Commissioners

Our thirteen Commissioners are drawn from the judiciary, legal profession and other professional backgrounds. Commissioners have an equal say in the work NIJAC and are of equal status.

NIJAC’s Chairman is the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan.

Each judicial tier is represented and the other judicial members are:

The Right Honourable Lord Justice Coghlin, Lord Justice of Appeal;
The Honourable Mr Justice Weatherup, High Court Judge;
The Honourable Judge Loughran, County Court Judge;
District Judge Amanda Henderson (Magistrates’ Courts); and
Mrs Sinead Burns, Lay Magistrate.

Judicial Members

The judicial members are nominated by the Lord Chief Justice.

The Bar Council of Northern Ireland and Law Society of Northern Ireland also nominate members to serve on NIJAC. The legal members are:

Mr James McNulty QC, Barrister at Law; and
Mr Alastair Rankin, Solicitor.

Lay Members

NIJAC’s five lay members, which are public appointments, are:

Mr Donal Flanagan, OBE;
Mrs Ruth Laird;
Professor John Morison;
Dr Raymond Mullan, OBE; and
Professor Nichola Rooney.

Terms of Appointment

Initially, judicial members are appointed for a period of five years, lay members 4 years and legal members 3 years.

Legal and lay members are paid a fee: £294 per full day and £147 per ½ day. Judicial members do not receive any remuneration with the exception of the lay magistrate.

To view individual Commissioner profiles please click on the photographs below.

The Right Honourable Sir Declan Morgan

Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
Career / Experience:
Sir Declan Morgan was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar in 1976 and took Silk in 1993.

He was Senior Crown Counsel for Northern Ireland from 2002 until his appointment as a High Court Judge in May 2004. He was appointed to the Family Division in January 2007 and in September 2008 became one of two judges with responsibility for judicial review. Sir Declan was appointed Chairman of the Law Reform Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland in 2004. In April 2007 he was appointed Chairman of the Northern Ireland Law Commission. He will be stepping down from that position at the end of the summer.

Sir Declan Morgan became Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland on Friday 3 July 2009.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The Justice (NI) Act 2002 states that the Lord Chief Justice is to be the Chairman of NIJAC. 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 Sinéad 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 15 years experience in human resource management in both the public and private sectors and is currently Assistant Director of Human Resources in the Southern Health Trust.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Took up appointment in June 2005 for an initial 3 year period and has been reappointed for a further period of 5 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 NIJAC 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.
The Right Honourable Lord Justice Coghlin

Lord Justice of Appeal
Career / Experience:
Sir Patrick Coghlin was educated at Queen’s University, Belfast and Cambridge University. He was appointed as a High Court Judge in 1997 having been called to the Bar in 1970 and taken silk in 1985. Sir Patrick was Chairman of the General Council of the Bar from 1991- 1993 and was Senior Crown Counsel from 1993-1997.

He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in September 2008.

Sir Patrick is currently President of the Lands Tribunal and Chairman of a group of Tribunal Chairmen and Presidents which is considering issues concerning Tribunal reform in Northern Ireland.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
The Right Honourable Lord Justice Coghlin's appointment was in October 2008 and will last for a period of 5 years.
Other Public Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
None.
Political Activity:
None.
Mr James McNulty QC

Barrister Profile will be available shortly
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Mr McNulty’s period of appointment will run for 3 years from 15 June 2011.
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:
Political Activity:
Mr Donal Flanagan OBE

Lay Member
Career / Experience:
Mr Donal Flanagan OBE is currently Chief Executive of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, a Board Member of the Regional Training Unit, and the Teachers’ Salaries Negotiating Committee (both Department of Education).

He is also a Non Executive Director with the South Eastern Trust (Department of Health) and Chairman of the Middletown Centre for Autism (Department of Education) and the PSNI Audit Committee. Previously held posts have included Chair of Crossgar Community Association, a Non Executive Director of Down and Lisburn Health & Social Services Trust and positions on the Boards of the Council for the Curriculum Examinations & Assessment, the Belfast Health Action Zone Council and the Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Mr Flanagan took up his 5 year appointment on 15 June 2008 and succeeded Mr Harry McConnell OBE whose term as a lay member ended on 14 June 2008. A daily rate of £294 and a half-day fee of £147 (4 hours or less) are payable. An hourly rate is payable for NIJAC 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 Alastair Rankin

Solicitor
Career / Experience:
Mr Rankin has over 30 years’ experience in private practice as a solicitor and is the senior partner in a large firm of solicitors in Belfast. He practises in the area of wills, administration of estates, trusts and advising the elderly. A particular interest is advising on inheritance tax and he acts as a trustee for numerous trusts.
He also advises a number of charitable trusts. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and was the first chairman of the Northern Ireland Branch. He has been a member of the Council of the Law Society of Northern Ireland for over 25 years and was President of the Society in 1997 having previously served as Treasurer for 4 years. He has been a director of Law Society (NI) Financial Advice Ltd since its formation. He is an occasional lecturer and tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen’s University, Belfast.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Mr Rankin’s period of appointment will run for 3 years from 15 June 2011.
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:
Part time Legal Chairman of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals (Northern Ireland) – daily rate of £454.00
Part time Fee-paid Judge of the Tax Chamber in the First-Tier Tribunal – daily rate of £468.00
Political Activity:
None.
District Judge (Magistrates' Court) Amanda Henderson

