John Larkin (Northern Ireland)
Encyclopedia
John Larkin, QC
is the Attorney General for Northern Ireland
. He is the first person to hold the office separately since its functions were assumed by the Attorney General for England and Wales
in 1972. He would be the first holder of the office not to be a politician sitting in either the Parliament of Northern Ireland
, at Stormont, or the UK Parliament.
Larkin was born in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
and was educated at St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast
, and Queen's University Belfast, where he read law. He was subsequently called to the Bar of Northern Ireland
and practised as a barrister.
In the early 1980s he was involved in politics as a member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
, but ceased to be active as his legal career took off. In 1989, at the age of 25, Mr Larkin was appointed as Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penal Law at Trinity College, Dublin
. He returned to Northern Ireland in the 1990s to work at the Northern Ireland Bar, specialising in administrative law, civil liberties and human rights, competition and constitutional law, defamation and judicial review.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
is the Attorney General for Northern Ireland
Attorney General for Northern Ireland
The Attorney General for Northern Ireland is the chief legal adviser to the Northern Ireland Executive for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Northern Ireland Assembly....
. He is the first person to hold the office separately since its functions were assumed by the Attorney General for England and Wales
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
in 1972. He would be the first holder of the office not to be a politician sitting in either the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
, at Stormont, or the UK Parliament.
Larkin was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and was educated at St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, and Queen's University Belfast, where he read law. He was subsequently called to the Bar of Northern Ireland
Bar of Northern Ireland
The Bar of Northern Ireland, or Northern Irish Bar, is the association of barristers for Northern Ireland, comprising as at September 2007 just under 600 members....
and practised as a barrister.
In the early 1980s he was involved in politics as a member of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
, but ceased to be active as his legal career took off. In 1989, at the age of 25, Mr Larkin was appointed as Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penal Law at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He returned to Northern Ireland in the 1990s to work at the Northern Ireland Bar, specialising in administrative law, civil liberties and human rights, competition and constitutional law, defamation and judicial review.