Thursday, December 20, 2007

Justice Secretary rejects independent regulation of lawyers and public right of choice in legal services market

For a political party which is supposed to pride itself in being Scottish, the SNP have left Scots high & dry when it comes to the legal system and access to justice.

The SNP if anything, are fast becoming the party of injustice, in exponential quantities as the inadequacies of the Scottish legal system constantly come to the fore in daily doses of scandal after scandal with the Government seemingly unable or unwilling to do anything about it.

The spectacular failure of the World's End trial and the infighting it generated between the Lord Advocate & members of the Judiciary, the persistent refusal of the Crown Office to hand over evidence in the Lockerbie Trial, the consistent failures of the Crown Office to disclose evidence in many other criminal cases, leading to retrials or outright collapse of prosecutions, the lack of measures to address Police recruitment & legal reforms .. you name it, the SNP have failed it, when it comes to Law & Justice.

Based on the above, and continuing problems in the Scots justice system, you could be forgiven for thinking the SNP are not a party of law & order, despite having a number of lawyers within their ranks.

The latest SNP failure in the field of legal reforms surfaced this week (among many others) where Justice Secretary MacAskill rejected calls for an independent regulator of legal services in Scotland.

There is nothing wrong with having an independent legal services regulator. In fact, England & Wales has an independent legal services regulator, and wider access to justice as part of the Clementi reforms to open up the legal services market in England & Wales.

However, there is a problem for the SNP with having an independent legal services regulator and that seems to be because Kenny MacAskill, himself a solicitor, is afraid of an independent regulator of legal services and what it will do to his colleagues, especially the ones who fiddle & rip off their clients.

You can read Justice Secretary Douglas Mill Kenny MacAskill's response to the OFT here : Regulation and business structures in the Scottish legal profession: Scottish Government policy statement on oft response to Which? super-complaint (pdf)

Full of bitterness, xenophobia & unashamed protectionism for a lawyers right to charge the public through the nose for anything and get away with it, the SNP's response to the OFT closes the door firmly on hopes for a fully opened legal services market and a much needed independent regulator for solicitors.

So, Mr MacAskill doesn't want an independent legal services regulator. Does that mean he supports letting lawyers off the hook when they are caught swindling their clients ?

Maybe examples of the likes of solicitor & Tory party luminary Iain Catto's swindles towards his disabled client is the stuff which Mr MacAskill is supporting by not allowing an independent legal services regulator ?

Do we need a few more Iain Cattos, Mr MacAskill ? Is that why you don't want an independent regulator to police the legal profession ?

Maybe examples of the likes of solicitor John G'O'Donnell and his 25 or so negligence claims from clients is the stuff which Mr MacAskill is supporting by not allowing an independent legal services regulator ?

Do we need a few more solicitors still in practice with 25 plus negligence claims against them and clients unaware of who they are getting as a lawyer Mr MacAskill ? Is that why you don't want an independent regulator to police the legal profession ?

For a clue on Mr MacAskill's motives for protecting a monopolistic business against the public interest reforms of a competitive legal services market & independent regulation, we must examine a solicitor's values who stands firmly by the policy statements & direction of the Law Society of Scotland, who for years, have lobbied against any change to regulatory practice and the legal services market.

In general solicitors who support the Law Society of Scotland's policy of maintaining a monopolistic legal services model, where the public are forced to choose a member of the Law Society of Scotland to represent their legal interests, and who support self regulation of the legal profession, are hostile to change, will play every dirty trick in the book to stall or thwart legislative reforms, and will lash out & attack anyone who seeks to challenge their views.

There are sadly, a good number of members of the Law Society of Scotland who subscribe to these protectionist views, and Mr MacAskill seems to exhibit quite a few of them himself. Additionally, as a member of the Law Society of Scotland, Mr MacAskill will no doubt have a vested financial interest in leaving the regulatory side of things as they are with the Law Society of Scotland, should his political career fail or end, and he has to return to the legal profession.

Mr MacAskill, perhaps for those reasons, would rather herd the Scots public who may need access to legal services, into the willing open arms of the Law Society of Scotland, who for now maintain the exclusive monopoly on access to legal services in Scotland, and of course, want to keep that huge money making business which also generates convenient political influence over the likes of Mr MacAskill for themselves. A good deal, for Mr MacAskill, and his lawyer friends, and a good deal for the SNP too as they get to control who gets access to justice in Scotland. Not a good deal for Scots though.