District Judge (Magistrates' Courts)
Career/Experience:
Judge Henderson was educated at Queen's University, Belfast. She was called to the Bar in 1984 and was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1996. She was appointed as a deputy district judge (magistrates’ courts) (formerly known as deputy resident magistrate) in 2002 and was appointed as a district judge (magistrates’ courts) in 2005.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Judge Henderson’s period of appointment will run from 2nd February 2009 to 14th June 2013. With the exception of the lay magistrate, judicial members will not receive a fee.
Public and other Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
No public or other appointments held currently.
Political Activity:
None.
Mrs Ruth Laird

Lay Member
Career / Experience:
Mrs Laird was educated at Queen's University Belfast and holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Ancient and Modern History, and a post-graduate 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 a Board 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 in 2006 and as a Parole Commissioner for Northern Ireland in December 2009. She is a member of the Council of the University of Ulster.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Took up appointment in June 2005 for an initial 3 year period and has been reappointed for a further period of 4 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:
Non-executive Director of the Board of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (DRD) - £14,156 per annum.
Board member of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority - £5844 per annum.
Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 June 2006 for a 3 year term and re-appointed for a further 3-year term. A daily fee of £300 and a half-day fee of £150 are payable.
Parole Commissioner for Northern Ireland with effect from December 2009. A daily fee of £343 and a half-day fee of £171.50 are payable.
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.
Prior to becoming a barrister she was Principal Lecturer in St Mary's College of Education and served as a Governor in several primary and post-primary schools.
She is a current member of the Board of Visitors of Queen's University, Belfast.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Took up appointment in June 2005 for an initial 3 year period and has been reappointed for a further period of 5 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

Lay Member
Career / Experience:
Professor Morison is Professor of Jurisprudence in the School of Law at Queen's University Belfast. Since completing his education in Cardiff University and joining Queen's in 1984, he has held various positions within the School of Law including Head of Research, Head of Department of Jurisprudence and, from 2003-2007, Head of the School of Law.
He has been a visiting Professor in London, Cape Town and in the University of Utrecht. He has written and edited several books and published widely in scholarly journals internationally as well as carrying out projects for the European Commission, Government, Research Councils and various Charities.
He is a Member of the Peer Review College of the Arts and Humanities Research Council for the UK, the Board of Directors of the European Public Law Centre, Athens and of the Scientific Committee of the European Group of Public Law as well as a member of the Curatorium of the European Public Law Academy. He also serves as a trustee on the Hamlyn Trust and in 2009 was appointed as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy. Professor Morison is currently Chair of NIJAC 's Audit and Risk Management Committee and serves on its Policy Committee where he was closely involved in the development of the research into barriers and disincentives to judicial office.

Executive Summary of the NISRA/QUB research. (PDF 226 KB)

NISRA "Survey of Views" research. (PDF 3.5 MB)

Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Took up appointment in June 2005 for an initial 3 year period and has been reappointed for a further period of 4 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, Msc

Lay Member
Career / Experience:
Dr Raymond Mullan OBE was Director & Chief Executive of Newry & Kilkeel Institute of Further & Higher Education from 1991 until his retirement in 2007.
Previous to this he held various posts in Further Education including Head of Business & Management Studies. He is a graduate of Queens University Belfast in Economics and Accounting and holds a Masters degree in Education Management from the University of Ulster.
He received an OBE in 2000 for his contribution to education in N Ireland and was awarded a Doctor of the University of Ulster in 2006 in recognition of his distinction in promoting access to Further and Higher Education in N Ireland.
During his career he served as Chairman of the Association of Principals of N Ireland Colleges and was Chairman of the Association of N Ireland Colleges. He is currently Chair of Greenshoots Newry Ltd, an incubation and innovation company established in conjunction with Newry Institute and the University of Ulster and is a life member of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Took up appointment in June 2005 for an initial 3 year period and has been reappointed for a further period of 4 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:
Appointed asa 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 andthe post attracts an annualremuneration of £7,500 per annum.
Appointed as Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland from October 2009 for a term of three years. Remuneration is at a rate of £300 per day for Commissioner business, plus £300 per day for attendance in relation to chairing senior competitions.
Political Activity:
None.
Professor Nichola Rooney

Lay Member
Career / Experience:
Professor Rooney has been a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the Health Service for 18 years. For the past 9 years she has worked as a senior manager at the Royal Hospitals Belfast and since 2008 has been Head of Psychological Services at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. From 2002 - 2004 Professor Rooney was appointed by the Minister for Health as a member of the Human Organs Inquiry Relative's Reference Group. She has been involved in a number of Department of Health Committees for Policy Development, most recently in relation to the organisation and delivery of Psychological Therapies in Northern Ireland.
Professor Rooney is Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology Northern Ireland, a member of the Executive of the Division of Clinical Psychology UK and a Professional Officer of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority Mental Health and Learning Disability Review Team.
Her research in the area of Child Psychology has been disseminated through publication in academic journals and presentations at national and international conferences.
As an honorary senior lecturer at Queen's University Belfast, Professor Rooney has lectured frequently on post-graduate medical and clinical psychology doctorate courses. She is a member of the Board of Studies for the Clinical Psychology Doctorate.
Period of Appointment and Remuneration:
Professor Rooney’s period of appointment will run from 2nd February 2009 to 14th June 2013. 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.
Public and other Appointments Held and Remunerations Received:
None
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:
Took up appointment in June 2005 for an initial 3 year period and has been reappointed for a further period of 5 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.