NEWS RELEASES
SECOND CANADIAN JUDGE APPOINTED TO THE BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY
November 10, 2000 (12:30 p.m. EST) No. 265
SECOND CANADIAN JUDGE APPOINTED TO
THE BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is pleased to announce that
Canada has agreed to the appointment of Mr. Justice William Esson, a judge of the
British Columbia Court of Appeal, as a "reserve" member of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry
Tribunal that is currently under way in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, announced the appointment
of Mr. Justice Esson today. The Honourable William Hoyt, a former New Brunswick
Chief Justice, is already serving on the Inquiry.
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry was set up by the British government in January 1998. Its
terms of reference are "To inquire into the events of Sunday 30 January 1972 which led
to loss of life in connection with the procession in Londonderry on that day, taking
account of any new information relevant to the events of that day." The Tribunal of
Inquiry is chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate. Its two other members are the
Honourable William Hoyt of Canada and the Honourable John Toohey of Australia.
The decision by the British government to appoint a reserve member for the Tribunal
was prompted by the resignation of Sir Edward Somers from the Tribunal for personal
reasons. The appointment of a reserve member will permit the Tribunal to continue to
operate in the event of another member being unable to complete the task.
Mr. Justice Esson was born in Vancouver in 1930. He graduated from the University of
British Columbia Law School in 1957 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in
1958, where he practised law until his appointment to the British Columbia Supreme
Court in 1979. Mr. Justice Esson was appointed to the British Columbia Court of Appeal
in 1983. He was appointed Chief Justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court in
1989, where he served until 1996 when he was reappointed to the British Columbia
Court of Appeal. Mr. Justice Esson has taken a leave of absence from the British
Columbia Court of Appeal while carrying out his duties as a member of the Tribunal.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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