Derry man Jon McCourt conferred with Freedom of City and District at Guildhall ceremony

Institutional abuse campaigner Jon McCourt has been conferred with the Freedom of Derry and Strabane at a special ceremony in the Guildhall.

Mr McCourt is one of the most high profile and leading campaigners for victims of historical institutional abuse in Ireland and is the founder and chairman of Survivors North West who represent victims of historic abuse at children's homes and other residential and state institutions.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue, officially conferred the honour on Mr McCourt at a special meeting of Full Council in the Chamber before hosting his family and friends at a private reception in the building's Whittaker Suite.

“It was a huge honour for me to confer this honour on Jon McCourt on behalf of all the citizens of our City and District and victims of historical abuse all over the world," she said.

"This is our Council’s highest accolade in recognition of his courage and dignity in tirelessly campaigning for justice for all those who have experienced the horrors of abuse.

"Our community is a safer and fairer place thanks to Jon's bravery in speaking up so eloquantly and his tenacious pursuit of truth and justice.

"I hope this award goes some way towards showing our gratitude that he did that and he rightfully takes his place alongside the select and illustrious groups of people who have received the honour."

Jon McCourt grew up in Derry and was a member of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 70s.

He has been a community and peace activist since the 1970s and has campaigned in those areas for decades working with victims of Troubles violence and in youth and community relations projects.

The decision to confer the Freedom of the City and District was made at a Council meeting earlier this year following a notice of motion by People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin.

Other recipients of the Freedom of the City include the former Bishops of Derry, the late Most Rev Dr Edward Daly, and the Most Rev Dr James Mehaffey; Nobel Laureate, former SDLP leader John Hume and musician Phil Coulter.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said that awarding the Freedom of Derry and Strabane to Jon McCourt is a fitting tribute to his work as a campaigner for victims of institutional abuse.

Mr Eastwood said that without the efforts of Mr McCourt and his fellow campaigners their suffering would never have been acknowledged and addressed.  

The Foyle MP said: “I congratulate Jon McCourt as he today joins the handful of people who have been awarded the Freedom of Derry and Strabane for an outstanding contribution to life here. This recognition is tribute to his tireless work as a victims’ campaigner for many decades.

“I cannot begin to imagine what Jon and other victims of historical institutional abuse went through and am amazed that they found the strength to continue fighting for their ordeal to be acknowledged, despite the far too often unwillingness of the state to cooperate with them. Without the efforts of Jon and others what really went on in these institutions and the suffering caused would never have come to light.

“Jon is a shining example of standing up for what’s right, even when all the odds are against you and I hope that this award today goes some way to showing him how proud the people of Derry are of his efforts.”