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Commissioners
The Lord Chief Justice has re-appointed the following nine
individuals (profiles below) as Commissioners with effect from 15 June 2008.
The judicial members have been re-appointed for a period of 5
years, the lay members have been re-appointed for 4 years and
the legal members for a period of 3 years. Two judicial posts
are yet to be filled, one of a Lord Justice and the other a
District Judge (Magistrate's Court).
The Lord Chancellor has also appointed Mr Donal Flanagan, OBE, to be
a Lay Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments
Commission. Mr Flanagan's 5 year appointment took effect on 15
June 2008.
A pen profile of Mr Flanagan will be added to this page in due
course.
The Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr, Lord Chief
Justice of Northern Ireland
Mrs Sinead Burns, Lay Magistrate
Mr Peter Cush
Mr John G Gordon
Dame Joan Harbison CBE DBE
Mrs Ruth Laird
Her Honour Judge Loughran, County Court
Judge
Professor John Morison
Dr Raymond Mullan OBE
The Honourable Mr Justice Weatherup, High
Court Judge
 The
Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr,
Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
Career / Experience:
Sir Brian Kerr was appointed a judge of the High Court of
Northern Ireland in 1993. He served as Commercial judge until he
took over the judicial review portfolio in 1995. He is a
graduate of Queen's University Belfast.
He was Junior Crown Counsel for Northern Ireland from 1978 to
1983 and from 1988 to 1993 he was Senior Crown Counsel.
Sir Brian has sat as an ad hoc judge at the European
Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg. He is a past chairman of
the Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland and of the
Distinction and Meritorious Service Awards Committee which
determines the remuneration of senior medical consultants in the
National Health Service. From October 2003 to October 2004 he
was the President of the Medico-Legal Society. He was a member
of the Judicial Studies Board until 2004.
He became Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland on Monday 12 January
2004.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The Justice (NI) Act 2002 states that the Lord Chief Justice is to be
the Chairman of the Commission. With the exception of the lay
magistrate, judicial members will not receive a fee.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
None.
Political Activity:
None.
 Mrs
Sinead Burns
Lay Magistrate
Career / Experience:
Mrs Burns was appointed as a Lay Magistrate on 1 April 2005.
She is an Occupational Psychologist and is a Chartered Fellow
of the Institute of Personnel and Development. She holds a BA (Hons)
Degree in Psychology, an MSc in Occupational Psychology, an MA
in Human Resource Management and a PGCE. Mrs Burns has 12 years
experience in human resource management in both the public and
private sectors and is Assistant Director of Human Resources for
Craigavon and Banbridge Community Health and Social Services
Trust.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. The lay magistrate
member will receive a daily rate of £294. A half-day fee of £147 is
payable for 4 hours or less. An hourly rate is payable for
Commission activities other than attendance at scheduled meetings and
attendance at training, conferences, outreach and diversity events.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
None.
Political Activity:
None.
 Mr
Peter Cush
Career / Experience:
Mr Cush is a barrister who practices in the following areas:
Administrative and Law, Banking and Insurance, Civil Liberties &
Human Rights, Civil Litigation, Common Law, Company Law,
Competition Law, Contract, Defamation, Employer's Liability,
Environment, European Law, General Commercial, Health & Safety,
Injunctions, Personal Injuries, Planning, Product Liability,
Professional & Medical Negligence and Tort.
He was the representative of the Bar to the Consultative
Committees of the Bars and Law Societies of the European
Community 1982 - 1993, the Vice-Chairman of The Bar Council 2002
- 2003 and is currently the Chairman of The Bar Council (2003 -
2006).
He is also a member of the Bar of England Wales (1974), Bar of
Ireland (1974) and the Bar of New South Wales (1990).
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. A daily rate of
£294
and a half-day fee of £147 (4 hours or less) are payable. An
hourly rate is payable for Commission activities other than attendance
at scheduled meetings and attendance at training, conferences, outreach
and diversity events.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
None.
