The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Nigel Williams, has died.

52-year-old Mr Williams passed away at his home in Glenarm this morning after a two-year battle with cancer.

Chief Executive of NICCY, Barney McNeany, who is currently Acting Commissioner said: “Nigel battled long and hard against this illness, continuing to contribute to the work of NICCY despite often significant obstacles.

“We offer our sincere condolences to his wife Heather and all his family.

"The staff of NICCY and his many friends here - in particular the NICCY Youth Panel - will greatly miss his inspiring leadership and vitality."

Mr McNeany continued by saying that NICCY’s work will continue, and he added: “Nigel was very clear that the work he led to promote and safeguard the rights and best interests of children and young people and our focus on them should continue unabated.”

Mr Williams was assigned Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People in October 2003.

Prior to working with NICCY Nigel founded charity, Childnet International in 1995, which focused on promoting the rights and best interests of children on the Internet.

He became a Board member of the Internet Watch Foundation, and of the Internet Content Rating Association and was appointed by the Home Secretary in 2001 to the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet.

Among his many achievements as Commissioner were the completion of a large investigation into vetting in Northern Ireland, a review of speech and language therapy, direct work with children and young people in several areas and the building of a team that has worked in areas as diverse as mental health and anti social behaviour orders.

The former Commissioner for Children and Young People is survived by his wife Heather and four children.

(EF/SP)