Barry_Shaw_(barrister)

Barry Shaw (barrister)

Barry Shaw (barrister)

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Sir Charles Barry Shaw, CB, KC (12 April 1923 – 30 September 2010) was a Northern Irish barrister. From 1972 to 1989, he served as the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland; he was the first holder of this post.

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Early life and education

Shaw was born on 12 April 1923 in Balmoral, Belfast, Northern Ireland.[1] He was educated at Inchmarlo House in Belfast and at Pannal Ash College in Harrogate, England.[2] After leaving school, he matriculated into Queen's University Belfast to study science.[1] He left university in 1942 to serve in the military.[1][3][4] He returned to university in 1946, and switched to law.[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.[2]

Military service

Shaw took a break from his university studies to serve in the British Army during Second World War.[1][3] On 5 December 1942, he was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a second lieutenant.[4] He then served in the 97 Anti-Tank Regiment attached to the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division.[2] He saw active serve in the Normandy Landings and in the North West Europe Campaign.[1][5] He was demobilised in 1946.[1][2]

In 1948, Shaw was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland, thereby becoming a barrister.[1] From 1948 to 1952, he worked in private practice.[1] He was appointed Junior Crown Counsel (a prosecutor) for County Fermanagh, and then for County Tyrone and County Antrim.[1] In 1964, he was appointed Senior Crown Counsel for County Londonderry, and later for County Antrim and Belfast.[1] On 10 April 1972, he was appointed to the newly created position of Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.[1][2][6] As such, he was head of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland "throughout the worst years of the Troubles".[3] He retired from the post in 1989, and was succeeded by Alasdair Fraser.[1][7]

In December 1964, Shaw was called to the Inner Bar of Northern Ireland, thereby becoming a Queen's Counsel (QC).[8] He was elected a Bencher in 1968.[2] He was also called to Bar at Middle Temple in 1970 which allowed him to practice as a barrister in England and Wales.[2]

Personal life

In 1950, Shaw married Jean Boyd; they later divorced.[2] In 1964, he married Jane (née Phillips); she predeceased her husband, dying in January 2010.[1][2]

Shaw died on 30 September 2010, aged 87.[1] A memorial service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Glencraig in Holywood, County Down.[5]

Honours

In the 1974 Queen's Birthday Honours, Shaw was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in recognition of his service as Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland (DPP).[9] In the 1980 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Bachelor, and thereby granted the title sir, in recognition of his service as DPP.[10] On 4 March 1980, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.[11] He was made an Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple in 1986.[2]

References

  1. [1]
    "Sir Barry Shaw". The Times. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  2. [2]
    'SHAW, Sir (Charles) Barry', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 26 May 2017
  3. [3]
    "First DPP Barry Shaw dies at 87". The Belfast Telegraph. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  4. [4]
    "No. 35857". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1943. pp. 260–261.
  5. [5]
    Murray, Alan (24 October 2010). "Sir Barry Shaw". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  6. [6]
    Craig, Rosemary. "PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND" (pdf). Cengage Learning. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  7. [7]
    Archer, Bimpe (19 June 2012). "Former director of public prosecutions dies at 65". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  8. [8]
    "No. 2282". The Belfast Gazette. 25 December 1964. p. 439.
  9. [9]
    "No. 46310". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1974. p. 6795.
  10. [10]
    "No. 48059". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 January 1980. pp. 287–288.
  11. [11]
    "No. 48160". The London Gazette. 18 April 1980. p. 5815.
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