Prominent barrister Gerry McAlinden QC has been officially sworn in as a High Court judge.

Mr McAlinden, a former chair of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland between 2014-16, has taken up his role following a swearing-in ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice.

His appointment was confirmed earlier this month.

As a barrister, Mr McAlinden specialised in the field of clinical negligence and public inquiry work.

He graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 1985, called to the Bar in 1986, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2011.

He gives up his role since 2015 as president of the Mental Health Appeal Tribunal in order to take up his position on the bench.