Lord MacLean, who was one of the three Lockerbie judges, is to chair an inquiry into the death of Billy Wright, the former head of the Loyalist Volunteer Force.
Mr Wright, who was nicknamed 'King Rat' because of his role in a number of brutal sectarian killings, was shot in the Maze Prison in December 1997.
Lord MacLean is believed to be the first Scottish judge to head an inquiry in Northern Ireland.
It is expected to last between 12 months and two years and will investigate whether the prison service or state authorities played a part in his death.
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