Born in Derry, Sir Liam took silk in 1971 and was appointed as a High Court judge in 1987. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 1997.

In 2000, rumours swirled that Sir Liam was set to be appointed as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, though this never came to fruition.

He retired from the bench in 2004 and died on Monday.

Paying tribute, Dame Siobhan Keegan, the Lady Chief Justice, said: “Sir Liam made an important contribution to the jurisprudence of this jurisdiction. I would like to express my condolences, and that of the judiciary, to Sir Liam’s wife, his children and the wider family circle.”