This much is clear - The Scottish Government's attitude to the OFT seems to be that Scots have less of a right to access to justice & legal services than the rest of the UK.

Did Scotland expect to hear such talk from an SNP administration which seems to be more concerned with protecting the rights of lawyers to regulate their own complaints and dominate the legal services market, than investing in the Scots public interest & Scots independent freedom of choice for who represents their legal interests ?

Rejection of calls for independent regulator of legal system criticised

CONSUMER groups last night criticised the Scottish Government for not backing calls to appoint an independent regulator to monitor the legal system.

Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, has already made it clear that the status quo is "not an option" for the profession following the Office of Fair Trading's decision to uphold a complaint by consumer group Which? that the current set-up hinders market innovation.

But the minister's official response to a series of OFT recommendations revealed no plans for a new regulatory body like the Legal Services Board in England.

Mr MacAskill said he was "hugely encouraged" by the profession's response to his call for change earlier this year.

At present, lawyers cannot go into partnership with non-lawyers, but the OFT believes consumers would benefit if these "alternative business structures" were overhauled.

Julia Clarke, a campaigner with the Which? group, said: "This is a missed opportunity to put consumers at the heart of reforms to the Scottish legal profession.

"We feel that, unless an independent body is created to regulate lawyers and advocates, consumers will be let down."

and now for the Herald's report on the same story :

Minister keeps alive chances of superstore lawyers

ALAN MACDERMID

The Scottish Government has not ruled out the possibility of supermarket solicitors or legal firms run by people who are not lawyers, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said yesterday.

Third-party ownership of legal businesses are among the options being considered for reform of the Scottish legal system demanded by the Office of Fair Trading.

Currently, lawyers cannot go into partnership with non-lawyers, but the OFT believes consumers would benefit if these "alternative business structures" were overhauled.

This has raised the spectre of supermarkets offering legal services as they do with in-house pharmacies and optician services.

But Mr MacAskill affirmed his stance that Scotland will not be pushed into a new professional framework based on reforms in England and Wales.

After a meeting with Philip Collins, chair of the OFT, he made clear Scotland's legal profession had to change in the light of a changing marketplace, nationally and globally. However, a Scottish solution needed to be found, he said.

The controversy has been brewing since Which?, the magazine of the Consumers' Association, issued a complaint to the OFT that the legal set-up in Scotland disadvantaged the consumer, and called for reforms including a new supervisory body.

The government's response makes clear there are no plans to set up a new regulatory body like the Legal Services Board in England. But Mr MacAskill set out four possible models for multi-disciplinary practices and third-party entry to legal services.

They are - law firms with a minority of non-lawyer partners to assist in the management of the firm; law firms with a minority of non-lawyer partners offering alternative legal services; lawyers in a multi-disciplinary practice who are not in majority control; and third party ownership of legal businesses.

He said: "We consider some forms of alternative structures could well provide benefits to consumers."

But Which? campaigner Julia Clarke said: "This is a missed opportunity to put consumers at the heart of reforms. Unless an independent body is created to regulate lawyers consumers will be let down."

Following is the Scottish Government's weak timid response to the OFT recommendations, blindly following the Law Society of Scotland's policy which is so obviously pro legal profession and anti public ...

Scottish Government policy statement on OFT response to Which? super-complaint

Scotland's legal profession

18/12/2007

The Scottish Government today published its response to the Office of Fair Trading report on alternative business structures for the legal profession.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill made clear that Scotland's legal profession had to change in the light of a changing marketplace, both nationally and globally, and that a Scottish solution needs to be found to the issues affecting the Scottish legal profession.

The response sets out how the Government is working with the profession and others to take forward reform, and the timetable for future action.

The main issues highlighted by the response are:

* No plans to set up a new regulatory body like the Legal Services Board in England
* Early progress needs to be made on potential new business models for legal services
* Expect Law Society and Faculty of Advocates to put forward detailed proposals for consideration by the Government and approval by their members by Spring 2008.

After a meeting with Philip Collins, Chair of the Office of Fair Trading, Mr McAskill said:

"This Government is committed to a strong and independent legal profession. We are determined that Scottish law firms should be able to compete internationally and that our legal system should be more attractive to major businesses.

