‘The pre-eminent public servant of his time and of his generation': Tributes paid after death of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield

Belfast Telegraph

01-06-2025

Sir Kenneth died at the age of 94 on Saturday.
He has been hailed by well-wishers as a renowned humanitarian who had 'empathy with the families of the Disappeared.'
Sir Kenneth joined the civil service in 1952 and would rise through the ranks to head the organisation in 1984.
After standing down in 1991,he would later become the BBC's National Governor for Northern Ireland.
In 1997, he would be tasked by the then Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, to take on the role of NI Victims Commissioner.
While at their home in Crawfordsburn in 1988, while he was still the head of the Civil Service, he and his wife would become targets of an IRA bomb attack outside their home.
Neither of them were injured in the Co Down blast.
'I was sorry to learn of the passing of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. He gave many years of service to Northern Ireland and did so with thoughtfulness and dedication,' said the DUP leader, Gavin Robinson.
'His calm approach, even when targeted by the IRA, earned respect across the board, and his contribution to public life will not be forgotten.
'My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who knew him at this sad time.'
Also sharing her condolences was the Alliance Party leader, Naomi Long.
'Sir Kenneth had a distinguished career in public service over many years and in many roles,' said the Justice Minister.
'He and his wife were personally targeted in the Troubles, when their home was attacked by an IRA bomb, but he did not allow it to deter him from his enduring commitment to public service.
'In the decades since his formal retirement, he continued that commitment, offering his skills and experience in the service of the community, most particularly in his work as Victims' Commissioner in the early days of the Assembly, a role which he notably described as being a 'painful privilege'.
'I know that he kept in touch with political developments and was especially supportive of efforts to ensure the devolved administration was put on a firm and stable footing.
'On behalf of myself and Alliance, I would wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Lady Elizabeth and the family circle on their very personal loss."
A spokesperson from the WAVE Trauma Centre said they were saddened at the news of his missing, but 'none more so than the families of the Disappeared'.
"As the first Victims Commissioner and UK Commissioner on the ICLVR), Sir Ken was a warm and thoughtful support for the families who have suffered so much. Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (
"On his first day as Victims Commissioner, Sir Ken shared a BBC studio with Margaret McKinney, mother of Brian who had disappeared along with John McClory in 1978.
"His resolve to help the families of the Disappeared was anchored in that early meeting in November 1997.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Lady Elizabeth, who was always by his side at the annual Palm Sunday mass and with his children and the family circle.
"May Sir Ken rest in eternal peace.'
Speaking to BBC NI, another former head of the Civil Service Sir Nigel Hamilton also expressed his well-wishes.
"I will remember him as the most important, and the pre-eminent public servant of his time and of his generation.
"From the 1960s up to 1991, he was a leader, he was the public servant extraordinaire."
The joint UK and Irish Commissioners, Rosalie Flanagan and Tim Dalton, of the ICLVR, said they were 'deeply saddened' to hear of the former Civil Service head's passing.
'He brought to the ICLVR not only his vast experience as a highly distinguished public servant but crucially an innate humanitarian instinct and empathy with the families of the Disappeared,' they said.
'The work of the ICLVR in seeing the recovery of 13 of the 17 Disappeared is one of the success stories of the peace process and Sir Ken's contribution to that as a founding Commissioner was huge.
'We extend our condolences to Lady Bloomfield and the Bloomfield family.'
The Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle, added: "HM Lord Lieutenant of has learnt with sadness of the death of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield KCB, distinguished public servant and former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
"Ken brought dignity, gravitas and humility to public life.'