FSI marked the occasion yesterday with a celebratory event at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Kilmainham.

Speaking at the event, the justice, home affairs and migration minister, Jim O’Callaghan, hailed FSI for the role it has played in the criminal justice system over the last half century.

“For the last 50 years, Forensic Science Ireland has been instrumental in assisting An Garda Síochána in detecting criminal offences,” he said.

“The technological and scientific developments of this time makes FSI almost unrecognisable since its foundation in 1975.

“In this time it has established itself as a European leader in its field — highlighted by hosting this year’s European Network of Forensic Science Institutes.

“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of FSI over the last 50 years, particularly FSI’s first head of the laboratory, the late Dr Jim Donovan and his successors Dr Sheila Willis, Chris Enright and the newly-appointed director general, Dr Ciarán Seoighe.”

FSI was first established in 1975 as the Forensic Science Laboratory under Dr Jim Donovan.

Since then it has expanded to over 200 staff, providing a broad range of analytical tests, scientific advice and expert opinion from crime scene to court that are vital to the criminal justice system.

Dr Ciarán Seoighe took over as director general in October this year, having joined from Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland.

Speaking yesterday, Dr Seoighe said: “We are proud to celebrate 50 years of science supporting justice. Having recently moved into a custom built, state-of-the-art facility, FSI is well positioned to continue leading in the rapidly developing world of forensic science.

“Moreover, at the heart of a nation’s forensic science capability is people, and we are fortunate to have highly skilled, professional and dedicated people in FSI.

“It is the outstanding achievements of the staff in FSI today, and those who have gone before, that we mark on this occasion.”

In 2024 FSI moved to a new state-of-the-art facility in Backweston, under then director general Chris Enright.

This summer FSI hosted Europe’s largest forensic science event, the European Academy of Forensic Science (EAFS).

Held every three years, the EAFS brings together over 1,200 forensic science practitioners, stakeholders and partners from across the European forensic science community to showcase developments in the area.

Yesterday’s event in Kilmainham featured contributions on the impact of forensic science on the criminal justice system and the development of FSI over the last 50 years.

A commemorative booklet, which looks back on the major milestones in FSI’s history over its first half century, was also launched at the event.