Donncha O’Connell, lecturer in law at NUI Galway and human rights campaigner, has announced his candidacy in the forthcoming Seanad election on the NUI panel. Mr O’Connell, who comes from a well-known family in Swinford and whose mother, Bríd, is one of the Hughes of Westport, is one of 27 candidates seeking election to one of the three seats on the panel for which voting commences by postal ballot between March 21 and April 27.
He has taught constitutional law at NUI Galway since 1993 and is the former director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. He served a term as dean of law at NUIG from 2005 to 2008 and has recently returned to Galway after a year spent as a visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics & Political Science.
Mr O’Connell has been actively involved in a number of human rights NGOs including Amnesty International – Ireland, the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC ), the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA ), and, more recently, the London-based human rights organisation, Interights. He edits the Irish Human Rights Law Review published annually by Clarus Press and has also, since 2006, been a member of the board of directors of the internationally acclaimed Druid Theatre Company. Among his committed supporters for the Seanad election are Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, formerly of the Supreme Court, Bernard O’Hara and Mark Garavan of GMIT, Fr Peter McVerry SJ, Michael D Higgins, Niall Crowley, the former CEO of the Equality Authority, Monica McWilliams of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and, formerly, the Women’s Coalition, professors Eamon O’Shea, John McHale and Tom O’Malley of NUI Galway, Garry Hynes and Marie Mullen of Druid, Sheila Simmons of the Irish Association of Older People, and many others from human rights and charitable organisations. Mr
O’Connell is emphasising the following issues in his campaign: democratic renewal through constitutional and political reform, a progressive approach to human rights and equality, and a rational and fair response to crime and criminal justice. For further information on his policies and full biographical details see www.donnchaoconnell.ie