Political Activity:
None.
 Mr John
G Gordon
Career / Experience:
Mr Gordon has over 25 years experience in private practice as a
solicitor and is the senior and managing partner in a
medium-sized and progressive firm of solicitors based in
Belfast. He is a specialist insolvency lawyer (a Licensed
Insolvency Practitioner) and employment lawyer who practices
regularly before the Fair Employment and Industrial Tribunal.
He also serves as a primary adviser to the Northern Ireland
Maintained Schools Sector on all aspects of equality
legislation, is a Director of the Solicitors Benevolent
Association, is a Board Member of Servicing the Legal System
Limited, has experience of sitting on the Board of Governors of
a large second-level school in Belfast, has served on the Law
Society Equality Working Party and has served as a member of the
Council of the Law Society of Northern Ireland for over 20
years. He has been the Treasurer of the Law Society (NI) since
1997.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. A daily rate of
£294
and a half-day fee of £147 (4 hours or less) are payable. An
hourly rate is payable for Commission activities other than attendance
at scheduled meetings and attendance at training, conferences, outreach
and diversity events.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
Member of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Insolvency - no
remuneration received.
Political Activity:
None.
 Dame
Joan Harbison CBE DBE
Career / Experience:
Dame Joan Harbison began her career as a teacher with the
Belfast Education Authority where she held various teaching
posts including Head of Department. She qualified as an
Educational Psychologist in 1972.
Following this Dame Joan lectured in Education at Stranmillis
College of Education for 24 years. She was Chief Commissioner of
the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland from 1999 and 2005.
She has wide experience in the public sector both locally and
nationally. She was previously Chair of the Commission for
Racial Equality for Northern Ireland, Vice Chair of the Eastern
Health and Social Services Board and the Standing Advisory
Commission on Human Rights and a member of the Human
Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the General Dental
Council and the Financial Services Authority Consumer Panel.
Dame Joan is also a Foundation Governor and Vice Chair of
Board of Governors of Victoria College, Belfast and Vice Chair
of the Board of Governors of Brefne Nursery School. Dame Joan is
a member of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority for
Health and Social Services and has been appointed as a Civil
Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland with effect from 1
December 2006 for a three year term.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. A daily rate of
£294
and a half-day fee of £147 (4 hours or less) are payable. An
hourly rate is payable for Commission activities other than attendance
at scheduled meetings and attendance at training, conferences, outreach
and diversity events.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
Foundation Governor and Vice Chair of Board of Governors of Victoria
College, Belfast - no remuneration received.
Member of the Board of Governors of Brefne Nursery School -
no remuneration received.
Political Activity:
None.
 Mrs
Ruth Laird
Career / Experience:
Mrs Laird was educated at Queen's University Belfast and holds a
BA (Hons) Degree in Ancient and Modern History, and a Diploma in
Human Resource Management.
She has 25 years experience in human resource management and
organisational development in the public, private and voluntary
sectors and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel
and Development. Mrs Laird was formerly Director of the National
Trust for Northern Ireland, Head of Personnel at the BBC (NI),
and a Fair Employment Commissioner.
She is a non-executive Director of the NI Transport Holding
Company and the NI Prison Service, and a member of the
Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority for Health and
Social Services. Mrs Laird was appointed as a Civil Service
Commissioner for Northern Ireland from 1st June 2006 for a three
year term and is a member of the Board of Business in the
Community.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. A daily rate of
£294
and a half-day fee of £147 (4 hours or less) are payable. An
hourly rate is payable for Commission activities other than attendance
at scheduled meetings and attendance at training, conferences, outreach
and diversity events.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
Member of the Board of Governors of Strathearn School, Belfast - No
remuneration received.
Member of the Board of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company
(DRD) - No remuneration received.
Non-Executive member of the Health and Personal Social
Services Regulation and Improvement Authority - No remuneration
received.
