PRESS NOTICE 15 September 2008

APPOINTMENT OF A CORONER IN NORTHERN IRELAND – FIXED TERM

The Lord Chancellor has appointed Joanne Donnelly to the office of Coroner in Northern Ireland.

Joanne Donnelly was sworn into office before Sir Brian Kerr, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, on 15 September 2008. The Presiding Judge for the Coroners Service, Mr Justice Weir, and John Leckey, senior coroner, were present for the ceremony.

Note to editors

The appointment is for a fixed term period of three years and has been created to assist with the timely disposal of ongoing coronial business while a number of high profile and complex cases are being dealt with.

Joanne Donnelly was educated at the Queen’s University Belfast and has a Masters Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She was admitted as a solicitor in September 1996 and worked in private practice before joining the Northern Ireland Court Service in 1998.

If you have any further queries about this or other court related matters please contact:
Patricia Quinn
Press Officer
Communications Group
Northern Ireland Court Service
Windsor House
9-15 Bedford Street
Belfast, BT2 7LT

Tel. 028 90412387
Mob. 07780680838
Email. pressteam@courtsni.gov.uk