Ms Muldoon was appointed to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) for a three-year term just over a year ago.

She had retired from a long public sector career focused on mainstreaming human rights and equality into organisational policies, procedures and practices.

Chief commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick said: “Maura was a highly-valued human rights commissioner and colleague and we are deeply saddened by the news of her death.

“She was a tireless advocate for human rights in Northern Ireland and a great support to her fellow commissioners and staff.

“She will be sorely missed by all of us. We send our condolences to her family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.”