Prison brake: Ireland's Probation Service director

Community service is far from a soft escape route from going to jail, argues Vivian Geiran, the long-serving director of the Probation Service. Words: Michael Brennan. Picture: Maura Hickey

Vivian Geiran, director of the Probation Service, pictured near its office in Smithfield, Dublin 7
Vivian Geiran, director of the Probation Service, pictured near its office in Smithfield, Dublin 7

Vivian Geiran is the head of a service which is almost invisible to the public eye. His staff can’t wear a uniform, and much of their work is carried out in private. Yet Geiran is no secret service agent: he’s in charge of the country’s Probation Service – which has 40 offices, 395 staff and works with more than 9,000 ...