Professor Conor Gearty

Professor Gearty graduated from UCD with a BCL degree in 1978 thereafter qualifying as a solicitor and attending the University of Cambridge for his LLM and PhD. He became a fellow of Emmanuel College Cambridge in 1983, and in 1990 moved to King’s College London, and from there to the London School of Economics (LSE) in 2002 where he was Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights Law (2002-2009), Professor of Human Rights Law (2009-2025) and director of the Institute of Public Affairs (2012-2016).  He was an honorary member of the Royal Irish Academy and a fellow of British Academy (where he also served a term as vice president for Social Sciences) as well as holding several honorary degrees.

Professor Gearty also practiced human rights law, and was a founding member of Matrix Chambers, an honorary KC, a Bencher of the Middle Temple London and an Honorary Bencher, of the King’s Inn London. 

The Working Paper series arises out of a memorial service held for Professor Gearty in the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and was co-ordinated by Professor Imelda Maher, with contributions from:

• The Chief Justice, the Hon Mr Donal O’Donnell
• Professor Colin Murray, Newcastle University
• Mr John O’Donnell SC, Law Library of Ireland
• Professor Siobhán Mullally, University of Galway
• Dr Suzanne Egan, UCD Sutherland School of Law
• Professor Colm O’Cinneide, University College London UCL

The papers range from personal and professional memories of Professor Gearty to reflections on his scholarship on diverse subjects from terrorism to human rights education.