Former boxer Paddy Barnes has taken up a new role with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.
The double Olympic medallist is one of 13 new appointments to the body, which will be chaired by former Prison Service official Max Murray CBE.
The appointments were announced by Justice Minister Naomi Long on Wednesday.
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The members have been appointed following an open competition regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland and take up office for a three-year term.
Announcing the appointments, Alliance Party leader Long said: “This is extremely important and valuable work because the Probation Board for Northern Ireland is an organisation that is involved at all stages of the criminal justice process.
“In addition to playing a key role in reducing crime and preventing re-offending through the effective supervision of people who have offended, PBNI delivers a number of justice priorities. These include tackling issues around domestic abuse, sexual and violent offences and implementing problem solving justice initiatives.
“I wish the new Board well in their vital role in supporting the organisation to continue its critical work of changing lives for safer communities.”
https://twitter.com/paddyb_ireland/status/1498949722366689285?s=20&t=a6UpzmG3X_aeUpZ1H8_2OQ
Barnes is currently a club development officer for Ulster boxing within the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, dealing with a range of issues from governance to fundraising opportunities for clubs.
He is also a member of both the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games and Irish Olympic team's athlete advisory committees.
The 34-year-old - who retired from boxing in 2019 - has for both Northern Ireland and Ireland at both the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games where he captained teams at both, winning two Commonwealth Games gold medals and two Olympic bronze medals.
Sharing the news on Twitter, Barnes said: "I am delighted to be appointed to the Probation Board and I look forward to working alongside a great team."
The other members of the board will be made up by Neil Bodger, Maureen Brunt, Jonny Byrne, Kieran Donaghy, Brian Ingram, Jackie Johnston, Maurice Keady, Angela Lloyd-Stevens, Catherine Magee, Bria Mongan and Eileen Patterson.
The main activities of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland incude the supply of information to the courts through pre-sentence reports; the supervision of offenders made subject to community disposals; and the provision of social welfare services in prisons.
The Board also funds community initiatives aimed at supporting the statutory supervision of offenders in the community.
The remuneration for the post of Chair is £33,010 per annum and for Board Member is £5,050 per annum.
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