Friday, July 17, 2020

ADVANCE, QC: From Big Invoice to Cash Register – New Dean of Faculty of Advocates stood silent in court while Lord Malcolm concealed his son was on same legal team representing asbestos dumping construction company who lost case - then used law firm linked to top judge to hunt down couple for legal fees

Lord Carloway & Lord Malcolm welcome new Dean R.Dunlop TO WATCH and listen to members of the Faculty of Advocates who strut around Scotland’s courts as if they have a starring role in a grand pantomime or musical overseen by a figure dressed in fiery red and white robes – you may be forgiven for thinking you just entered the world of fantasy and cosplay.

However - what you are actually witnessing is Scotland’s ‘Victorian’ justice system – where lies spoken in court by a figure in a black gown & wig can become an accepted ‘truth’, prosecutors can intimidate defence counsel by adding the dead to witness lists, deals can be done in-chambers to avoid the press & public in open court, and evidence can be lost down the back of a filing cabinet.

And, if you are looking for shameless, outright dishonesty - try the time where Scotland’s top prosecutor James Wolffe QC – himself a former Dean of the Faculty of Advocates -  was being sued in the Rangers admin case of wrongful arrest.

The stakes in that case were so high that Scotland’s ‘world leading’ courts system then neatly engineered a scenario so that Sarah Wolffe QC – the wife of that same top prosecutor James Wolffe QC – could hear and rule on the £9 million claim against her husband and Scotland’s Chief Constable.

You all know the story – A real howler: WOLFFE COURT: Lord Advocate James Wolffe and his judge wife at centre of £9million damages claim - Questions remain why Lady Wolffe avoided recusal during emergency judge swap on court case against her own husband

It gets better: ‘World famous’ (really, not) Scots QCs taking millions in publicly funded legal aid - can literally dream up an entirely false line of defence (commonly known as a lie) - for their child murdering clients and get away with trolling it out to a sceptical judge, jury and entire court room - and then bill the Scottish Legal Aid Board (Taxpayer) for their time spent doing so.

Going further up the tree - Scotland’s top prosecutor - the Lord Advocate – on an instruction to cover up for top cops with shady pasts – can ram-raid a Tribunal hearing and intimidate Tribunal judges into blocking claims of corruption and evidence tampering in the most senior ranks of Police Scotland - from becoming public.

Want to see examples of what most in the real world call corruption and money laundering? – try case after case where Advocates and QCs quietly demand with menaces – sums of cash in envelopes from their criminal or civil case clients. The ‘whisper’ goes like this - Pay up – or the desired court outcome will not be achieved.

And, don’t forget the ranks of slick, overcharging QCs who represent newspapers and the media – you know the type – all smooth talking on telly in between demanding appearance fees for doing so, hair gel to deflect from the botox injections, slick suits, a brown envelope on the way to the court, and a seat on a local rugby club along with a property grabbing, grubby, dishonest local high street solicitor who happens to sit on several Tribunals where he and his brethren live out their squalid existence extorting millions more from taxpayers.

Yet, for those in the know - behind the backs of their very own fee paying media clients, the same QCs with media scorecards find a quiet corner in the Court of Session to contact a colleague to get a message to opposing counsel on what and what not to say – to prolong the case for fees, or do the dirty on the case before them, for a favour on another.

You do for us today, we do for you tomorrow. And, tell you what mate – there is an opening in the Faculty for the son of that judge -  even though he only worked as a trainee lawyer for a few weeks.

But of course, these same legal legends in their own minds jealously guard their profession and self-created reputations – even on social media – where a critical article - or realistic tweet on the legal world can draw the ire of a grubby QC who actually lives on defending the worst filth in society and makes the taxpayer pay him staggering amounts of legal aid millions for doing so.

If anyone dares to question these weird legal people with double lives and multiple personas who market themselves as more valuable to society than doctors and nurses – in their legalistic, legal aid funded view of the world - that critic, person, politician or even a journalist - is not fit to live.

It’s all good though – as they say – because when such public exchanges take place – inevitably someone in an office comes forward with a bundle of papers to show the same high and mighty advocate or QC was actually knocked back by the Legal Aid Board for submitting false claims for public cash – so let’s call that attempted fraud, for the purposes of reality.

To complete the picture of what is in actuality - the Faculty of Fantasy – remember those envelopes full of cash - collected in person by a ‘leading light’ or ‘top’ Advocate or QC - of the same Faculty of Advocates whose members are money laundering and tax dodging all the way to the bank.

Take it from people who write of reality in the justice system - when you enter the eerie world of Scotland’s legal mafia and fall prey to that business known as the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service – you are witnessing a cash grabbing, case fiddling, double dealing world of avarice and greed, rather than the work of robbed figures who would have you believe they are the saviours of humanity, or anyone’s Human Rights.

Clients - mean nothing. Cash collecting and Big Invoice are king. Take them to task and they will see you suffer. And, they do exactly that.

