Law Society president supports chief after character reference for paedophile

The president of the Law Society says David Lavery has his support to continue as chief executive after he provided a character reference for a cousin convicted of serious sexual offences.

Mark Borland said Lavery issued a "sincere apology" to the society for providing the reference for William Lloyd-Lavery, who was found guilty of indecently assaulting five girls at a south Belfast school in the 1970s.

In a statement, Lavery said providing the character reference represented a "serious error in judgement".

A special meeting is to be held by the Law Society into the issues surrounding the character reference.

Lavery was sacked from his role as a human right commissioner last week.

Speaking to Good Morning Ulster, Borland expressed "regret" over how the society handled the situation and said they "got it wrong".

The Law Society's Special General Meeting (SGM) was triggered after 50 letters from members called for it.

It is understood the solicitors want to know how the decision was made to keep Lavery in post as chief executive, and on what basis.

"We failed to communicate what we were doing, why we were doing it and how we were doing it," said Borland.

He added that the Law Society needed to figure out "what procedures we put in place to make sure we don't get it wrong again".

"David [Lavery] has my support to continue as the chief executive of the Law Society of Northern Ireland and to move us forward," said Borland.

"This is an employment matter for the Law Society and David is our employee."

Last week the Law Society said it had "undertaken an internal process" but would be making no further comment due to the "confidential nature of that process".

In regard to the investigation, Borland said he "accepts that the process was independent and robust and therefore we must accept the outcome of that process, that is that David remains as chief executive."

He continued: "David has apologised to everyone about this matter; he has issued a sincere apology to the society for his serious error in giving this [reference]."

Borland said the episode has harmed how people view the Law Society.

"Reputation is not something that we demand or can tell people that you need to respect," he added.

"We need to back out and earn respect... we would like to have the definitive voice of the solicitor's profession and a strong voice on justice in Northern Ireland."

One of William Lloyd-Lavery's victims, Nicola Bannon said that while she appreciates Borland has admitted mistakes were made, she believes Lavery's position is "untenable".

Last week, Bannon called on Lavery to quit over the reference.

"You can't keep somebody in an organisation and make such a serious lapse of judgement.

"Especially as he must've had time to think about this because the alternative of jumping in with two feet and impulsively and not thinking about it is even worse."

She added that the special meeting is taking place without the input from the victims which is "in contrast with the Human Rights Commission who involved victims".

"I don't see how you can consider an issue without considering all of it. We are all of it and we are at the centre of it.

"I think it's very important that we get the chance to submit our evidence, because otherwise not all the evidence is going to be considered."

She added the process has not been transparent and feels the law society has "got tangled up in their own legality".

"Every day we're hearing more people calling him to resign, I just feel his position is untenable".

Victims Commissioner Designate, Geraldine Hanna, welcomed greater transparency from the Law Society on Friday, but added: "I don't believe for many victims, and those that have been in touch with my office, that they are satisfied with the outcome of the (law society) process."

At the beginning of this week, Hanna said she wrote to the president of the Law Society to express her concern around the issue and the lack of openness and transparency, and "what message that was sending out to victims in terms of reputation of the Law Society".

She said: "When we get as far as a criminal conviction, there has been a huge ordeal undertaken by the victim in that case.

"To then find that someone in such a powerful position, particularly involved in the legal sector would think it's appropriate to give a reference is significant and caused further harm.

"But the lack of transparency of the Law Society further compounded that fear that people just don't understand the seriousness of this issue."