Sarah Kelleher

Sarah completed her BA in Applied Psychology at University College Cork and her MSc in Forensic Psychology at the University of York. She is currently completing a PhD in Forensic Psychology.

After working as an Associate Lecturer for three years, she joined the School of Psychology as a Lecturer in Forensic Psychology in September 2022.

• Rape myth acceptance
• Sexual violence
• Jury decision-making

Sarah's primary research interests are in the area of forensic psychology. She is particularly interested in cognitive biases surrounding sexual violence and the "justice gap" for sexual assault cases. The aim of her PhD research is to understand how rape myths impact juror decision making and develop an educational intervention programme for jurors in sexual assault cases.

• PSYC6370: Forensic Psychology: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives (co-convenor)
• PSYC8050: Psychology of Criminal Conduct
• PSYC8060: Psychology of Law and Justice

Conference Presentations 

• Simitsis, S., & Kelleher, S. (2019). Making Wise Choices-Sexual: The Development of MWC-S Offence Chain Assessment. Presentation at National Autistic Society's 18th International Offenders with an Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability Conference, Birmingham, UK.

Conference Posters

• Kelleher, S.M., Ó Ciardha, C. (2021). A Structural Equation Model of Rape Myths in Juror Decision-Making. Poster Presentation at the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers 40th Annual Research and Treatment Conference, US [virtual]. 
• Kelleher, S.M. (2019). After #MeToo: Belief in Sexual Harassment Myths and Rape Myths. Poster Presentation at the Psychological Society of Ireland's Annual Conference, Kilkenny, Ireland.