Ballymote native Eamonn Barnes, the State’s first Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has died aged 83. 

Mr Barnes was appointed to the position in January 1975, which he held until his retirement in 1999.

The current DPP Claire Loftus paid tribute to Mr Barnes, saying he left a significant legacy in Irish legal history. He set up this office, asserted its statutory independence, and established the highest prosecutorial standards which we still adhere to today”, she said.

According to The Irish Times, the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said Mr Barnes had served the State with “considerable distinction in that role for 25 years, establishing the unquestioned independence of the position from government”.