BIOGRAPHY

Anna Marie Brennan BCL(Hons)(Law and Irish)(NUI), LL.B.(Hons), LL.M. (First Class Honours) is a PhD Candidate at University College Cork under the supervision of Dr. Fiona Donson and Dr. Siobhan Wills. In July 2012, Anna was awarded an IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholarship to fund her doctoral studies.


Anna is currently a Visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School where she is undertaking research on the accountability of transnational armed groups under International Law. In 2011 and 2012, she was a visiting scholar at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at the University of Cambridge. During the first year of her doctoral studies Anna was awarded a UCC Law Faculty PhD Scholarship and the President James Slattery Prize and Medal in Law. In February 2012, she was awarded the Aidan Synnott Travel Bursary to fund a research visit to The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands. Anna has previously tutored Introduction to Business Law and Constitutional Law and has lectured International Criminal Law at University College Cork. 


Anna worked as a legal researcher in the Office of the Attorney General in Dublin in 2007. She has also interned at the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. She is currently a Legal Researcher in the Child Law Clinic, a legal research service provided by law students and Law Faculty members at University College Cork to lawyers involved in litigating children’s rights. In 2012, Anna worked on the defence team of Radovan Karadzic at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Netherlands as a legal intern drafting motions and legal opinions.


Anna has also previously worked as an editorial assistant for the Irish Yearbook of International Law and is a regular contributor to the Human Rights in Ireland Blog. She was the Editor-in-Chief of the 8th and 9th editions of the Cork Online Review and is currently a Copy Editor for the Irish Journal of Legal Studies. She is also the Assistant Editor of both the Interdisciplinary Journal of Human Rights Law and the Eyes on the International Criminal Court Journal.                           

  

Research Interests

International Humans Rights
International Criminal Law
International Humanitarian Law
Criminal Law
Transnational Criminal Law
Counter-Terrorism
International Trade Law
International Legal Theory
International Organisations

