Appearing in Saturday’s newspaper, it praises his “relentless and devastating” skill in cross-examination as well as his “independence and fearlessness”.

“This confluence of talents and circumstances ensured he came to be regarded by many of his peers as the greatest Irish criminal barrister of the last 100 years,” it continues.

“No one else has represented so many clients in so many high-profile, difficult and often unpopular cases in the brightest glare of publicity.”