"Hand-in-hand with this aim, we must improve access to justice for our citizens, and ensure that consumers of legal services are properly protected. People's needs for legal services are very different from what they were 50 or even 20 years ago, and legal services need to reflect that. At the same time, we must protect quality and the core values of the profession.

"Since becoming Justice Secretary, I have made reform of the legal profession one of my personal priorities. As a former partner in a law firm myself, I am very proud of the profession I once practiced in. It has already changed and must change further so it continues to provide an excellent service to consumers and businesses.

"However, in considering changes to the profession we will not blindly follow an English model. I therefore welcome the OFT's conclusion that the Scottish legal market requires an appropriate Scottish solution. We are a small country with a small legal profession - we need to use the advantage that gives us in being able to adapt quickly to new challenges.

"Last September, I challenged the leadership of the profession to bring forward firm proposals for change. I am hugely encouraged at the way in which they have responded so far. It is vital that we keep up the momentum, and the Government will be working with the profession in the early months of 2008 to turn the emerging ideas into real and practical reform."

'Which' submitted a super-complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) asserting that the current regulation of Scottish legal forms restricts choice to consumers and prevents the formation of alternative business structures. In its reponse the OFT has not assumed that the changes currently being proposed in England and Wales through the Legal Services Bill will be automatically suitable for the Scottish market.

The OFT recommended that by the end of 2007 the Government should publish a statement which details its policy views on:

* How it considers legal services in Scotland should be regulated
* How the restrictions outlined in the super-complaint can be lifted
* A timing commitment for these aims

The OFT further recommended that the legal professions in Scotland take full advantage of these opportunities and that the Faculty of Advocates and the Law Society of Scotland lift any of their own practice rules which contribute to the restrictions discussed in their response.

On November 1 this year, the Law Society of Scotland published a consultation paper entitled 'The Public Interest: Delivering Scottish Legal Services - A Consultation on Alternative Business Structures.

The issue was debated in the Scottish Parliament on November 15, when the Government's approach was unanimously endorsed.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting.

Even the news release from the Executive looks like those on the Law Society's media centre page almost to the point you may be correct they wrote it.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to read all this.I thought you were in favour of the SNP though ?

If I were you I wouldn't give too much worry to the machinations of Kenny Macaskill.He isn't well thought of in the party despite what people say and I don't think he will be in justice forever.

Concentrate on getting the news out and peoples views will change.

all the best

Anonymous said...

"The spectacular failure of the World's End trial and the infighting it generated between the Lord Advocate & members of the Judiciary, the persistent refusal of the Crown Office to hand over evidence in the Lockerbie Trial, the consistent failures of the Crown Office to disclose evidence in many other criminal cases, leading to retrials or outright collapse of prosecutions, the lack of measures to address Police recruitment & legal reforms .. you name it, the SNP have failed it, when it comes to Law & Justice."

World's End case was investigated and indicted before SNP came to power. Lockerbie concluded years before SNP were in. Disclsoure has been a problem for years before the Nats came in.

So how are the SNP to blame for all of this, Mistah Cherbi? Enquiring minds want to know.

Anonymous said...

The spectacular failure of the World's End trial and the infighting it generated between the Lord Advocate & members of the Judiciary, the persistent refusal of the Crown Office to hand over evidence in the Lockerbie Trial, the consistent failures of the Crown Office to disclose evidence in many other criminal cases, leading to retrials or outright collapse of prosecutions, the lack of measures to address Police recruitment & legal reforms .. you name it, the SNP have failed it, when it comes to Law & Justice."

Anonymous said...

Nothing you write on your blog about MacAskill or the SNP, Mr Cherbi, comes as any surprise to me. I think it was kind of obvious to anyone with half a brain that this lover of crooked Scottish lawyers (he is one himself after all) was ALWAYS going to protect his many bum chums in his corrupt and corruptible “profession”.

As a prime example of just how bent he, his boss and the SNP really are at self-protection of themselves and their unaccountable crooked “friends” in the rotten and incestuous Scottish establishment, I reproduce for your readers a letter that has recently gone to Salmond (again) about a case of a brain damaged individual who was terribly neglected and abused for several years while MacAskill stood idly by and did absolutely NOTHING to properly help or intervene – whilst protecting all the officials and agencies involved … many of whom were his corrupt and crooked friends of course.

