Nicola Bannon, one of four women abused by teacher William Lloyd-Lavery in the 1970s, has urged David Lavery, chief executive of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, to resign after he provided a character reference for his convicted cousin. Lloyd-Lavery was found guilty earlier this year and jailed for two years in April. David Lavery was removed from his NIHRC commissioner role after an independent review but remains at the Law Society; the society says an internal process concluded but will not disclose details. Survivors are calling for greater transparency and clearer rules on character references to protect victims.
Child-Abuse Survivor Urges Law Society Chief To Resign After Character Reference For Convicted Teacher
Nicola Bannon was one of four women who were abused as schoolchildren by a paedophile teacher [BBC]
A survivor of historic child abuse has publicly called for the chief executive of the Law Society of Northern Ireland to step down after he supplied a character reference for her convicted abuser.
Background
Nicola Bannon was one of four women who were indecently assaulted by their former schoolteacher, William Lloyd-Lavery, while pupils at a Belfast school in the 1970s. Lloyd-Lavery was convicted earlier this year of six counts of indecent assault and was sentenced in April to two years in prison.
Nicola Bannon (left) and Lynne Darcy (right) helped to bring their former teacher to justice earlier this year [BBC]
The Controversy
The character reference submitted on Lloyd-Lavery's behalf was written by his cousin, David Lavery, who is chief executive of the Law Society of Northern Ireland. After the reference became public, David Lavery was removed from his role as a commissioner at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) following an independent review; the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Chris Bryant, terminated his appointment, saying Lavery had breached the commission's code of governance and was capable of bringing it into disrepute. Lavery remains in post as chief executive of the Law Society.
Reactions From Survivors And Institutions
"I do appreciate that he [David Lavery] has apologised for his severe lack of judgement," Nicola Bannon told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster. "But honestly that questions whether or not he is the right person to be leading an institution of such importance as the Law Society of Northern Ireland. If I was in a similar situation, I would resign."
David Lavery issued a public apology describing his decision to provide a character reference as a "serious error in judgement" and said he regretted any hurt caused to the victims. The Law Society of Northern Ireland said it had "undertaken an internal process in relation to this matter" which has now concluded; citing confidentiality, it declined to disclose the outcome but acknowledged public concern and said it would consider appropriate guidance on the use of character references following conviction.
David Lavery's profile on the NIHRC, pictured here last month, has since been removed [BBC]
Victims—including Bannon and Lynne Darcy, who waived their anonymity after the sentencing—said they were distressed to learn that character references had been submitted on behalf of their attacker. Survivors and advocates have called for clearer rules on the use of character references in sexual-offence cases and for greater transparency and victim reassurance from professional bodies.
Wider Implications
The case has prompted debate about how legal and public institutions should respond when leaders' actions cause distress to victims. The NIHRC removed David Lavery's profile from its website following the controversy, and other public figures who provided references have said they did not intend to add to victims' pain. Campaigners are pressing professional bodies to adopt clearer policies to protect survivors' interests and preserve public trust.
Facts In Brief
William Lloyd-Lavery, formerly a history teacher at Richmond Lodge School in Belfast and later a press officer for the Ulster Unionist Party, was convicted of indecently assaulting girls aged 13 to 14 in the 1970s. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in April. The character reference described him as a man of Christian faith and a family man, a portrayal that victims said was deeply upsetting.
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