TOM MCGONIGLE REVIEWS TRAVEL WITH A GAVEL

This is Willie McCarney’s second book and a natural successor to his autobiographical “Big Boys Don’t Cry.” “Travel with a Gavel” deals more specifically with his international travels in pursuit of justice for children.

It describes Willie’s experiences of visiting 75 countries over a 37 year period in various capacities, including as President of the International Association of Youth & Family Judges & Magistrates. These roles afforded him privileged access in places such as China, Iran, Palestine, Russia and Myanmar. His task was to train judges in applying international laws concerning the rights of the child. While providing great assistance to those countries, he in turn gained insights that would not be available to the average tourist.

Willie encountered a variety of reactions. Most people were welcoming, but some were resentful of experts from abroad. For others, the training programmes that he delivered came too soon after their country emerged from internal conflict, when emotions were still very raw.

Each country has a dedicated chapter. The layout is in alphabetical order, so readers can easily locate the countries in which they are most interested.

Willie writes descriptively. While the book has a judicial theme, his narrative is non-judgemental. It allows the readers to draw their own conclusions and is always interesting. He outlines the personal challenges of balancing his travels with family responsibilities; and explains in realistic terms the tedium of commuting between international airports and the drabness of staying in commercial hotels.

These downsides were however offset by opportunities for Willie to indulge his love of nature. An early riser, he took every chance to indulge a passion for ornithology and wildlife. The vivid descriptions of bird and animal sightings provide a colourful counterpoint to the politics, conferences, talks and workshop routine of his business engagements.

The penultimate chapter, “A World Apart,” provides a stark reminder of the abuse that many children endure throughout the world. It also serves as a firm vindication of the need for people such as Willie to promote the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant instruments.

“Travel with a Gavel” is decidedly not a tourist guide and better for it. I commend it as an informative, specialist travelogue, part-business and part-wildlife. How rare a combination is that!

Tom McGonigle was Prisoner Ombudsman for NI between 2013-2017. He was formerly an Inspector with Criminal Justice Inspection NI and has undertaken international consultancy work with UNICEF, the UNDP, European Commission and Council of Europe.
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