Mrs Laird is also a non-executive member of the NI Prison
Service Management Board.
Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland with effect from
1 June 2006 for a three year term.
Political Activity:
None.
 Her
Honour Judge Loughran
County Court Judge
Career / Experience:
Judge Gemma Loughran was educated at Queen's University Belfast.
She was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1989 and was
appointed a County Court judge on 6 September 2004. She is a
former Director of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board
and a former member of the Senate of Queen's University,
Belfast.
She is a current member of the Board of Visitors of Queen's
University, Belfast and a Director of Trocaire.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. With the exception of
the lay magistrate, judicial members will not receive a fee.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
None.
Political Activity:
None.
 Professor
John Morison
Career / Experience:
Professor Morison is a Professor of Jurisprudence at Queen's
University Belfast. Since joining Queen's as a lecturer in 1984,
he has held various positions within the School of Law,
including Head of Research and Head of Department of
Jurisprudence.
He has written several books and carried out numerous
projects for the European Commission, Government, Research
Councils and Charities.
He is also currently a Board Member of Democratic Dialogue, a
Senior Research Fellow in the Constitution Unit of the
University of London, a Member of The Task Force on Resourcing
the Voluntary and Community sectors which reported at the end of
2004, a Member of the Peer Review College of the Arts and
Humanities Research Council for the UK, a Member of the Board of
Directors of the European Public Law Centre, Athens and of the
Scientific Committee of the European Group of Public Law.
He was previously a Member of the Board of Governors of Malone
College, a Council Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of N.I.,
and an Executive Committee member of the Socio-Legal Studies
Association.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. A daily rate of
£294
and a half-day fee of £147 (4 hours or less) are payable. An
hourly rate is payable for Commission activities other than attendance
at scheduled meetings and attendance at training, conferences, outreach
and diversity events.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
None.
Political Activity:
None.
 Dr
Raymond Mullan OBE
Career / Experience:
Dr Mullan has been Director and Chief Executive of Newry & Kilkeel Institute
of Further & Higher Education since 1991. He has worked at
the institute since 1976. Prior to being appointed
Director, Dr Mullan was Head of the Business & Management
Studies Department.
He is also currently Chair of the Employment Relations Forum
of the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges.
He was previously Director of Enterprise Newry, a board member of the
Southern Education and Library Board, NI President of the Association of
Principals of Colleges, Chair of the Association of Northern Ireland
Colleges and a Member of the Learning and Skills Advisory Committee.
Dr Mullan recently received the honorary degree of Doctor of the
University (DUniv) in recognition of his distinction in promoting
access to further and higher education.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. A daily rate of
£294
and a half-day fee of £147 (4 hours or less) are payable. An hourly rate
is payable for Commission activities other than attendance at scheduled
meetings and attendance at training, conferences, outreach and diversity
events.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
Member of the Northern Ireland Economic Development Forum - Fee of
£100 per meeting.
Appointed as a non-executive Director to the new Southern Health and
Social Services Trust. The appointment is for a four year period
with effect from 1st April 2007 and the post attracts an
annual remuneration of
£7,500 per annum.
Political Activity:
None.
 The
Honourable Mr Justice Weatherup
High Court Judge
Career / Experience:
Sir Ronald Weatherup was educated at Queen's University Belfast.
He was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1971 and took
Silk in 1993. He served as Junior Crown Counsel for Northern
Ireland from 1989 to 1993 and Senior Crown Counsel for Northern
Ireland from 1997 to 2001.
He was appointed a High Court Judge on 4 June 2001.
Sir Ronald is a member of the Judicial Studies Board for
Northern Ireland and is the Judge in Residence at Queen's
University Belfast. He is also a Visitor to the University of
Ulster.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The appointment will be for a period of 3 years. With the exception of
the lay magistrate, judicial members will not receive a fee.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
None.
Political Activity:
None.
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