Brice Dickson
Encyclopedia
Professor Brice Dickson, a barrister from Northern Ireland
, is Professor of International and Comparative Law at the School of Law, Queen's University Belfast. Formerly Professor of Law at the University of Ulster
, he became the first Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
on its establishment in 1999, serving two three-year terms. He left the NIHRC in March 2005 to take up his chair at Queen's.
Dickson is the author of numerous legal textbooks. He was a co-founder of the main human rights
non-governmental organisation in Northern Ireland, the Committee on the Administration of Justice
(CAJ).
Under Dickson's leadership the NIHRC developed as the first statutory national human rights institution for Northern Ireland, replacing a former advisory commission. The NIHRC monitored human rights compliance, advised the United Kingdom
government and the Northern Ireland Assembly
on legislation and policy, provided legal assistance to individuals and secured recognition within the United Nations
and Council of Europe
human rights systems.
The latter years of Dickson's tenure at the NIHRC were marked by controversy and the resignations or withdrawal from participation of several part-time Commissioners. After first agreeing to the Commission's Bill of Rights proposals in 2001, two Commissioners later resigned because they thought the proposals did not go far enough. Another area of difference related to the Holy Cross dispute
in which Loyalists
sought to blockade a Catholic primary school in the Ardoyne
area of North Belfast. The NIHRC's Casework Committee decided in November 2001, contrary to a former decision by the whole Commission, to support a legal action brought by a Holy Cross mother who sought judicial review
of the handling of the dispute by the then police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC). Dickson and some other Commissioners disagreed with the decision and wrote to the then RUC Chief Constable, Ronnie Flanagan
, assuring him that they did not support the legal action against him. That letter was disclosed to the other Commissioners at the time but became public in the course of the subsequent legal proceedings and in 2003 two Commissioners withdrew from the Commission over the matter and called for Dickson's resignation. Another Commissioner resigned on being offered a post with the Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission
. When Dickson's term as chief commissioner ended, the NIHRC was left without a chair for some months. The judicial review application against the RUC failed in the High Court, in the Court of Appeal of Northern Ireland and in the House of Lords.
On returning to academic life, Dickson's research activity has included work on the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
, formerly the judicial or appellate committee of the House of Lords
.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, is Professor of International and Comparative Law at the School of Law, Queen's University Belfast. Formerly Professor of Law at the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
, he became the first Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a non-departmental public body funded through the Northern Ireland Office but operating independently of government as the national human rights institution for Northern Ireland...
on its establishment in 1999, serving two three-year terms. He left the NIHRC in March 2005 to take up his chair at Queen's.
Dickson is the author of numerous legal textbooks. He was a co-founder of the main human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
non-governmental organisation in Northern Ireland, the Committee on the Administration of Justice
Committee on the Administration of Justice
CAJ is an independent human rights organisation with cross community membership in Northern Ireland and beyond. It was established in 1981 and lobbies and campaigns on a broad range of human rights issues...
(CAJ).
Under Dickson's leadership the NIHRC developed as the first statutory national human rights institution for Northern Ireland, replacing a former advisory commission. The NIHRC monitored human rights compliance, advised the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government and the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
on legislation and policy, provided legal assistance to individuals and secured recognition within the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
human rights systems.
The latter years of Dickson's tenure at the NIHRC were marked by controversy and the resignations or withdrawal from participation of several part-time Commissioners. After first agreeing to the Commission's Bill of Rights proposals in 2001, two Commissioners later resigned because they thought the proposals did not go far enough. Another area of difference related to the Holy Cross dispute
Holy Cross dispute
The Holy Cross dispute occurred in 2001 and 2002 in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and involved an escalating dispute between on the one hand the pupils and parents of Holy Cross R.C. Primary School and on the other the residents of a loyalist area that lay on the route to the front...
in which Loyalists
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
sought to blockade a Catholic primary school in the Ardoyne
Ardoyne
Ardoyne is an Irish nationalist, working class and mainly Catholic district in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. It gained notoriety due to the large number of incidents during "The Troubles". It is home to approximately 20,000 inhabitants...
area of North Belfast. The NIHRC's Casework Committee decided in November 2001, contrary to a former decision by the whole Commission, to support a legal action brought by a Holy Cross mother who sought judicial review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
of the handling of the dispute by the then police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC). Dickson and some other Commissioners disagreed with the decision and wrote to the then RUC Chief Constable, Ronnie Flanagan
Ronnie Flanagan
Sir Ronald Flanagan, GBE, QPM, was the Home Office Chief Inspector of Constabulary for the United Kingdom excluding Scotland...
, assuring him that they did not support the legal action against him. That letter was disclosed to the other Commissioners at the time but became public in the course of the subsequent legal proceedings and in 2003 two Commissioners withdrew from the Commission over the matter and called for Dickson's resignation. Another Commissioner resigned on being offered a post with the Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission
Equal Opportunities Commission (Hong Kong)
Equal Opportunities Commission is a statutory body responsible for implementing the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance and the Race Discrimination Ordinance in Hong Kong...
. When Dickson's term as chief commissioner ended, the NIHRC was left without a chair for some months. The judicial review application against the RUC failed in the High Court, in the Court of Appeal of Northern Ireland and in the House of Lords.
On returning to academic life, Dickson's research activity has included work on the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
, formerly the judicial or appellate committee of the House of Lords
Judicial functions of the House of Lords
The House of Lords, in addition to having a legislative function, historically also had a judicial function. It functioned as a court of first instance for the trials of peers, for impeachment cases, and as a court of last resort within the United Kingdom. In the latter case the House's...
.