Dr Niall Muldoon

A clinical psychologist from Donegal with nearly 20 years’ experience in child protection, Dr Muldoon holds a PhD from the UCD School of Psychology, where his research focused on psychotherapy for sexual offenders.

Throughout his tenure as ombudsman for children, he has championed the rights and needs of children, focusing on issues including access to health services, family justice reform and school places for children with special needs, the university said.

His office is calling for the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Irish law, with Dr Muldoon describing this as “the most important thing we can do to protect and safeguard the rights of all children in Ireland”.

Reading his official citation, Professor Louise McHugh from the UCD School of Psychology said Dr Muldoon “has collaborated with and learned from colleagues across the discipline and has long valued the work of professional bodies and continuing education that keep practice rigorous and current”.

She said: “His career offers our graduating students a powerful example. You do not need to map every step in advance. If you commit to integrity, service, and the person in front of you, you can shape systems as well as lives.”