Dr Allely Albert from Queen’s University Belfast introduced us to the layered complexities of ex-prisoner leadership in restorative justice in Northern Ireland. Her work focuses on the Community Restorative Justice Ireland (CRJI) organisation, where former combatants and prisoners play central roles in resolving local disputes in Republican communities in Northern Ireland. Drawing on extensive ethnographic research, Dr Albert offered a nuanced portrait of how individuals once seen as threats can become agents of repair.

The Troubles in Northern Ireland were marked by deep divisions between Unionist (mainly Protestant, pro-British) and Republican (mainly Catholic, pro-unification) communities. Amid widespread mistrust in police and state institutions, paramilitary groups, particularly the IRA, enforced order through violent methods. In the mid-1990s, as peace talks advanced, many within the Republican movement began to question the use of violent punishment. Seeking alternatives, some turned to restorative justice, drawing inspiration from global models, including community justice practices in South Africa.

This shift led to the founding of CRJI, an organisation led in part by ex-prisoners who had fought during the conflict. Initially viewed with scepticism, CRJI operated independently of the state and was deeply embedded in local communities. Over time, it has become accredited by the Department of Justice and now collaborates with police and other state actors, a remarkable shift given its origins.

Dr Albert’s research identified key strengths that ex-prisoners bring to their roles as restorative justice practitioners. These include a deep familiarity with conflict, the confidence to challenge authority, strong interpersonal and emotional regulation skills, and extensive community knowledge. These qualities are not easily taught in formal training. As one practitioner explained, “I’ve got my life experiences of years upon years of working within my community, which amounts to a hell of a lot more than somebody telling me they’ve sat and read a textbook.”

Their past, once a source of stigma, becomes a resource. Years spent navigating conflict, both within prison and in politically volatile communities, fostered an ability to assess risk, manage tension, and read people effectively. “Charming the situation” was how one practitioner described the process of tailoring communication to diffuse conflict. Their ability to spot dishonesty, control their effect, and maintain confidentiality enhanced the credibility of the process. Clients often felt safer opening up to ex-prisoners who understood the unspoken rules of their world.

However, this approach is not without challenges. Some clients found ex-prisoner practitioners too blunt or emotionally distant. Yet CRJI’s model allows for flexibility, as both ex-prisoner and non-prisoner practitioners work side by side, creating a balance of skill sets and styles. The community’s trust in these former combatants, however, has often been the decisive factor in the effectiveness of restorative justice processes.

Beyond community impact, Dr Albert emphasised the personal transformation experienced by many of the ex-prisoner practitioners. Their work at CRJI has offered stable employment, a renewed sense of purpose, and opportunities to reshape their public image. One practitioner put it plainly: “Now I can use that passion for my community in a restorative way. You use your knowledge and your past as an advantage rather than a disadvantage.” These roles, she argued, provide fertile ground for desistance and reintegration, offering a space where dignity and agency can be reclaimed.

Albert’s research also links back to South Africa. Some of CRJI’s founding members travelled here in the 1990s to observe local community courts and informal justice practices. These exchanges helped shape the early models of restorative justice in Northern Ireland. In turn, the current phase of Albert’s work seeks to reverse this gaze, exploring whether similar outcomes are possible for non-political former prisoners in places like South Africa and the United States.

The lecture ended on a reflective note. While restorative justice has taken root in Northern Ireland, formal mechanisms of state accountability remain limited. There is no equivalent to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and recent attempts at truth-telling have been met with mistrust, particularly when driven by the British state. “There have been acknowledgements of wrongdoing,” Albert said, “but no comprehensive process of reckoning.” What her research suggests, however, is that justice does not always begin in courtrooms or commissions. Sometimes, it begins on the pavements, in housing estates, among neighbours. Sometimes, those best placed to do the work of restoration are those who have lived the costs of conflict most intimately. Through CRJI, ex-prisoners are not simply reintegrated. They are rebuilding the very systems that once excluded them.