Former senior police officer Alan McQuillan dies

Alan McQuillan was an assistant chief constable

Former senior police officer Alan McQuillan, who had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, has died aged 70.

Mr McQuillan spent most of his policing career with the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and previously served as an assistant chief constable, before leaving the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2003.

He is survived by his wife Heather, daughter Jane and son Andrew.

His son said he was a "true professional" with "integrity, honesty and a sense of fairness".

Alan McQuillan had spent most of his policing career with the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)

In a statement shared on social media, he said his father had not initially planned to go into policing after graduating as an astrophysicist, but "a series of events and his overwhelming care for others" led him into the career.

"Alan cared deeply about protecting and helping every community across Northern Ireland, even when this meant personal sacrifices," he wrote.

Mr McQuillan had also been the director of the Assets Recovery Agency, which investigated organised crime and paramilitaries across Northern Ireland and farther afield.

He often appeared in the media as a commentator on security and policing matters.

Former senior PSNI officer and Ulster Unionist Assembly member Jon Burrows said Mr McQuillan was as a "towering intellect, a brilliant communicator and a fearless public servant".

Jim Gamble, an ex-detective and former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, said he was "so sorry" to hear the news.

Former Education Minister Lord Peter Weir sent his condolences to Mr McQuillan's family.