The last Dean of the Faculty of Advocates – Gordon Jackson QC – stood down on 30 June after being filmed talking about the Alex Salmond trial in a train.

The video footage published by the Sunday Times revealed remarks Mr Jackson made about his client Alex Salmond - and his accusers.

In a statement published by the Faculty of Advocates on their Twitter feed, Mr Jackson said in April: “I have intimated my decision to resign as dean of the Faculty of Advocates, with effect from 30 June, at the latest.”

“It would not, however, be appropriate for me to remain as Dean at a time when the Faculty was considering disciplinary proceedings regarding my conduct.”

“Accordingly, if, before that date, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission remits the recent complaint for consideration by the Faculty’s Complaints Committee, I will stand down as Dean immediately. I do not intend to make any further comment.”

Since that announcement in April, Gordon Jackson has been less conspicuous on twitter - with much of the Faculty’s usual posturing on all things, law, legal and ‘other’ taken up by Roddy Dunlop QC – who was handed Jackson’s job in a lower than usual fanfare of the Court of waffling Session earlier this week.

Albeit  Dunlop only gained the position by default – he was the only candidate to put forward his name for the role - after Gordon Jackson ended his own run as dean in a blaze of careless comments in a train, filmed for posterity.

Dunlop – who - earlier this year gained the position of Vice Dean after Angela Grahame resigned her role – was welcomed in as Dean of the Faculty by Lord Carloway (Colin Sutherland), Lord Malcolm (Colin Campbell QC) and Lord Woolman.

However - the three judges who welcomed Mr Dunlop into the poisoned position of dean – have their own story to tell.

Two of those judges – Carloway & Malcolm - concealed conflicts of interest to a case which Dunlop lost, but was then used to go after the people who won it for the legal fees generated by Dunlop and his colleagues – including Lord Malcolm’s son. This case is currently at the heart of an ongoing media investigation and ticks all the right boxes for dishonesty, greed and conflict of interest.

The probe has so far linked Dunlop’s client (Advance Construction Scotland Ltd) to an ex-sheriff Peter Watson who resigned from the judiciary after he was suspended to protect public confidence in the judiciary

Then, there was the law firm – Levy and MCrae - who escaped a £28m writ over a £400m collapsed hedge fund.

The judge – Lord Malcolm - who concealed the fact his own son was linked to the same case he heard eight times

And, Scotland’s top judge himself – Lord Carloway – who concealed from MSPs that the law firm where his son worked was employed by Dunlop’s client to go after, and seize the properties of the party who actually won the case which Dunlop lost – courtesy of a ruling by the third judge – Lord Woolman.

Only in Scotland’s justice system will you ever find such a gang loaded with conflict of interests who use their seemingly unquestionable status in society to welcome another to their safe-house.

The investigation which reported on Lord Malcolm’s failure to declare serious conflicts of interest, is reported in further detail here: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Papers lodged at Holyrood judicial interests register probe reveal Court of Session judge heard case eight times - where his son acted as solicitor for the defenders.

When Lord Malcolm’s son bailed out of the court case – but only after the secret his own father was hearing the same case in the same court - came to light – Ewen Campbell ended up in the same Advocate stables as the new Dean of Faculty - Roderick William Dunlop QC of Axiom Advocates.

Nicely done - as some may say.

A recent development in the ongoing media probe of this case saw publication of a witness statement from Advocate Ewen Campbell – Lord Malcolm’s son –  which directly contradicts evidence given by  Lord Carloway - to the Public Petitions Committee and MSP Alex Neil in a hearing on 29 June 2017.

A further development saw a court-sourced witness statement of solicitor and ex-Sheriff Peter Black Watson to the Court of Session – which confirmed Watson employed the son of Lord Malcolm in the case to represent the client – Advance Construction Scotland Ltd – which ended up being heard by Lord Malcolm - who concealed his link to his son during multiple court hearings.

Lord Carloway’s son - Alexander Sutherland - then bailed out of a law firm linked to the same case heard by Lord Malcolm – after the Judicial Office were asked for comment on why his father – Scotland’s current top judge concealed this conflict of interest from evidence in the Scottish Parliament.

Carloway’s son – Alexander Sutherland then spectacularly ended up in the Faculty of Advocates - after only a few months working as a trainee solicitor.

Everything happens for a reason, right?

An earlier investigation revealed Lord Carloway failed to declare his son was linked to the same case: JUDGE OF CONFLICT: Top judge who attacked MSPs over judicial interests probe – failed to declare relative’s role at law firm targeting MSP’s constituents’ home & farm in £6M court case linked to Lord Malcolm conflict of interest scandal

A full report on the publication of evidence contradicting Lord Carloway’s testimony at the Scottish Parliament can be found here: DISHONESTY, LORD: Files reveal Lord Carloway misled Holyrood Committee on involvement of judges’ relative in Court of Session claim – witness statement exposes direct role of Ewen Campbell in £6M land case heard by his father - judge & privy councillor Lord Malcolm

Another turn of luck in the ongoing investigation of the Nolan v Advance case – was the discovery of methods employed by QCs and Advocates to get round signed up fee agreements – by demanding substantial sums in cash payments – which the QC or Advocate then insists on collecting in person from their clients.

