There has been a mixed political reaction to the announcement of the membership of the North's new Human Rights Commission. The appointments were welcomed by nationalists but unionists and the anti-paramilitary group, Families Against Intimidation and Terror, claimed they were unrepresentative.
The chief commissioner is Prof Brice Dickson, the head of legal studies at the University of Ulster. The nine other part-time commissioners were named yesterday by the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam.
They are: Ms Christine Bell, director of the centre for international and comparative human rights law at Queen's University, Belfast; Prof Tom Hadden, QUB; Ms Angela Hegarty, University of Ulster; Mr Francis McGuinness, Northern manager of Trocaire; Ms Inez McCormack, the regional secretary of UNISON; Ms Patricia Kelly, director of the Children's Law Centre; Ms Margaret-Ann Dinsmore, a barrister; the Rev Harold Good, a Methodist minister; and Mr Tom Donnelly, a former SDLP councillor.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, described them as "an impressive team".
Sinn Fein spokeswoman Ms Mary Nelis said the commissioners had the experience required for their positions. Alliance spokesman Mr Stephen Farry also welcomed the appointments.
The Workers' Party described the setting up of the commission as "very positive".
However, Ulster Unionist equality spokesman Mr Dermot Nesbitt said the commissioners were unrepresentative.
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, claimed the appointments were "totally unbalanced and disadvantage the unionist majority".
FAIT's director, Mr Sam Cushnahan, said the list had not one person who "made their reputation by agitating on behalf of the victims of violence".