John Larkin to remain as NI attorney general until 2019
- Published
John Larkin, a senior barrister, was first appointed as chief legal adviser to the Stormont Executive in May 2010
Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have extended the appointment of the Attorney General John Larkin for a second time.
Mr Larkin was first appointed as chief legal adviser to the Stormont Executive in May 2010, with the intention of serving a four-year term.
However in 2014, he was reappointed for a further two years. His term of office was due to last until next June.
But it has now been extended by a further three years, until May 2019.
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have written to their executive colleagues to inform them of the extension.
In November 2013, Mr Larkin stirred controversy when he argued there should be an end to prosecutions for Troubles-related killings.
Last month, he said he was profoundly disappointed by a High Court ruling which found that Northern Ireland's current prohibition on abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities or pregnancies resulting from sexual crime was in breach of European human rights law.