Warzone doctor wins Hugh O’Flaherty award

The recipient of the 2014 Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian award is to be the surgeon, Dr John Beavis, the founder of an organisation dedicated to the relief of suffering and poverty in conflict zones.

Dr Beavis, 74, is currently attached to a hospital in Gaza and has dedicated his life to working in conflict zones from Sarajevo to Sri Lanka.

He was one of seven nominees for the annual award, now in its seventh year. Previous recipients have included the late Donal Walsh, Sr Agnes Hunt of the Irish Council for prisoners overseas, and Trocaire’s Sally O’Neill.