David Lavery

Mr Lavery’s cousin, William Lloyd-Lavery, was convicted in April of historical sexual offences committed against female pupils at schools where he was employed as a teacher between 1975 and 1979.

At the sentencing hearing Judge Patrick Lynch referred to the reference given by Mr Lavery in which he referred to his cousin as a Christian man who was well respected and “viewed as a person of sound judgement and good character”.

The Belfast Telegraph reported in May that some solicitors had reported being disgusted that a leader of their professional body had given such a reference. Mr Lavery apologised and admitted to a “serious error of judgement” The Law Society had opened its own internal process, but the matter is now considered closed.

Mr Lavery was originally appointed to NIHRC in 2020 and reappointed in 2023 for a further term of three years. In May the commission launched an independent investigation pursuant to their Code of Governance into Mr Lavery’s actions. Upon receipt of the completed investigation report the secretary of state confirmed yesterday that Mr Lavery had been removed with immediate effect. In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph Mr Lavery reiterated his apologies for his “serious error in judgement” in providing a character reference to his cousin and for the hurt and distress caused to the victims in the case.

Mr Lavery’s is not the first instance where good character references in sexual offences cases have caused controversy in recent years.

In 2025 an SDLP councillor was suspended after providing a character reference for an Irish soldier convicted of rape. In 2023 a DUP councillor withdrew a reference for paedophile William Walker stating that his was “misled and lied to”.

The Department of Justice has said that it is “actively seeking to address the use of good character references, which will require legislation” with justice minister Naomi Long, telling BBC’s Evening Extra in 2025 that she has “some significant concerns about the use of good character refs particularly in serious sexual offence cases.”

However, it is understood from comments made by the justice minister in 2024 that resourcing challenges and time constraints of a shortened mandate will prevent any progress on legislation in this are before 2027.