NORTHERN Ireland's chief scientific advisor and a key player in leading the Covid response, Professor Ian Young, is on leave "on health grounds", the Department of Health has confirmed.
Other senior figures within the health service will provide cover during his absence "until further notice".
Dr Declan Bradley, of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University, will represent the north on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies as Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser (interim) and chair the NI Covid-19 Modelling Group.
Prof Stuart Elborn, also from Queen's, will represent Northern Ireland on the UK's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group and chair NI's Strategic Intelligence Group.
Earlier this month, a court hearing took place in London after Prof Young mounted a legal challenge against a General Medical Council disciplinary investigation arising from a public inquiry into the hospital deaths of five children.
He sought a judicial review following allegations he failed to tell the family of a nine-year-old girl, Claire Roberts, about "failings" in her treatment.
Prof Young was not involved in any treatment.
A lawyer said at the opening submission of the hearing that his client was "deeply sorry" for "inadvertently contributing" to the family's stress in any way.
