Towards Historical Victimology: Revisiting Joyriding in 1980s Ireland

Abstract

In 1980s, Ireland a perceived social crisis surrounded joyriding. Based on original archival research, this paper examines the antecedents and legacies of this episode. A combination of rising car ownership, media panic and victim mobilization pressurised a political response. Legislative and institutional measures proved disproportionate and panicked. Cultural artefacts including a play Joyriders (1987, written by Christina Reid) and eponymous film (1988, directed by Aisling Walsh) highlighted the impact of the Troubles and gender politics on representations of joyriding and victimhood. By revisiting this episode, this paper develops a foundation for historical victimology; namely, the adoption of a victim-centred approach, situated within wider historical, political, and cultural contexts, when examining the multidimensionality of time.