I await with great interest MacAskill’s or Salmond’s rebuttal to this posting and they are of course free to sue (if they so dare) at any time … Merry Christmas to you both, and may 2008 bestow upon you both great kindness, compassion, insight, wisdom, a sense of true justice and integrity (all of which you are sadly lacking in just now).

And a genuine Peaceful and Merry Christmas to Mr Cherbi (a good man) and all his regular readers who have been failed by our Scottish justice system and this SNP Government. Let’s hope 2008 brings justice to you all.

Here is the letter referred to above (which is of course already in the public domain):

Alex Salmond MP / MSP
First Minister of Scotland
Constituency Office
84 North Street
Inverurie
Aberdeenshire
AB51 4QX

Friday 30 November 2007

Dear Mr Salmond,

Request for the return of confidential photographs and files from the SNP - Letter No.11 (Since 12 February 2007) Requesting Same

I write to you today, as a follow up to my letter to you of Wednesday 21 November, for a eleventh and final time since first contactiing you nearly 10 months ago on 12 February. It is clear you are determined to cover up what happened to my son (the most appalling and heinous neglect of care, abuse of power and abuse generally) to protect your friend the “Justice” Secretary prodominantly; your Depute Leader (who also has her hands on this case); and of course yourself, for your inactions and repeated protection of many sacred cows, which has now gone on for several unimaginable years. One really does wonder what hold MacAskill now has on you?

From the outset when MacAskill was approached about this case (over 8 horrific years ago, in August 1999) he did nothing and was never going to call anyone involved to public account because of his very close links, friendships and allegiances with many of the guilty parties who neglected my son and repeatedly covered up for their wrong doing, actions and inactions. When a journalist and concerned community activist contacted him in early November 1999 (8 years ago) to raise serious concerns about how my son had been left to rot and deteriorate in that empty hovel of a flat and drug den stair over the previous 6 neglectful years (see enclosed letters that went to the Sheriff in 2004 for the background to that, which are also with the unlawfully withheld files at SNP HQ), wonders were supposed to happen: MacAskill was meant to visit the flat to see how my son had been left and neglected; the disgraced and lying director of Edinburgh City Council Social Services, Les McEwan, was to get the sack; the media were to be made aware of what had happened to my son; and there was to be an independent inquiry into the case – the chronological sequence of events looking at the full circumstances, “care” and (ill) treatment of my son up to that point in time – 11 long years after the violent unprovoked assault and 6 years since being dumped and abandoned in that hovel and wholly inappropriate hell-hole. But, as usual, it was all covered up, NOTHING WAS DONE and MacAskill took no positive action – other than protect all those who were involved as I said. Absolutely dispicable and criminal behaviour by your current Cabinet Secretary for “Justice”, and very much his usual course of action if the many recent cases of injustice drawn to his attention are anything to go by – a cover up for and protect my sacred cow friends, and to hell with injustice and all the suffering and heartache that brings to the families involved “Justice” Secretary.

What happened over the next 5-plus horrendous years of further neglect and abuse, until the corrupt Edinburgh authorities forcibly ejected my son from that hovel, MacAskill is all too well aware of and the damning and horrific photographs and video evidence paint the picture very well – for the courts and world to see if need be. I enclose another letter, from a trainee solicitor in March 1999, and would draw your attention to the comments at the bottom to give you a picture of what happened and why (this was sent to you and Ms Sturgeon in August 2006, and will be with the files buried at SNP HQ too). Again, under various laws supposedly protecting my son, there should have been an independent inquiry into what was allowed to happen to him by the Edinburgh / Scottish authorities over the previous 11-plus years “existing” (no better than a very sick and wild animal) in that hell-hole, and he should have been taken into a clinic or equivalent therapeutic setting to be properly medically examined, fully assessed and helped by the appropriate medical and psychological experts, but instead the authorities were determined to cover up what happened to him and dumped him into a homeless persons unit, which was wholly inappropriate under the circumstances I have outined above – it was just a dumping ground for society’s down and outs, criminals, alcoholics, drug addicts and even a paedophile as it transpired. What was allowed to happen to my son there is graphically described in the letters that went to Tom Aitchison, CEO Edinburgh City Council (which you deny even seeing), the letters to the so-called SPS “Ombudsman”, Alice Brown, (in the possession of MacAskill) – she also covered up the case – and in the 6 letters that went to MacAskill, January to June 2005.