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2010) 'The Mental Health Act 2001 and the Best Interests Principle: A Revolutionary Step in the Improvement of Mental Health Law in Ireland?'
Brennan, A.M. (2010) 'The Mental Health Act 2001 and the Best Interests Principle: A Revolutionary Step in the Improvement of Mental Health Law in Ireland?' [Details]
(2010) 'Racial Bias in Criminal Trial Juries: An Irish Perspective'
Brennan, A.M., (2010) 'Racial Bias in Criminal Trial Juries: An Irish Perspective' [Details]
(2011) 'The Special and Differential Treatment Mechanism and the WTO: Cultivating Trade Inequality for Developing Countries?'
Brennan, A.M. (2011) 'The Special and Differential Treatment Mechanism and the WTO: Cultivating Trade Inequality for Developing Countries?' [Details]
(2012) 'The Garda Diversion Programme and the Juvenile Offender: The Dilemma of Due Process Rights'
Brennan, A.M. (2012) 'The Garda Diversion Programme and the Juvenile Offender: The Dilemma of Due Process Rights' [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2010) 'The Appeal Mechanism for Addressing Post-Verdict Allegations of Juror Racial Bias in Ireland'
Brennan, A.M. (2010) 'The Appeal Mechanism for Addressing Post-Verdict Allegations of Juror Racial Bias in Ireland' Criminal Law Online Service, . [Details]
(2010) 'The Efficiency and Effectiveness of the WTO Dispute Settlement System and the Need for its Reform: An Irish Perspective'
Brennan, A.M. (2010) 'The Efficiency and Effectiveness of the WTO Dispute Settlement System and the Need for its Reform: An Irish Perspective' Commercial Law Practitioner, 17 (7) . [Details]
(2010) 'The Copyrightability of Computer Software in Ireland: The Problem of Non-Literal Copying'
Brennan A.M. (2010) 'The Copyrightability of Computer Software in Ireland: The Problem of Non-Literal Copying' Irish Business Law Quaterly, 4 (1) . [Details]
(2011) 'Investigating the Accountability of Transnational Armed Groups under International Law for Armed Attacks'
Brennan, A.M. (2011) 'Investigating the Accountability of Transnational Armed Groups under International Law for Armed Attacks' The Boolean, 2 . [Details]
(2011) 'The Harmonisation of the Patent System: An Effective Mechanism for Improving Patent Protection?'
Brennan, A.M. (2011) 'The Harmonisation of the Patent System: An Effective Mechanism for Improving Patent Protection?' Irish Business Law Quarterly, 4 (2) . [Details]
(2011) 'The Patenting of Software in Ireland: The Pros and Cons'
Brennan, A.M. (2011) 'The Patenting of Software in Ireland: The Pros and Cons' Commercial Law Practitioner, 18 (2) . [Details]
(2011) 'Exploring the Accountability of Leaders of Armed Opposition Groups under International Law'
Brennan, A.M. (2011) 'Exploring the Accountability of Leaders of Armed Opposition Groups under International Law' The Hague Yearbook of International Law, 2010 . [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2012) UCC CCJHR Annual Postgraduate Conference
Anna Marie Brennan (2012) Is there a Right to Rebel under International Law? UCC CCJHR Annual Postgraduate Conference University College Cork, , 26-APR-12 - 26-APR-12 [Details]
(2010) CCJHR 4th Annual Postgraduate Law Conference, University College Cork
Brennan, A.M. (2010) Racial Bias in Criminal Trial Juries: An Irish Perspective CCJHR 4th Annual Postgraduate Law Conference, University College Cork [Details]
(2011) SLSA Annual Conference, Sussex Law School
Brennan, A.M. (2011) Common Article 3 to the Geneva Conventions and Transnational Armed Groups: Exploring the Threshold of Armed Conflict SLSA Annual Conference, Sussex Law School [Details]
(2011) Lauterpacht Centre for International Law Roundtable Discussion, University of Cambridge
Brennan, A.M. (2011) Exploring the Need for a New Category of Armed Conflict under International Law to Regulate Hostilities between Transnational Armed Groups and States Lauterpacht Centre for International Law Roundtable Discussion, University of Cambridge [Details]
(2011) Postgraduate Symposium, University College Cork
Brennan, A.M. (2011) Improving Student Participation in Law Tutorials Postgraduate Symposium, University College Cork [Details]
(2011) CCJHR 5th Annual Postgraduate Law Conference, University College Cork
Brennan, A.M. (2011) The Distinction between International and Non-International Armed Conflict under International Law: Exploring its Implications for the Criminal Accountability of Transnational Armed Groups CCJHR 5th Annual Postgraduate Law Conference, University College Cork [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2011) Exploring the Need for a New Category of Armed Conflict under International Law to Regulate Hostilities between Transnational Armed Groups and States,
Anna Marie Brennan (2011) Exploring the Need for a New Category of Armed Conflict under International Law to Regulate Hostilities between Transnational Armed Groups and States. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Exploring the Need for a New Category of Armed Conflict under International Law to Regulate Hostilities between Transnational Armed Groups and States, The Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at the University of Cambridge , 30-NOV-11 - 30-NOV-11
(2012) The Obligation of Transnational Armed Groups to Protect Civilians during Armed Attacks under International Humanitarian Law,
Anna Marie Brennan (2012) The Obligation of Transnational Armed Groups to Protect Civilians during Armed Attacks under International Humanitarian Law. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], The Obligation of Transnational Armed Groups to Protect Civilians during Armed Attacks under International Humanitarian Law, The Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at the University of Cambridge , 12-APR-12 - 12-APR-12

