Stephen Herron has been named as Barra McGrory’s successor as Northern Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Herron, currently the acting deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, will take over the top role on 2 January 2018.

He said: “I am delighted to accept the post of DPP. I have worked in the service for the last 15 years and it is an honour to have the opportunity to take on this role.”

Northern Ireland’s Attorney General John Larkin QC added: “I have already had the pleasure of working with Stephen in his current role and in other senior roles within the PPS and I look forward to working with him as he shapes the Public Prosecution Service of the future.

“It is an agreeable duty to pay tribute to Barra McGrory on his retirement as director and to thank him for generous and committed public service in that role.”