A lecture series entitled Integrity in Society will be run by Croi Nua over the coming weeks, and will feature voices such as Nuala O’Loan, Fr Peter McVerry, and Abbot Patrick Mark Hederman.
The series will begin with a lecture by the well-known public figure Nuala O’Loan.
O’Loan became a well-known public figure North and South as the peace process gained momentum. Her work as Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland was a major feature in giving courage to Protestants and Catholics that fairness could come whatever the history had been. Her own forgiveness of the person who threw the bomb responsible for the death of her unborn child, witnesses the struggle of the people for better ways of relating and dealing with conflict.
O’Loan qualified as a solicitor, and lectured in law before taking up the office of Police Ombudsman in 1999. This post involved looking into police handling of terrorist events and investigating abuses by police. She carried her responsibilities with sensitivity and integrity. Her work was a major contribution as the peace process continued to grow.
After completing her term as Police Ombudsman, O’Loan was appointed to the House of Lords as Baroness O’Loan, where she contributes and where she enjoyed the recent lecture of Pope Benedict.
In 2009, the Irish Government appointed O’Loan as its special envoy to East Timor, so that her qualities as a human rights’ lawyer and conflict resolution expert might support the infant state. That country’s fate was a big interest for Irish people and got big support as the tiny region attained its freedom.
Baroness O’Loan writes regularly on issues of justice, integrity and faith in The Irish Catholic and is a frequent lecturer in many conferences where leadership and integrity in social life are discussed. She speaks at the Croi Nua Centre in Galway on November 3 from 8pm to 10 pm on ‘Restoring Trust in Church and State’. Her lecture is the first of three on Integrity in Society.
Abbot Patrick Mark Hederman, Abbot of Glenstal Abbey, gives the second lecture on Wednesday November 10, and Fr Peter McVerry SJ speaks on November 17 on, ‘Integrity? And what about the poor?’
Information is available on the lecture series from Croi Nua, Rosary Lane, Taylor’s Hill, Galway, on 087 6833195, [email protected] or visit croinua.com
