Tributes to former Strathclyde police chief Sir John Orr

The man who investigated the Lockerbie bombing has died aged aged 72

Author: Rob WallerPublished 20th Feb 2018
Last updated 20th Feb 2018

Tributes are being paid to former Strathclyde Police chief constable Sir John Orr, the man who lead the investigation into the Lockerbie Bombing, as 'a first class police officer and an absolute gentleman', after his death as the age of 72.

"A first class police officer and an absolute gentleman" - DCC Iain Livingstone

After his retirement from the police in 2001 he served as chairman of our charity Cash for Kids and also as the chairman and honorary presiden of who Kilmarnock Football Club who announced his death in a statement saying : "Everyone at Kilmarnock Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of honorary president and former chairman Sir John Orr. Our thoughts are with Sir John's family at this difficult time.''

Sir John was at the helm of what was then Scotland's largest police force from 1996 until 2001 and was knighted by the Queen in 2001 for services to policing, following a career which saw him head the Lockerbie bombing investigation after Pan AM flight 103 was brought down in December 1988.

Ray Montgomerie, who captained Kilmarnock to the Scottish Cup in 1997, tweeted: " I am so so sad to hear about the passing away of my dear friend Sir John Orr. A great Killie man with morals and principles. My heartfelt thoughts to all his family.''

Strathclyde Police was one of eight regional forces that merged in 2013 to form Scotland's national force, Police Scotland.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sir John Orr, the former chief constable of Strathclyde Police.

"Many people at Police Scotland had the privilege of working with him during their careers and he will be remembered as a first class police officer and an absolute gentleman. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.''

In 2004, he was appointed as an independent expert to review procedures for authorising marches and parades producing a 300-page report in January the following year which proposed new moves to give councils greater control over parades