For centuries, a husband in Ireland could sue another man for having an affair with his wife. Known as "criminal conversation", this legal action treated adultery as a civil wrong against the husband and reflected a legal system in which women had few rights of their own.
In this episode, we explore the history of criminal conversation, a tort that remained part of Irish law until 1981 and revealed deep-rooted attitudes towards marriage, gender and property.
Join Professor Niamh Howlin of University College Dublin, Dr Michael O'Connor and Professor Diane Urquhart of Queen's University Belfast as they examine the origins of criminal conversation, the role of women in these cases, and the social attitudes that allowed the practice to endure for centuries.
From headline-grabbing court cases and jury awards to changing views on marriage, equality and women's rights, this episode explores a little known area of legal history and what it tells us about Irish society
Episode lead: Judge Grainne Malone of the District Court and member of the Irish Courts Podcast editorial team.
