October 5, 1999
(Justice)

Minister announces changes within department

Paul Dicks, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, announced the following appointments today.

Colin J. Flynn, Q.C. had been seconded to head up the civil litigation unit at the Department of Justice. Mr. Flynn, a native of Buchans, has a Masters in Law from the University of Edinburgh and is an experienced litigator and administrator. He has been the director of public prosecutions since 1988.

Wayne Gorman will assume the position of director of public prosecutions. Mr. Gorman is currently the senior counsel in the special prosecutions unit, a position which he has held since 1989. In that capacity he has accumulated a wealth of experience at all levels of court, including the Newfoundland Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Flynn's and Mr. Gorman's appointments take effect October 13.

Mary Elizabeth Hatherly, who has been under contract to the department since 1995, has been appointed to a permanent position with the civil division of the department where she will practise primarily in the areas of constitutional and aboriginal law. Ms. Hatherly earned her Bachelor of Law degree from the University of New Brunswick, and a Masters in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. Before coming to Newfoundland, she taught in the areas of constitutional, criminal and native law, and was a senior policy advisor with the Solicitor General of New Brunswick. She replaces B. Gale Welsh, who was recently appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland.

"We are fortunate indeed to have the services of these seasoned senior practitioners," said Minister Dicks. "I am pleased that we have been able to offer them the interesting and challenging work within the department and I am confident they will serve as tremendous assets to the province."

Media contact: David Wells, Director of Communications (709) 729-6830.

1999 10 05 12:35 p.m.