Appointments to the Court of Appeal

Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of The Honourable Mr Justice Weatherup and The Honourable Mr Justice Weir as Lord Justices of Appeal in Northern Ireland. They will be sworn into office in September at a ceremony in the Royal Courts of Justice.

Speaking of the appointments Gerry McAlinden QC stated

“As Chairman of the Bar Council, I extend our sincere congratulations to Mr Justice Ronald Weatherup and Mr Justice Reginald Weir on their appointment as Lord Justices of Appeal. Both appointments are well deserved and represent the pinnacle of distinguished careers in public service and their continued commitment to justice. Having been called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in the early seventies it is wonderful to see former members rise to this notable level and on behalf of the Bar, I wish them both well.”

Mr Justice Ronald Weatherup was appointed a High Court Judge on 4 June 2001. He was educated at Methodist College Belfast and Queen’s University Belfast. He was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1971 and took Silk in 1993. He was Senior Crown Counsel for Northern Ireland from 1997-2001, the Judicial Review Judge from 2003–2009 and Commercial Judge since 2010. He was a Member of the Judicial Studies Board from 2003–2005, a member of the Judicial Appointments Commission from 2005–2013 and Visitor to the University of Ulster from 2004- 2014.

Mr Justice Reginald Weir was educated at Annadale Grammar School Belfast and Queen’s University Belfast. He was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1970 and took Silk in 1985. In that year he was appointed a Deputy County Court Judge and continued in that role until appointed a High Court Judge in September 2003. He served as the Chancery Judge from January 2004 until January 2007 when he became Family Judge until January 2012 since when he has been the Senior Criminal Judge.

He has also served as Presiding Coroner since the establishment of the NI Coroners Service in 2006. He is a former Chairman of the Bar and Treasurer of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland and is Chairman of the Council of Legal Education.