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SIR William Macpherson of Cluny, who has died aged 94, led from the front throughout his long life. In doing so – as clan chief, soldier, lawyer, judge and passionate rugby player – he exemplified his noted Jacobite ancestor, Cluny Macpherson, and it was no surprise when he was invited to become one of four patrons of the 1745 Association. Sir William’s trademarks proved to be personal courage and independent judgement. He needed both when in 1997 the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, asked him to lead the inquiry into the racially motivated murder of Stephen Lawrence in April 1993. The investigation took evidence for a year, yet Sir William produced his report inside an astonishing six weeks. His findings that “institutional racism” existed within the Metropolitan Police saw him subject to death threats. However Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, promised action on all 70 recommendations.
Sir William Macpherson, judge whose 1999 report found the Metropolitan Police was institutionally racist – obituary
His inquiry into the police investigation into the killing of Stephen Lawrence was blamed by some on the Right for harming race relations
16 February 2021 • 8:15am
Macpherson in 1997, when the inquiry he was to lead was announced by the home secretary, Jack Straw
Credit: Roy Letkey
Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, who has died aged 94, was the 27th Chief of Clan Macpherson and a High Court judge from 1983 to 1996; he was, though, largely unknown to the wider public until he chaired the inquiry in 1997 into “matters arising from the death of Stephen Lawrence”.