Sheriff praises Golspie Procurator Fiscal who died this week
TRIBUTES were paid from the bench at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday to Procurator Fiscal Alasdair MacDonald (60), Golspie.
Mr Macdonald passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, following a short battle with cancer. His funeral service was held yesterday at the Fountain Road Church Hall, Golspie.
Mr MacDonald joined the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in 1979 as a legal assistant in Aberdeen.
He worked in the Crown Office and a number of offices in COPFS over the following 37 years, including Dunfermline, Inverness, Elgin, Haddington, Tain and Wick.
He was appointed as a District Fiscal at Elgin in 1986 and later served as Procurator Fiscal at Haddington, Wick, Dingwall, Dornoch, Tain and Wick.
He played a key role as a District Fiscal in Highland and Islands Area which was established in 2002 and became the senior solicitor in Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU) North Federation in 2012 and was regarded as a moderniser and one of the key figures in establishing the SFIU.
Solicitors, colleagues and court staff were assembled in Court 2 at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday where Sheriff David Sutherland began proceedings with a tribute to Mr MacDonald.
“He was a friend and colleague of so many of us here today,” said Sheriff Sutherland.
“A native of Sutherland, Alasdair was one of the finest fiscals in the country. He was respected and admired by colleagues in the service and solicitors and sheriffs.
“He was a formidable and resolute prosecutor. His knowledge of the law was quite exceptional, as many in the court can testify to.
“But for me it was his courtesy and sense of fairness which was his hallmark.”
Sheriff Sutherland said he had known Mr MacDonald for more than 30 years.
“The fact so many of us trusted and respected him in all that he did is testimony to the true Highland gentleman that he was.
“His premature death was such a shock to many of us and he will be sadly missed.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Anna and their children to whom we convey the condolences of the court.”
Crown Agent, David Harvie said: “Alasdair was an outstanding Procurator Fiscal and solicitor who was respected and admired by everyone who worked with him.
“A font of knowledge and a true gentleman, he will be sorely missed by colleagues at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
