John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy Prison was conferred with an Honourary Doctorate of Laws in a recent ceremony at Maynooth University.
The award of an Honourary Doctorate of Laws is a fitting recognition for the extraordinary contribution that John Lonergan has made as a prison governor, an active community participant, a humanitarian, and a leader over a period of more than four decades. His recognition of education, and not punishment, as a means of reducing crime makes an award from this institution all the morning meaningful. Sharing the values of Maynooth University, John, too, recognises that for education to be of value, it must focus on the development of every aspect of personhood – academic, social, emotional, and cultural: it must show us how to live.
John Lonergan joined the Irish Prison Service in 1968 and was Governor of Portlaoise Prison and Mountjoy Prison until his retirement in 2010. The breadth and the depth of John’s service to, and outstanding achievements within, the public, private, and voluntary sectors of Irish society, is inspirational. His vision and selfless determination have touched and immeasurably improved the lives of many, particularly the most vulnerable. His is a truly formidable contribution, and a unique one. John's memoir, The Governor: The Life and Times of the Man Who Ran Mountjoy, was published in 2010.
All the staff of the Department of Law wish to extend particular congratulations to John.
Other recipients of an honourary doctorate were Holocaust survivor, Tomi Reichental; the Irish Ambassador to France, Ms Geraldine Byrne Nason; Ms Patricia Oliver of An Taisce; and the businessman and founder of Strokestown House, Co. Roscommon, Jim Callery.