I could go on and on with this catalogue of sheer incompetence, indifference, complacency and neglect … and this utter shambles and travesty that was mired in the usual Council stonewalling and bungling bureaucracy from beginning (1993) to end (2006 ) … , but I am now very tired, completely heartbroken and far too distressed to continue – and, frankly Mr Salmond, you sir just couldn’t care a damn (other than about yourself, your “Justice” Secretary, your Deputy and your party).

The formal request for the return of confidential photographs and files from the SNP and for a full independent inquiry into the “care” and (ill) treatment of my son over all these years still stands – 10 months on from my initial contact with you.

Yet again, I sincerely hope my position and views are perfectly clear to you.

Thank you for your time and full co-operation.

I look forward to hearing from you personally in early course – only if you have that change of heart, and not just a couple of lines and a few words fobbing me off once again.

Yours sincerely,

As with all previous letters to you, this letter will be copied to both your constituency office and the Scottish Parliament. [Resent Thursday 13 December 2007]

Diary of Injustice said...

#? @ 5.59pm

Yes, they certainly made a mess of that one ...

#Anonymous @ 9.20pm

I don't have a problem with the SNP at all and I certainly was in favour of change, like many others.

I think the problem lies in the SNP's policy on Justice and that boils down to Mr MacAskill. For instance, John Swinney has taken quite a different approach on such matters, much to be admired I would say. If he were in charge of the Justice issues, I don't think you would see these problems. Professionalism shows ... but it's lacking in justice - anyone can spot that.

Some SNP activists who have emailed me identifying themselves have made the same comments you have about Mr MacAskill ...

#Anonymous @ 11.08pm

Your 'enquiring mind' should note the SNP are in Government, therefore required to take responsibility for the actions & works of public office.

The World's End case collapsed under an SNP administration. The fall out of doing nothing while the Chief Prosecutor did a runner even before the verdict was announced, allowing the Lord Advocate to blame the Judiciary & the Law over what was a Crown Office failure (and do nothing again as the Justice Secretary stood back in silence) ... the Lockerbie Trial, concluded years ago but not one call from the present administration the Crown Office should hand over the evidence and comply with full disclosure in that and so many other cases, the constant delay in the promised McKie judicial inquiry due to 'bargaining' over it's remit (far from an honest venture at that) ... all failures attributed to the person in charge at the time, that being the current Government.

If the ship hits an iceberg, are you going to blame a previous captain (instead of the serving one) for not being on deck ?

#Anonymous @ 11.24pm

Any politician who stands by and does nothing in an abuse case is as bad as the abusers.

I remember how Scottish Borders Council & local Borders politicians twisted & turned to avoid any responsibility in the Miss X rape & abuse case, most of them Tories, so-called 'independents' and LibDems too used to avoiding responsibility.

One of the few to speak out on the Miss X case was Christine Grahame (an SNP MSP so that the earlier anonymous gets their facts right) but sadly inconsistency does affect political parties given what you are saying in your comment ... and the SNP should be getting in gear and doing something about that.

To all, including the emails today on this story.

I of course, do not have a problem with the SNP - I don't think too many people do when it comes to most issues in general.

The outstanding issue which is not being addressed is Law & Order - which is what I write about.

Why should the SNP buck the trend and decide to protect the legal profession from (i) independent transparent regulation and (i)) open legal services markets with free choice of legal representatives ?

Is it because there is a lawyer, a member of the Law Society of Scotland in charge of the Justice portfolio ?

I think the Scots public deserve more, and so for that, do some within the SNP themselves - so soft out your issues on protecting people who cause injustice for profit, and you may find there will be less criticism, while doing the country a good turn.

Anonymous said...

"If the ship hits an iceberg, are you going to blame a previous captain (instead of the serving one) for not being on deck ?"

That about sums it up - the SNp are at the helm so what happens during their term is on their watch no one elses.Is Salmond going to blame the Trumptown fuck up on Jack McConnell? That happened under the SNP too so no one else to blame there.

