The flag at the Supreme Court in London has been lowered to half-mast in a mark of respect to former Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland Sir Brian Kerr, who has died unexpectedly.
As Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore, the Co Armagh born judge had retired as a justice of the Supreme Court just two months ago, at the age of 72.
He had served as lord chief justice of Northern Ireland from 2004 to 2009.
Paying tribute to his former colleague, president of the Supreme Court, Lord Robert Reed said: "Brian demonstrated his strong and instinctive sense of justice, and his thoughtful and principled approach to resolving legal problems".
"He will never know the full extent of the impact which his considerate, good-humoured and encouraging nature had on the court, the staff of the court, and his judicial colleague", he said.
"Nor will he ever know the full extent of the impact which his judgments had on the society we serve: in Northern Ireland, in the rest of the United Kingdom, in Europe through his service as an ad hoc judge on the European Court of Human Rights, and in the many jurisdictions around the world for which the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council serves as the final court of appeal. But he has left us a legacy which will be drawn on well into the future.
"Brian was a deeply valued colleague, a kind and modest man of the utmost integrity, who will be deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with him."
Prior to starting a trial at Craigavon Crown Court, Judge Patrick Lynch QC told the jury he had just received the news that the “local boy” had suddenly died, having had a “distinguished career” as both a barrister and judge.
Judge Lynch said “perhaps one of the lesser distinguished points in his career was that he appointed me as a County Court Judge in 2004."
Patrick Corrigan of Amnesty International also paid tribute saying: "As a Supreme Court judge, Lord Chief Justice and throughout his distinguished career, Sir Brian was a strong defender of human rights and the rule of law".
