By Martin Blake

Copyright thejc

Martin Luther King once said that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. By such measure, Ronnie Appleton KC, who has died in Belfast aged 97, was a man whose courage, integrity and humanity placed him in the foremost rank of outstanding people of his generation. Born in Belfast in 1927 and educated at Belfast High School and The Queen’s University, Belfast, Ronnie was called to the Bar in 1951. He quickly developed a successful civil practice that included important personal injury, licensing and planning cases as well as public enquiries and tribunals. Marking his success, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1969. As “The Troubles” increased in the 1970’s, he became more in demand in criminal cases, often representing the accused. In 1977, because of his ability, he was invited to become Senior Crown Prosecutor for Northern Ireland, the lawyer responsible for prosecuting the most serious and important criminal cases. It was not an easy decision for Ronnie to accept the position. The IRA had by then killed five judges in the province and lawyers involved in prosecuting terrorists were in constant danger of being targeted and killed. However, Ronnie felt that it was his duty to accept the office and for the next 22 years he was responsible for prosecuting all of the major terrorist cases in Northern Ireland. No one was more knowledgeable and experienced than Ronnie in the practical and legal issues involved in ensuring that those accused of heinous crimes were fully but fairly prosecuted. As a prosecutor, he was careful, methodical and well prepared. He eschewed rhetorical flourishes for a calm and disciplined presentation of the evidence. Indeed, several of those who he successfully prosecuted later acknowledged his fairness from their prison cells! Ronnie’ s cases often made important law and in addition to regular appearances in the N. Ireland Court of Appeal, he also appeared before the House of Lords in London. Ronnie argued one case in the Moses Room, so called because of a large fresco showing Moses carrying the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai. Ronnie mentioned, to the amusement of all present, that the occasion was unique as on the wall the Lord was handing down the law to the Jews, while on the floor a Jew was handing up the law to the Lords. Ronnie’s dedication to his public duty came at a high price. He had to have round the clock protection from the police, his home required stringent security measures and wherever he went there was a threat of harm to himself and his family. Sometimes the greatest courage is shown by doing the everyday things that public office requires and Ronnie demonstrated that courage by doing his duty every day for 22 years. Many think that did much to preserve the rule of law during The Troubles and that Northern Ireland’s debt to his character and courage has never been fully recognised. In measuring the man, as Martin Luther King would have done, one cannot ignore that Ronnie’s Jewish identity was always central to his character. Despite the difficulties of an ever diminishing Jewish community, he remained religiously observant and a flag bearer for Jewish values and traditions. It wasn’t always easy to secure the staples of Jewish life and on one occasion, when he had a meeting with the Irish President, his Irish police driver sped him through Dublin with blue lights flashing so that he might to collect challah and bagels from Brezels bakery before completing his visit. What was an important, indeed central, part of Ronnie’s Jewish identity was the pride he took in sharing its traditions with non-Jews. Consequently, Shabbat dinners at the Appleton household were shared with people of all religions as well as no religion and from all walks of life, including visiting dignitaries, politicians and even reformed criminals! This openness contributed significantly to the high regard with which the Belfast Jewish community was viewed in Northern Ireland. The same openness served Ronnie well after he became President of the community in 1993 because it allowed him to safeguard and honour traditional, observant practice, while remaining welcoming to the non-observant, who wished to acknowledge their connection to the community. Ronnie served as President for 25 years and was a popular and respected leader. Finally, but no less importantly, running through the challenges and burdens which his career presented, and supporting him as a steel framework does a building, was his wife and mother of his five children, Shoshana née Schmidt, born in Jerusalem in 1943. The couple met in 1963 when Ronnie visited Israel. Shoshana, then a film producer’s assistant, and a woman of steely character, industry and spirit, was unique. She had the ability not merely to make Northern Ireland her home, but to adapt and become part of a community that was culturally, religiously and historically foreign to her. Her success in so doing was integral to Ronnie’s success and to the happy family which surrounded them both – Michael, now a psychotherapist, Dallia, a solicitor, Dudi, a filmmaker, Philip, a technology consultant and Sophie who works for a car rental company. Although he was a leading member of the Northern Ireland Bar and, in his later years, the Father of the Bar, and although his public, community and personal responsibilities brought him into contact with important figures from all walks of life, Ronnie’s character never changed. He was, to quote Kipling, a man who could “walk among kings, but never lose the common touch,” and if today, someone should ask: “Who was Ronnie Appleton?”, tell them this: He was an honourable, decent and courageous man. He was humble and approachable, but determined and resilient when he had to be. Adversity brought out the best in him. He was proud of his Jewish culture and heritage and the community that is Northern Ireland. His smile and gentle humour were ever present and he was always a loving husband to Shoshana and a loving father to Michael, Dallia, Dudi, Philip and Sophie. They and we are all the poorer without him, but by far the richer for having known him. He is survived by Shoshana, their children and grandchildren Tali, Laliv and Galil. MARTIN BLAKE Ronald Appleton, KC: born December 29, 1927. Died April 6, 2025