With greatness sadness we heard of the untimely and sudden death of Conor Gearty at the age of 67. Conor was the professor of human rights law at the LSE. He was born in Ireland and this led to his lifelong interest in terrorism, state crimes, violations of human rights and social justice. He was a leading scholarly voice on the abuses of anti-terrorism law, publishing Liberty and Security (2013) and Homeland Insecurity: The Rise and Rise of Anti-Terrorism Law (2024).
Conor was a towering intellect and a wonderful human being. Open, kind, full of Gaelic joie de vivre, he was liked by everyone who met him. His many students speak of his kindness and generosity, he was a model academic and scholar.
I was lucky to have a long, close and productive relationship with Conor. Conor was a prolific and elegant author. His books include among many others Can Human Rights Survive? (2006); Principles of Human Rights Adjudication (2004); and On Fantasy Island. Britain, Europe, and Human Rights (2016).
We organised a number of conferences together in London and overseas. The most amazing in every aspect was that at PUC Rio de Janeiro. The resulting collective volumes ‘Cambridge Companion to Human Rights Law’ and ‘The Meaning of human rights’ were edited by the two of us for Cambridge University Press. They offer a wide-ranging and critical review of the law and theory of human rights.
The legal academy, the LSE and Ireland have lost one of its most impressive voices and pens. We will all miss his wit, intellect, goodness and occasional whimsy.
A short clip with Connor on what is the “human” in human rights.
We will miss you my friend, but your work will remind the world of your great elegance and influence.
Professor Emeritus Costas Douzinas
School of Law, Birkbeck, University of London
This is terribly sad. Connor was an inspiring and generous colleague. I was only in the UK briefly, but he went out of his way to make it a memorable, productive and engaged time. My condolences to all those who will feel his loss.