LORD Cullen of Whitekirk, the lord president and Scotland's most senior judge, retired yesterday after 19 years on the bench.

The 69-year-old, who chaired inquiries into the Dunblane massacre and the Piper Alpha disaster, was appointed a judge in 1986 and served as lord justice-clerk from 1997 to 2001.

At a ceremony in Edinburgh yesterday he was praised by Colin Boyd, the lord advocate, for his contributions to Scots law and the courts system.

Lord Osborne also paid tribute to his colleague's "formidable achievements".