Lady Chief Justice: unwise for legal profession members to give character references for people found guilty by the courts

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The Lady Chief Justice has said it’s unwise for members of the legal profession to give character references for people found guilty by the courts. She was speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Good Morning Ulster ahead of a meeting of the Law Society NI, where members are expected to vote on whether they have confidence in its Chief Executive David Lavery. Mr Lavery gave a reference for his cousin William Lloyd Lavery. David Lavery has apologised after providing a reference for his cousin, who was jailed earlier this year for abusing four schoolgirls in the 1970s. Dame Siobhan Keegan - who is Northern Ireland's most senior judge - said she was prepared to look at the issue of character references, amid concerns from victims that they have no opportunity to challenge them in court.