Blog

  Year Publication
(2012) International Criminal Court Delivers First Ever Verdict in Lubanga Case.
Anna Marie Brennan (2012) International Criminal Court Delivers First Ever Verdict in Lubanga Case. Human Rights in Ireland Blog: Blog [DOI] [Details]
(2012) Charles Taylor Sentenced to 50 Years Imprisonment.
Anna Marie Brennan (2012) Charles Taylor Sentenced to 50 Years Imprisonment. Blog [Details]
(2012) Charles Taylor Found Guilty before the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
Anna Marie Brennan (2012) Charles Taylor Found Guilty before the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Human Rights in Ireland Blog: Blog [DOI] [Details]
(2011) The Difficulties in Defining Terrorism under International Law.
Brennan, A. M. (2011) The Difficulties in Defining Terrorism under International Law. http://www.humanrights.ie/index.php/2011/10/11/the-difficulties-in-defining-terrorism-under-internat: Blog [Details]
(2011) Are Transnational Armed Groups a Threat to Democratic Governance.
Brennan, A.M. (2011) Are Transnational Armed Groups a Threat to Democratic Governance. http://www.humanrights.ie/index.php/2011/09/22/are-transnational-armed-groups-a-threat-to-democratic: Blog [Details]
(2011) The Applicability of Common Article 3 to the Geneva Conventions to Armed Attacks by Transnational Armed Groups.
Brennan, A.M. (2011) The Applicability of Common Article 3 to the Geneva Conventions to Armed Attacks by Transnational Armed Groups. http://blogs.ucc.ie/wordpress/ccjhr/2011/06/03/the-applicability-of-common-article-3-to-the-geneva-c: Blog [Details]
(2012) Are Transnational Armed Groups Porhibited form Using Force under International Law.
Brennan, A.M. (2012) Are Transnational Armed Groups Porhibited form Using Force under International Law. http://www.humanrights.ie/index.php/2012/01/20/are-transnational-armed-groups-prohibited-from-using-: Blog [Details]
(2012) The Garda Diversion Programme and the Juvenile Offender: A Contravention of the Right to Legal Representation.
Brennan, A.M. (2012) The Garda Diversion Programme and the Juvenile Offender: A Contravention of the Right to Legal Representation. http://blogs.ucc.ie/wordpress/ccjhr/2012/01/26/the-garda-diversion-programme-and-the-juvenile-offend: Blog [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2012 IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar IRCHSS
2011 Aidan Synnott Graduate Travel Prize University College Cork
2011 President James Slattery Prize and Medal in Law University College Cork
2010 UCC Law Faculty PhD Scholarship University College Cork

Associations

  Assocation Function From / To
Free Legal Aid Clinic Volunteer 16-AUG-09 / 16-SEP-10
Irish Society of International Law Student Representative 17-OCT-09 / 16-SEP-10
Socio-Legal Studies Association Member 16-JAN-11 /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Interdisciplinary Journal of Human Rights Law Assistant Editor 2012 /
Eyes on the International Criminal Court Assistant Editor 2012 /
Child Law Clinic Legal Researcher 2011 /
Irish Journal of Legal Studies Copy Editor 2011 /
Cork Online Law Review Editor-in Chief 2009 / 2010
Irish Yearbook of International Law Editorial Assistant 2011 / 2011

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Radovan Karadzic Defence Team at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia Legal Intern 17-APR-12 / 28-JUL-12
The Houses of the Oireachtas Legal Irish Translator 25-SEP-06 / 15-DEC-06
The Office of the Attorney General Legal Research Assistant 02-JAN-07 / 23-MAR-07
University College Cork, Law Faculty Tutor 27-SEP-10 /
The Office of the Chief State Solicitor Legal Intern 05-MAR-07 / 21-MAR-07

Education

  Year Instituion Qualification Subject
2013 University College Cork PhD The Accountability of Transnational Armed Groups under International Law
2010 University College LLM Law
2009 University College Cork LLB Law
2008 University College Cork BCL - UCC Law and Irish

Languages

  Language Reading Writing Speaking
Gaeilge Fluent Fluent Fluent
Dutch Basic Basic Basic
French Functional Functional Functional