunities. The ICHR team was led by their coach, Dr. Pearce Clancy, and the team consisted of LLM students, Luis Renato Urtusuastegui, Denisse Estupiñan, Etsegenet Resom Haile and Meklit Aragaw Bekele. 

In March, a team from the ICHR participated in the prestigious Corn Adomnáin Moot Court Competition, held in Queens University Belfast.  

Run by the Irish Red Cross, the competition involves participants applying their knowledge of International Humanitarian Law to conflict-based scenarios, as well as testing their negotiation skills. The ICHR was superbly represented by LLM students Vebi Lenvi, Pramita Pramita and Emma Neuber, along with their coach, Ramez Al-Hayek.

In June, a team from the ICHR participated in the international rounds of the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition, run by Leiden University and held in The Hague, Netherlands. The team competed against law schools from around the world, arguing a fictional war crimes case before the Appeals Chamber. In advance, the team submitted written memorials on behalf the Prosecution, Defence and Victims counsel. During their stay, the team also attended numerous side events and guest lectures, and visited the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. 

The team was led by their coaches, Dr Paul Bradfield and Ramez Al-Hayek, and the team consisted of LLM students Sarah Brown, Ben Ryan, Radoslaw Berent, Sonia Artesani and Emma Roquel.  

The ICHR is extremely proud of all its mooting teams and the skills they have shown in their various competitions this year.

LLM students win 2022 Irish Red Cross Moot Court Competition

On the 2nd of April 2022, six LLM students participated in the 6th edition of Corn Adomnáin, hosted by University College Cork. This competition is organised by the Irish Red Cross for students with an interest in International Humanitarian Law. The School of Law was represented by two teams, consisting of Anthony O’Shea (LLM in International Criminal Law), Charlotte Brouxel (LLM General), Rania Hattabi (LLM in International Criminal Law), Mohammed Al Asttal (LLM in Peace Operations, Humanitarian Law and Conflict), Sarah Cox (LLM in International Criminal Law) and Saskia Heineken (LLM in Peace Operations, Humanitarian Law and Conflict). The teams competed against four teams from other Irish universities.

The competition involved a fictitious case study of an armed conflict situation. The students examined the key issues of urban warfare, the use of autonomous weapons, the protection of hospitals and civilians and the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems. The students demonstrated diplomacy and negotiation skills during role-plays and great teamwork while assessing a computer simulation and advising on legal matters. These role-plays were followed by a moot court in which the students submitted their oral arguments on disputed issues of law before the International Criminal Court. We are proud of our students for demonstrating their legal and advocacy skills and bringing the Corn Adomnáin cup to the School of Law.

(L–R) Professor Shane Darcy, Anthony O’Shea, Sarah Cox, Saskia Heineken, Mohammad Al Asttal, Rania Hattabi and Professor Ray Murphy