Murder One is committed to creating a literary festival that is welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all. We believe that literature thrives on diverse voices and that everyone—regardless of background or identity—should have equal opportunity to participate, contribute, and feel valued.
This policy outlines our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the festival’s planning, programming, operations, and outreach.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
Festival staff (paid and volunteer)
Authors, speakers, and performers
Stakeholders, contractors, and partners
Audience members and participants
Any individuals engaging with the festival in-person or digitally
3. Our Principles
Equality
We treat all individuals fairly and with respect.
We do not tolerate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil status, pregnancy or parental status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic.
Diversity
We value the richness that diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives bring to our festival community.
We actively programme to showcase writers and artists from a broad spectrum of identities, cultures, and from the sub genres of crime writing.
Inclusion
We foster an environment where everyone feels welcome, supported, and able to participate fully.
We take proactive steps to remove barriers—physical, financial, linguistic, or cultural—that prevent involvement.
4. Programming & Participation
Programming decisions will be guided by a commitment to representation across communities, genres and sub genres, and perspectives.
We actively seek to platform underrepresented and marginalised voices.
- Fees are equitable and consistent across participants.
5. Accessibility
We strive to make the festival accessible to as many people as possible. Where feasible, we provide:
Step-free access to venues
Accessible toilets
Reserved seating and priority access options
Clear pre-event accessibility information
Affordably priced or free sessions, and concessionary tickets.
- Live captioning, ISL interpretation, or other communication support for key events
6. Safe & Respectful Environment
We maintain a zero-tolerance stance toward harassment, discrimination, or abusive behaviour.
All staff and volunteers receive guidance on inclusive and respectful conduct.
A clear reporting procedure is available for anyone who experiences or witnesses unacceptable behaviour. Contact Vanessa Fox 0’Loughlin vanessa@writing.ie.
Appropriate action—including removal from events—will be taken where policy breaches occur.
7. Staff & Volunteer Practices
Recruitment, training, and management processes will be fair, transparent, and inclusive.
Reasonable adjustments will be made to support participation by staff and volunteers with disabilities or other needs.
8. Partnerships & Suppliers
We work with suppliers, publishers, sponsors, and partners who share our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
We will review our relationships with organisations whose practices conflict with our values.
9. Communication & Outreach
Marketing and communications will reflect our inclusive ethos and feature diverse imagery, language, and stories.
We will use accessible and plain language wherever possible.
We seek to reach audiences beyond the traditional literary festival demographic, including community groups and schools.
10. Monitoring & Review
We will collect feedback, conduct evaluations, and track our progress to ensure this policy is effective.
This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect changes in best practice and community needs.
11. Contact & Reporting
If you witness or experience any behaviour that makes you uncomfortable, please reach out to a member of our Festival staff immediately. We are here to support you and to help maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone involved.
Questions, concerns, or reports relating to this policy can be directed to: Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, vanessa@writing.ie
It is very important to us that your experience at Murder One is a positive one.
The Murder One Team