O'Gorman named as Amnesty head

Colm O'Gorman, the founder and director of charity One in Four, has been appointed as executive director of Amnesty International Ireland.

Mr O'Gorman (41) will leave his role with One in Four, which provides support and advice victims of sexual abuse, to take up the post early next year.

Mr O'Gorman, originally from Wexford, founded One in Four in Britain in 1999 and set up the Irish organisation in 2002.

The former Progressive Democrats senator told The Irish Timeslast night he was delighted with the appointment. "I have had a strong affinity with Amnesty International since I became aware of them in school, in the late 1970s," he said. "I have huge respect for the organisation."

He said his first job would be to familiarise himself completely with the work of Amnesty. He hoped to meet many of the 20,000-strong Irish membership over time and his work would be informed by them.

"I want to play my part in the organisation and bring what I can to the process," he said. "It's an exciting appointment and I am really looking forward to it."

On leaving One in Four, Mr O'Gorman said no organisation should become enmeshed with any one individual and he felt it was time to let the charity develop in its own way. "It is a very substantial organisation now with 22 staff, I am sure it will continue to grow."