The Clongowes Union is delighted to announce that the recipient of this year's Alumnus of the Year Award is Fergal Gaynor (OC1989). This award will be presented to Fergal at the Union Dinner which is on in the RDS on  Friday the 30th of January.  For ticket information please contact union@clongowes.net 

This award recognises OCs who are one or more of the following:

• Inspirational
• Transformational
• Socially responsible
• Innovative
• Entrepreneurial
• Outstanding in their chosen area

Fergal is currently a Judge on the roster of international Judges of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, lead counsel before the International Criminal Court, and reserve co-prosecutor at the Courts of Cambodia, in his role as a prosecutor Fergal has spent almost 20 years investigating and prosecuting war crimes, and has represented victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, including on a pro-bono basis. He has prosecuted the Bosnian Serb leadership, has led a team investigating crimes in detention by the Syrian leadership, and, with others, has prosecuted the Khmer Rouge leadership in Cambodia. As a lawyer in the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, he was involved in the trial of Radovan Karadžić.       

In summary, in a world where human rights and dignity are under threat like never before, Fergal has been a beacon of hope and a fearless advocate for those rights and that dignity.

I'm certain all OCs will join me in congratulating Fergal on this well-deserved award which will be presented to him at the Union Annual Dinner in the RDS on Friday 30 January next.

We are expecting a big turnout from Fergal's OC1989 year to celebrate "their" Alumnus of the Year Award recipient.

Jonathan White (OC1986)

President