Kevin Boyle (political activist)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Kevin Boyle was a Northern Ireland
-born human rights activist, barrister and educator.
Born and brought up in Newry
, he was a lecturer in law at Queen's University Belfast. He took part in the 1969 People’s Democracy march from Belfast to Derry which was attacked by loyalists at Burntollet
. He was later involved in the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
. Boyle's brother, Louis Boyle, an alumnus of Queen's University Belfast (QUB), was at the time active as a Catholic Unionist, and unsuccessfully sought to be the Unionist and Conservative candidate for South Down
in the 1969 Stormont elections.
Boyle later established the human rights center at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and was instrumental in the foundation of the Essex Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex
in Colchester, England.
Boyle served as the first director of human rights NGO Article 19
. He was based in Geneva as a special advisor to Mary Robinson
during her time as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, later returning to Essex University. He was called to the bar in Northern Ireland, in the Republic of Ireland, and in England and Wales.
In 1998, Boyle was named Liberty
's Lawyer of the Year, alongside Francoise Hampson, for their work advancing human rights claims before the European Court of Human Rights
.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
-born human rights activist, barrister and educator.
Born and brought up in Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, he was a lecturer in law at Queen's University Belfast. He took part in the 1969 People’s Democracy march from Belfast to Derry which was attacked by loyalists at Burntollet
Burntollet
Burntollet was the setting for an infamous attack during the so called Troubles of Northern Ireland. A nationalist march from Belfast to Derry was attacked whilst passing through Burntollet on the 4th of January, 1969 . A loyalist crowd, numbering in the region of 200, attacked the civil rights...
. He was later involved in the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was an organisation which campaigned for equal civil rights for the all the people in Northern Ireland during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
. Boyle's brother, Louis Boyle, an alumnus of Queen's University Belfast (QUB), was at the time active as a Catholic Unionist, and unsuccessfully sought to be the Unionist and Conservative candidate for South Down
South Down
South Down can refer to:*The southern part of County Down in Northern Ireland:** electoral constituencies:*** South Down *** South Down *** South Down...
in the 1969 Stormont elections.
Boyle later established the human rights center at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and was instrumental in the foundation of the Essex Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
in Colchester, England.
Boyle served as the first director of human rights NGO Article 19
ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 is a London-based human rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide...
. He was based in Geneva as a special advisor to Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
during her time as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, later returning to Essex University. He was called to the bar in Northern Ireland, in the Republic of Ireland, and in England and Wales.
In 1998, Boyle was named Liberty
Liberty (pressure group)
Liberty is a pressure group based in the United Kingdom. Its formal name is the National Council for Civil Liberties . Founded in 1934 by Ronald Kidd and Sylvia Crowther-Smith , the group campaigns to protect civil liberties and promote human rights...
's Lawyer of the Year, alongside Francoise Hampson, for their work advancing human rights claims before the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
.