Tributes paid to NI senior coroner who presided over Omagh bombing inquests

Tributes have been paid to the North's former senior coroner John Leckey, who presided over the Omagh bombing inquests, after his death was announced on Friday.

Mr Leckey spent almost three decades as a coroner until his retirement in 2015. Lord chief justice Declan Morgan said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the death.

“John presided over a significant number of complex and contentious inquests during his time in office including the inquest into the Omagh bombing,” he said.

“His courteous manner was respected by families and those who appeared before him.”

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Mr Leckey was appointed as a coroner in 1992, having served as a deputy coroner from 1988.

Upper Bann MLA and SDLP legacy spokeswoman Dolores Kelly said Mr Leckey was "well respected both inside and outside the legal profession."

“His sensitive handling of inquests, including into the Omagh bombing, brought great comfort to families at a very trying and distressing time,” she said.Twenty-nine people were killed in the August 1998 Real IRA bombing which was the biggest single atrocity of the Troubles.