Jon McCourt: Freedom of Derry awarded to abuse campaigner

Image caption, Jon McCourt was nominated for the honour by People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin

A high-profile campaigner against institutional abuse has been granted the freedom of Derry City and Strabane.

A motion to give Jon McCourt the highest honour of the local council was passed in July.

Unionist councillors had previously used a council mechanism to ask for that decision to then be reviewed.

Mr McCourt, a former Official IRA member who turned down an MBE, was then put forward for the honour in September after a majority vote in council.

He formed the group Survivors North West after he spoke publicly about his own experience as a child at St Joseph's Boys' 成人快手 in Termonbacca in Derry.

Following a ceremony in the Guildhall on Tuesday, Mr McCourt said it was a huge honour to be made a freeman of the city and district.

He dedicated the award to anyone who has experience of historical institutional abuse.