A young Buncrana student has been presented with the inaugural Henry Cunningham Human Rights Award by human rights activist Rev.Jesse Jackson.
Mairead O’Doherty, a 4th year student at Crana College, won the award for her essay which was based on ‘Defending the rights of minorities in Ireland.’
Rev.Jackson was making a one day visit to Derry at the invitation of the Pat Finucane Centre and the Bloody Sunday Trust.
While in the city he will visit the Museum of Free Derry and also took part in an open session in the Guildhall where the Rev. Jackson will take part in a discussion and answer questions from the public.
Rev.Jackson paid tribute to Mairead and commended her on her essay and then awarded her a cheque for €500.
Among those present was John Hume and also two of Henry’s brothers.
Henry was a 16 year old Presbyterian boy from Carndonagh who was shot dead in August 1973 when loyalists opened fire on a southern-registered van carrying workmen on the M2 motorway near Belfast.
Rev.Jackson spoke about many different subjects during the question and answer session including the economy, Martin Luther King and Libya.
He also said that he would be personally encouraging President Barack Obama to come to Derry during his visit in May.
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