Richard Ferguson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Richard Ferguson QC
, SC
(22 August 1935–26 July 2009) was a barrister
and politician
from Northern Ireland
.
Born in Derrygonnelly
, County Fermanagh
, the son of a sergeant in the Royal Ulster Constabulary
, Ferguson attended Rainey Endowed School
and Methodist College. He later studied Law at Trinity College, Dublin
and Queen's University, Belfast. He qualified to practice as a barrister in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and from 1972, in England.
In 1968, Ferguson was elected to the Parliament of Northern Ireland
for the Ulster Unionist Party
, representing South Antrim. He was considered a liberal
Unionist and was a supporter of the Prime Minister
Terence O'Neill
.
Before his election, he had called for local government reform including a one man, one vote system.
Ferguson held his seat at the 1969 general election
. In August, he resigned from the Orange Order, and was subsequently subject to intimidation
. He stood down from Parliament in 1970 alongside O'Neill, citing ill health. In April, his house was firebombed in an attack blamed on loyalists.
In 1971, Ferguson joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
but did not continue in an active political role. Instead, he focused on law, becoming a Queen's Counsel
(QC) in Northern Ireland in 1973 and chairing the Northern Ireland Mental Health Review Tribunal from 1973 until 1984. He departed Northern Ireland in 1983 and became a Senior Counsel
, before moving to London
in 1986 where he became a QC in England. From 1993 until 1995, he served as the Chair of the Criminal Bar Association.
He was defence counsel in many high-profile cases, such as those of mass-murderers Rosemary West
and Patrick Magee, and successfully defended two British soldiers accused of war crimes in Iraq. By 2003, he was the top-earning criminal defence barrister, with more than £800,000 in that year.
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...
, SC
Senior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
(22 August 1935–26 July 2009) was a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from 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...
.
Born in Derrygonnelly
Derrygonnelly
Derrygonnelly is a small village and townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Near Lower Lough Erne, the village was home to 594 people and dates to the Plantation era....
, County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, the son of a sergeant in the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
, Ferguson attended Rainey Endowed School
Rainey Endowed School
Rainey Endowed School,known colloquially as "The Rainey", is a voluntary grammar school in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The school was founded in 1707 and currently has an enrolment of approximately 750 pupils. The school borders three counties and draws its students from each...
and Methodist College. He later studied 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...
and Queen's University, Belfast. He qualified to practice as a barrister in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and from 1972, in England.
In 1968, Ferguson was elected to 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...
for the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
, representing South Antrim. He was considered a liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
Unionist and was a supporter of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
Terence O'Neill
Terence O'Neill
Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
.
Before his election, he had called for local government reform including a one man, one vote system.
Ferguson held his seat at the 1969 general election
Northern Ireland general election, 1969
-References:*...
. In August, he resigned from the Orange Order, and was subsequently subject to intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
. He stood down from Parliament in 1970 alongside O'Neill, citing ill health. In April, his house was firebombed in an attack blamed on loyalists.
In 1971, Ferguson joined 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 did not continue in an active political role. Instead, he focused on law, becoming a Queen's Counsel
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...
(QC) in Northern Ireland in 1973 and chairing the Northern Ireland Mental Health Review Tribunal from 1973 until 1984. He departed Northern Ireland in 1983 and became a Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
, before moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1986 where he became a QC in England. From 1993 until 1995, he served as the Chair of the Criminal Bar Association.
He was defence counsel in many high-profile cases, such as those of mass-murderers Rosemary West
Rosemary West
Rosemary Pauline "Rose" West is a British serial killer, now an inmate at HMP Low Newton, Brasside, Durham, after being convicted of 10 murders in 1995...
and Patrick Magee, and successfully defended two British soldiers accused of war crimes in Iraq. By 2003, he was the top-earning criminal defence barrister, with more than £800,000 in that year.