Human-rights barrister to head North's judiciary

A human rights barrister with more than 20 years experience is to be invited to be the North’s attorney general.

John Larkin QC, 45, will be offered the position as part of a political deal devolving policing and justice powers to the province.

The twice-married Catholic has carried out legal work for Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

He would be the first North attorney general since Basil Kelly’s term ended after direct rule from London was imposed 25 years ago.

The government partners have agreed a plan to take over the justice remit from Westminster to save power-sharing from collapse.

Details of the deal emerged today when First Minister Peter Robinson said they were to appoint Mr Larkin.

Mr Larkin told the Press Association: “I am honoured by the intended invitation of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and I look forward to the challenges of the new position after devolution.”

The west Belfast barrister has an extensive general legal practice but specialises in civil law including judicial reviews.

One legal source said: “He is very affable and very academically bright.”

In 2002 he represented Mr Robinson in a court case which went to the House of Lords.

The DUP challenged the decision of John Reid not to call fresh Assembly elections before May 2003, despite the lateness of former First Minister David Trimble’s 2001 election.

He also represented Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness when he took a case over the working of the North/South Ministerial Council which facilitates cross-border co-operation.

One of Mr Larkin’s former teachers at St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School in west Belfast, vice-principal Fergus Woods, said he was a very gifted student after starting there in 1974.

“He was always going to do well. There was a particular group that year who were very bright guys,” he said.

“John was not the sort who would have gotten into trouble for anything, he was very academically-minded, a very good linguist.”

He studied French and German at A-Level.

The lawyer was advocate for sex shop Miss Behavin’ in its legal battle for survival with Belfast City Council, which went to the Lords.

Mr Larkin was called to the Bar in 1986 and made a senior barrister in 2001.

He has taken some media work, most recently representing the BBC and Irish News in their case against loyalist Mark Haddock’s bid to have his identity protected.

He also worked with Friends of the Earth.

Mr Larkin was educated at Queen’s University Belfast and is Northern Ireland editor of the European Law Report.

He was also on the human rights committee of the Bar.

The Executive has not met since June as a result of the stand-off but First Minister Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness confirmed their deal would see Cabinet meetings resume from this Thursday.

The political leaders released documents detailing their blueprint for the way forward, which will include the appointment of an attorney general.

The deal does not have a timetable but both parties committed themselves to completing the process.