A mother whose son died in an unprovoked one-punch attack has described meeting the perpetrator of the incident.
In 2017, Luke O'Reilly from Tallaght, Co Dublin, was assaulted on Halloween nigh while walking home from the pub with a friend.
He underwent brain surgery but died in hospital on 13 November, 2017
Jack Hall Ellis was sent to five years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter but released last year.
Luke’s mother Janet O'Brien took part in the Irish Probation's Restorative Justice programme before Hall Ellis was released from prison.
Speaking to Today with Claire Byrne, Ms O’Brien said she decided to get in touch with him as she was hoping to see remorse and wanted to describe to him the effect her son's death had had on her family.
She said it was a six-month process before she got to meet Hall Ellis.
On Halloween night 2017, 20-year old Tallaght man, Luke O' Brien O’ Reilly was the victim of an unprovoked, one-punch attack. Two weeks later, on the 13th of November, Luke sadly died as a result of his injuries.
— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) September 22, 2023
The perpetrator, Jack Hall Ellis was sentenced to five years... pic.twitter.com/jEMKSSUACp
Ms O’Brien said she "always felt ready" for the meeting, however, she said the help she got in advance was beneficial.
She said: "Because of what I had learnt along the way I was able to make the most of that meeting."
Ms O’Brien brought a photograph of Luke to the meeting to show Hall Ellis and wanted to tell him everything they had gone through since his death.
She added: "The other most important thing for me was to feel reassured that Jack wouldn't go out and repeat any such actions."
Speaking on the same programme, Rachel Lillis, who is the National Lead for Restorative Justice and Victims Services Unit at the Probation Service, said preparation is key to a successful outcome for both parties.
She said it involves a conversation between the person who has caused the harm and an independent person trained to facilitate those meetings, such as a probation officer.
Ms Lillis said: "There is a lot of work that goes into that process to ensure it is safe and both parties are safe."
She said things are done to ensure all aspects of that meeting are discussed before moving forward and meeting both.
"It also looks at what they need to do to repair that harm. We don't want any surprises when we go to that meeting."
She said even down to the small details of whether they will shake hands is discussed in advance.
"International research has shown there is a high level of satisfaction with participation and outcome."
She said it is important to ensure victims goals are met whether it is a reassurance or explanation while for the harm doer it allows them an opportunity to express remorse.
