The barrister who represented a number of families through the Hillsborough Inquiry has died.
Mark George's death was announced by his son, Tom, in a statement on Twitter. Mark died on Tuesday, December 20 after a short fight with cancer.
The barrister was instructed for 22 families in the Hillsborough Inquiry, and described it as something that brought two of his life's great passions together.
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Tom's tribute read: "I'm very sorry to have to tell you that my old man Mark George passed away yesterday, after a short fight with a particularly militant strain of cancer. I don't usually share much personal stuff on here, but he weirdly loved this platform and took great satisfaction from having way more followers than me and my brothers.
"The man was a walking contradiction, in the best possible way. A socialist and staunch trade unionist with a Cambridge education, he spent most of his life working as a criminal barrister at Garden Court Chambers, except for Saturday afternoons when he could be found shouting at referees at Stamford Bridge.
"When he worked on the Hillsborough inquiry he remarked, only half in jest, that it brought together two of his life's great passions. One of my earliest memories is him taking me and one of my brothers to see Arthur Scargill speak - one of the most boring things you could ever ask a seven-year-old to do.
"He also introduced me to Pink Floyd, Prince Buster and the KLF. He played the guitar and secretly had a decent voice, much higher than you might imagine. He was a creature of habit - I estimate that we ate at Pizza Express more than 300 times.
"He spent much of his spare time fighting the death penalty with Amicus and defending the right of everyone to free legal counsel here in the UK. He was fascinated by Old English, Norse history and the ancient standing stones, once touring around the UK to see them all.
"As a teenager, he nearly became a priest but then became a Marxist instead. He loved Chelsea FC but could not give a flying f**k about international football and rarely watched England - or even Scotland, where his mum was from. But he would look out for Stenhousemuir FC's result every week, because he liked the name.
"Rest up, you incredibly smart silly billy. x"
Garden Court North Chambers, where Mark had been the Head of Chambers since 2013 said: "It is with the greatest of sadness that we announce the death of our Head of Chambers, Mark George KC. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sue and his sons Tom, Kieran and Joe, and his wider family.
"Mark was a principled advocate, campaigner, and a fighter for social justice as well as the rule of law, whose presence, friendship, strength and wisdom will be greatly missed by all who knew him."
Mark was a highly experienced defence trial advocate who was regularly instructed in cases of murder, manslaughter, rape and other serious sexual cases. Tributes began flooding in for Mark soon after the news was spread on social media.
The Criminal Bar Association said: "We are very sad to hear the news of the passing of Mark George KC, Head of Garden Court North Chambers. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family, and friends and colleagues.
"He was a giant at the Criminal Bar. And a mentor to the juniors. He will be much missed."
David Conn, writer for The Guardian said: "So shocked by this awful news. Mark George KC was a phenomenal barrister, his contribution representing 22 Hillsborough families at the 2014-16 inquests was crucial to establishing the truth after 27 years of lies. Condolences to his family. RIP."
Chris Daw KC said: "I have just heard the tragic news of the untimely death of Mark George. I knew Mark for most of my career and he was the absolute epitome of warmth, decency, integrity, passion, commitment to his clients, to justice and to the law. He will be missed by all who knew him."
Polly Rippon said: "Oh my goodness. I am very very sad to hear this. He was a lovely man and a superb barrister. We worked together a few times - this is awful news. My thoughts are with his family and friends."
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