Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin has been distinguished with the honorary title of King's Counsel (KC Honoris Causa) by His Majesty The King, celebrating her significant contributions to the peace process in Northern Ireland and her impactful role as a United Nations Special Rapporteur. This prestigious recognition is part of the 2023 honours, with Ni Aolain being one of the five legal luminaries to receive the accolade this year. The KC Honoris Causa is conferred upon individuals who have made substantial contributions to the law of England and Wales, extending beyond courtroom practice.

The official investiture ceremony took place on March 18, 2024. It was overseen by the Lord Chancellor, who lauded the recipients for their contributions to the legal profession and embodiment of excellence in advocacy. The Lord Chancellor remarked, "Your success is no less than our country’s success. What you’ve achieved, and will continue to achieve, contributes to this jurisdiction, to the kind of country we are, and the kind of country we aspire to be – our standards and our values." underlining the significant impact of their work on the legal system and beyond.

Professor Joan Loughrey, Head of Queen's University School of Law, remarked, "On behalf of the School, I want to offer our warmest congratulations to Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin , who has been appointed honorary King's Council (KC Hon). This is an extremely prestigious and well-deserved mark of esteem for her important and impactful work in human rights and advancing social and economic rights across her career, including most recently her work as UN Special rapporteur in Counter Terrorism and Human Rights."

Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

School of Law