Good show keep it up and yes I cant stand MacAskill either.Salmond must have had a few too many bevvies to give him any position!

Anonymous said...

lol Peter

Comparing MacAskill and Swinney is like comparing a turd to a professor:
Swinney - quite a likeable person,sticks to his word and did more for the SNP than many care to acknowledge
MacAskill - a lawyer who should have stayed a lawyer not suited to politics at all,has caused many rows within the SNP,often reneges on his word,often out of form for the job he is supposed to be doing

You proved beyond reasonable doubt MacAskill has an axe to grind against these legal reforms he should be replaced with someone not in the pocket of the lawyers i.e. NOT a lawyer

Anonymous said...

Good comments except the obvious SNP blowjob attempt by "glasgowlass" & "anonymous" both at 1108/1109

Deary me get ur arse in gear glasgowlass and take note of what happens under your idols.Are you one of the SNP sleepless spanky spin doctors from the hootsmon boards by any chance?

Anonymous said...

MacAskill was a bad choice for Justice and everyone within the SNP knows it.The sooner he is routed the better and the party can get on with repairing the damage left by Labour et all.

I hope your stories give people food for thought over this because I'm bloody sure I don't support lawyers and Im a proud SNP member thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

next please - well said

Never did care much for Kenny MacAskil;.A bad choice for anything and he is showing us up now.What an idiot.

Anonymous said...

Completely agree with you Mr Cherbi but its not the SNP who are failing at Justice its MacAskill himself.

Memo to Alex : We need a decent Justice Minister !

Anonymous said...

"This much is clear - The Scottish Government's attitude to the OFT seems to be that Scots have less of a right to access to justice & legal services than the rest of the UK."

Precisely why we need someone in justice with a better attitude towards people instead of rent-a-lawyer MacAskill.

Keep up the good work Mr Cherbi and good to hear your words about John Swinney which I fully endorse.

Anonymous said...

Mr Cherbi.

As a solicitor I see the problems of complaints handling every day at the Law Society.I have even (once, never again) written a report on a complaint of a serious nature which ended up in the bin as Mr Yelland and his colleagues didn't seem to like my recommendations of a prosecution before the SSDT for the solicitor concerned.

Far from that being a one off, same happens on a regular basis and while complainers bash the system they should note that some of the case reporters actually did their work and recommended the solicitor be prosecuted before the SSDT (hopefully with a view to be struck off).

I don't see any willingness on the part of Mr MacAskill to improve the lot of solicitors & clients as you now so rightly draw attention to and I would go so far as to publicly support you if you continue your line of bringing the focus of the problem (the Law Society of Scotland itself) to the fore.

Good luck and I'm sure you are well able to handle it.

Anonymous said...

Last comment - agree all the way.

Get rid of the Law Society and Kenny MacAskill from frontline politics and we will all be safe!

Anonymous said...

Kenny MacAskill protects crooked lawyers from independent complaints so Kenny MacAskill should be sacked

You were saying that every lawyer in Scotland had complaints records.So what about MacAskill or has his record been washed clean to do the Law Society's dirty work.Scum the lot of them we can do without.

Anonymous said...

"#Anonymous @ 11.08pm

Your 'enquiring mind' should note the SNP are in Government, therefore required to take responsibility for the actions & works of public office.

The World's End case collapsed under an SNP administration. The fall out of doing nothing while the Chief Prosecutor did a runner even before the verdict was announced, allowing the Lord Advocate to blame the Judiciary & the Law over what was a Crown Office failure (and do nothing again as the Justice Secretary stood back in silence) ... the Lockerbie Trial, concluded years ago but not one call from the present administration the Crown Office should hand over the evidence and comply with full disclosure in that and so many other cases, the constant delay in the promised McKie judicial inquiry due to 'bargaining' over it's remit (far from an honest venture at that) ... all failures attributed to the person in charge at the time, that being the current Government.

If the ship hits an iceberg, are you going to blame a previous captain (instead of the serving one) for not being on deck ?"

Good reply as always Mr Cherbi and spot on.If wee eck's beer hall mob spend the next 4 abysmal ears blaming wee joke & pals we are all fucked.SNP were supposed to be a break with the past but beginning to sound like the last lot and the lot before them.

Snouts in the trough Kenny?

