Senior NI judge is given new appointment

Sir Paul Maguire was sworn into office today at a ceremony in Belfast’s Royal Courts of Justice.

The appointment represents the latest stage in a distinguished legal career stretching back over 40 years.

Called to the Bar in 1978, Sir Paul took silk in 2006 and went on to practise as Senior Crown Counsel in a series of significant public law cases.

In 2012 he was appointed as a High Court Judge, and went on to oversee family cases, judicial reviews and take charge of the Queen’s Bench list.

His other roles have included a judicial member of the Board of Visitors at Queen’s University Belfast, and being elected an Honorary Bencher of Gray’s Inn in October 2020.

Lord Justice Maguire has also lectured in public law at Queen’s, and served as a part-time Chairman of the Employment Tribunals.

Meanwhile, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan announced two further appointments from among his judicial colleagues.

Mr Justice Huddleston is to take over the role as President of the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Redress Board.

In a statement, he said: “I will continue with the excellent work of my colleague, Mr Justice Colton, to ensure that the victims of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland receive compensation they deserve as quickly as possible.”

His predecessor expressed the privilege he felt at being responsible for establishing the Redress Board.

Mr Justice Colton also acknowledged the work of the HIA staff, panel members, the Interim Advocate, victims’ and survivors’ groups, solicitors for the applicants, the institutions/orders and the Public Records Office.

“It is with thanks to their work that, despite the difficulties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the scheme envisaged by Sir Anthony Hart is now operating to provide victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse the compensation to which they are entitled,” he said.

Sir Declan also announced the appointment of Mr Justice McFarland as Presiding Coroner.