Alasdair Fraser (barrister)

Fraser was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 29 September 1946.[1] He and his family moved to Northern Ireland in 1950.[2] He studied law at Trinity College Dublin and undertook postgraduate studies at Queen's University Belfast.[3]

Fraser was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1970 beginning his career as a barrister.[2] He practised law at a Belfast legal practice for three years.[1]

In 1973, he joined the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions.[4] The following year, in 1974, he was promoted to assistant director of Public Prosecutions.[2] In 1988, he was promoted to deputy director.[1] In April 1989, he was appointed by Sir Patrick Mayhew, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, as Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.[3] He served under six Attorney-Generals before retiring in September 2010.[2][4]

On 16 June 2012, Fraser died of cancer; he was aged 65.[2] He had taken early retirement after his initial diagnosis.[1] His funeral took place at St Mark's Church of Ireland in Dundela, Belfast on 20 June 2012.[3]

Fraser was married to Margaret. Together they had three children; a daughter, Katy, and two sons, Andrew and Jamie.[1][3] A rugby fan, he served as Chairman of the Church of Ireland's Young Men's Society rugby club based in Belfast.[2]

In the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours, Fraser was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) for his service as Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.[5] In the 2001 New Year Honours, he was made a Knight Bachelor 'for services to the Criminal Justice System'.[6] He was knighted by Charles, Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on 2 March 2001.[7]

In 2006, he was awarded the Special Achievement Award by the International Association of Prosecutors for his role in prosecuting crimes in Northern Ireland during 30 years of The Troubles.[1]