Anonymous said...

Here's hoping Justice Secretary Turd will be replaced soon !

Anonymous said...

MacAskill sounds as if he is right behind the Cattos and O'Donnells of this world and you are right I didnt think the SNP would be sponsoring lawyers either !

Anonymous said...

I was reading that piece you did on Bill Aitken & the Tories.Marvellous and to the point.I don't think you missed anything at all.
Those Tories are a bunch of vindictive vengeful bastards though so don't be surprised if they make your life hell.I know someone who complained against a Tory councillor and he telephoned round the Banks to find out their mortgage then his buddies at Tory party HQ persuaded the manager to tell the bank the poor guy's business had went bust.Caused an awful mess and nearly lost the man his home and family.
Those Tory bastards deserve a good story over it and would like to send you the details.Contact ?

Anonymous said...

Kenny MacAskill wants to protect his legal buddies.Fine.So fuck off and be a lawyer again Kenny.The SNP doesnt need all this shit or your divided loyalties.

Anonymous said...

Dear All!!

It is soon Christmas and I have just finnished to wrap up my sons Christmas gifts
and on sunday I will put them under the Christmas treeand decorate the tree with
lights and beautiful angels and some other Christmas decorations. We have enjoyed
a excelent dinner and the coffe is almost ready, I can feel the smell from the kitchen

I went in to my computer room and looked at the comments as usual and I red this
letter, that made me so upset and sad !!!!

My heart was in pain, and I got tears in my eyes!!!!

TO ALL OF YOU WHO READ AND WRITES ON THIS FORUM, PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO
HELP THIS DEVASTATED FAMILY!

PLEASE GIVE THIS YOUNG MAN HELP,
WHERE IS HE TODAY??

IS HE LYING IN A BED OR ON A MADRASS ON THE FLOOR ALL ALONE TONIGHT???

HAVE SOMEONE MADE HIM DINNER?

DOES HE GOT SOMEONE THERE WITH HIM?

WHEN WAS HE OUT TO SE THE SUN LAST TIME??

WHAT IND OF LIFE HAVE THE POOR MOTHER LIVED DURING THIS PAST YEARS????

I AM PLEADING TO YOU ALL WHO LIVES THERE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP HIM
IT IS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

What can we do to help this family? What can we do to help this young man to recieve
the proper help and medical treatment? Can we start to sign some lists or can we together
send letters to Mr Salmond and MacAskill???

Why was this Tom Aitchison, CEO Edinburgh City Council allowed to do nothing? Have he not a boss
who should study that he does his work properly?

Why did the SPS “Ombudsman”, Alice Brown, COVER this case???

Why was nothing done??????

WHO ELSE HAVE COVERED THIS CASE , AND WHY IS IT COVERED ?????

It is so inhuman to let a injured young man be treatened no better than a very sick and wild animal.
This poor man should recieve help,TODAY, he should recieve medical care and the family must be granted
a full independent inquiry into the “care” and (ill) treatment of their son. And I am shocked that
no one have given the photographs and files to the family, this must be returned to the family
emmidiatly I hope!!

Why can the authorities allow that a very ill and injured young man is put in the homeless persons unit,
together with criminals, alcoholics, drug addicts and even a paedophile?

They have all different needs of care and support. This man should not be allowed to even visite a place
like this since he was badly injured and almost died because of a assult by criminalsand this alone is a Trigger
that could start his Posttraumatic Stress that I unfortunatly think that this poor man have. And it is a TRAUMA
itselves, to live at the same place as those kind of people who injured him so badly that he got his
brain damaged, WHY can not the authorities see that??????

It is Christmas time, and we who are blessed with a family, nice presents, children who is waiting for
father Santa to come, we must do something! And the question is WHAT SHOULD WE DO ??????

I do not think that it is only my heart that cries out to the inhuman way that this man have been
treatened, and the thouhgt that his poor mother is still fighting after so many years!!!!!!!!!!

What can we do to help her ??? SO that this man could have a hope of Justice the year of 2008?


Let us make the Year of 2008 to a year of JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!! IF we ALL work together we could make
a change.

The authorities were educated and they were put to their places to HELP people , to SEE the people,
to SAVE people they were NOT employed to HIDE and COVER UP and DESTROY our lives!!!!

They who have the power to change this mans life ( if he has one right now ? ) open your eyes
and remember why the people have elected YOU and remember why you were elected.

DO something good for a change, and contact this family and promise them help and that
this pictures will be returned!!

And to You who posted this letter, please tell us moore about this man, who take care about him?
What medical care does he recieve ? My god , who gives him food, and something to drink?

Did this man get any compensation when he almost was killed? and if not, why did the authorities
nothing? Give him compensation so that he can recieve proper help, both day and night, and give
him a assistent that makes food and take care of him.

PLEASE, DO ANYONE HAVE A SUGGESTION , WHAT WE COULD DO TOGETHER ????

WE MUST HELP THIS FAMILY AND THIS POOR MAN, BEFORE IT IS TO LATE.

Is it possible that You, Peter Cherbi could write a letter that we all signed with our names?

*AngeL*

Anonymous said...

no matter what you write now I am convinced Scotland is in the grip of a corrupt Government whose aim is to protect and cover up corruption.SNP protecting lawyers = corruption and did you know the orders to fire the Aberdeen councillor in the Trump plan failure came from Edinburgh?

Scotland = corruption.Best to stay away folks.Take your money elsewhere and avoid loosing it all here!

Anonymous said...

Dear Readers

I am shocked to hear about the awful way this man has been mistreated. First getting so badly hurt by the men that attacked him and then let down by society! Where was the care when he needed it, and where is it now?

It is high time the authorities responsible for this admit the neglect and mistreatment that this man had and still has to suffer, and time to do something to help him!

Why is it ordinary people over and over have to remind politicians and authority officials of the responsibilities that comes with these positions? That is, the duty to serve the people!

Where are the brave individuals within these authorities and politcians ready to give this man his rights back? Please step forward and show us Scotland is a true and human democracy that cares about it's people!

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas for ALL of you!

Guje, Annie's mother. www.annierockstar.com

Anonymous said...

Heres a story for you Pete

Salmond says waiting days are over (HAHA) so we have to wait on him and his cohorts fucking us about now instead of London !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7164269.stm

Anonymous said...

Mr MacAskill wants to keep his snout in the trough of course so thats why he doesnt want independent regulation or right of choice in legal services.

Anyway the right of choice in legal services is a business decision surely so where the fuck is John Swinney ? It's his shout or has he gone all timid because its a law thing ?

*JAngeL* said...

Does anyone know if this man has received any help?

Now we have a new year and let us all work together and help those who needs help and support!

I AM NOW REPEATING MY QUESTION

WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER TO HELP THIS MAN???

CAN SOMEONE WRITE A SHORT LETTER THAT WE ALL CAN COPY AND SEND TO KENNY MCASKILL??

IF WE ALL BOMBARD HIM WITH THOSE EMAILS HE MUST DO SOMETHING, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN SHOW THAT THIS IS IN THE PUBLIC CONCERN...

I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS MAN DOES NOT HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMEONE IS PREPARED TO SHOW THAT WE MUST CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER!!

PLEASE CAN SOMEBODY THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THIS FAMILY?

THERE IS A HUMAN BEING THAT IS RIGHT NOW SUFFERING AND PERHAPS IS DYING???

I AM NOW REPEATING MY QUESTION ONCE AGAIN:

WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER TO HELP THIS MAN???

Anonymous said...

Who is this person who cant use anything but block capitals?
Is this anything to do with lawyers or what?
Do you really think bombarding MacAskill with emails will get you anywhere?
Why don't you go and sit outside his office until he notices you and have a shouting match with him there and what is the case about anyway because I dont see anything in your comment at all about it

Anonymous said...

# Anonymous at 4:31 AM…

Perhaps the person who posted the comment you are so quick to lambast is someone who is concerned for others and worried for the individual and family concerned – and if you read Peter’s blog properly, which you obviously do not, you would see what the case is about.

The case has everything to do with lawyers: MacAskill is a lawyer, and Scotland’s supposed “Justice” Secretary, and he is currently involved the case concerned – involving many lawyers over several years failing to properly represent and protect an individual who was left neglected and abused as a result of their incompetence, indifference and recklessness.

I suggest you are a little less quick to criticise others until you have a good peruse of the comments above first … then you might understand what the case is about.