But – trawling the court files and fee notes took on an even darker tone when evidence emerged that the Faculty of Advocates itself were attempting to issue fee note credits to cover undeclared payments of cash collected by QCs – when the Faculty feared discovery, and the worrying prospect of an investigation by UK tax authorities.

In one such document - a study of a statement from Faculty Services Ltd in the Nolan v Advance  – noted references to ‘undated’ sums, and credit notes for payments which were in fact – never made.

In one credit note from Faculty Services Ltd - the sum of £5000 - without any date reference is stated as paid.

However, a solicitor dealing directly with the case DENIED the undated £5,000 amount had been paid to Faculty Services Ltd - and a review of the accounts confirm NO such payment was ever made.

The undated £5K credit note listed in the documents – and other unexplained entries - appear to have been created by Faculty Services Ltd with a deliberate intention to conceal tens of thousands of pounds in undeclared cash payments Campbell demanded from his clients.

The fee statements & accounts from Faculty Services Ltd now raise serious questions of how far up the involvement of figures in the Faculty of Advocates in this case stretches - after an earlier investigation established Campbell was pocketing large payments he personally insisted on collecting in cash filled envelopes from his clients in £5,000 bundles.

Written evidence recovered from files held by legal regulators revealed Campbell himself sent emails to his clients - demanding large payments in cash to pay himself and junior counsel Craig Murray.

A full report on Craig Murray’s involvement in the case, and his role in writing two versions of evidence to legal regulators can be found here: ADVOCATE PROBE: How legal regulators covered up for top QC - Files show Scots Advocate now working as Barrister in London – authored two versions of SAME letter for Faculty probe of cash scandal QC who failed clients in £6M Court of Session case

An email from John Campbell to his clients revealed Campbell demanded £5,000 in cash - while he was on the way to a meeting at Airdrie Sheriff Court followed by a dinner with the Law Society of Scotland.

The email from Campbell states: “A little better information about timing. I am due in Airdrie at 4.30. The meeting is in the Sheriff Court, which closes at 6.30. The Law Society is taking me and a colleague for dinner, but I have no idea where. There isn't a huge number of restaurants in Airdrie, but we'll find somewhere. This means I won't be at Bonkle Road until about 8. Is that OK?”

“I have asked JC [John Carruthers] for a breakdown of the £5000. I will explain to you how a spec case works. I have checked; both John and I are willing to take on a spec case for Donal, but only if he signs up to it. There will be two conditions; one is that you keep the Edinburgh agent fed and watered, and the second is the size of the uplift at the end of the day, as I explained to you.”

A Sunday Mail investigation into the case established John Campbell sent multiple emails to clients – in some cases, demanding cash “in any form except beads” to pay for legal services.

An additional email from John Campbell QC to his client stated: “I'm writing to confirm that we agreed at our meeting on Friday that we will meet in Dalkeith on TUESDAY morning, when you will give me £5000 towards the fees of your legal team” … “Please let me know if it's OK to meet at the Mulsanne Garage, which is at 137 High Street, and what time would suit you?”

If you were wondering why Mr Dunlop’s name keeps cropping up in Nolan v Advance – well – it was Roddy Dunlop’s legal fees – and others - which prompted Levy and Mcrae & Begbies Traynor to use Lord Carloway’s son’s law firm to evict the pursuer out of his house to pay for it all.

You can read all about what happened next, here: FIRE SALE: AIB face sequestration probe as files reveal Trustee was paid £20K by vulture fund to sell home & firebombed farm five days after targeted attack on couple at centre of land case linked to top Scots judges, an ex-Sheriff, an asbestos dumping building company & law firm Levy and Mcrae

If you want to know why Lord Carloway decided to keep quiet about his own link to this case, read more here: JUDGE OF CONFLICT: Top judge who attacked MSPs over judicial interests probe – failed to declare relative’s role at law firm targeting MSP’s constituents’ home & farm in £6M court case linked to Lord Malcolm conflict of interest scandal

THE GANG’S ALL HERE: New Dean welcomed by judges who concealed conflicts of interest in same case

THE newly-elected Dean of Faculty, Roddy Dunlop, QC, has been introduced formally to the Court of Session in a short ceremony.

Mr Dunlop was presented to the Lord President, Lord Carloway, sitting with Lords Malcolm and Woolman, in the First Division courtroom.

Lord Carloway said it was not only his duty but his particular pleasure to congratulate Mr Dunlop on the high honour conferred on him by the Faculty.

Lord Carloway said: “It is an honour which is amply justified by your professional attainments and your personal character,” added the Lord President.

“It is a mark of my own age that I can not only say ‘kent his faither’ – whom I am pleased to see is present today – but even ‘kent his grandfaither’, whom I remember as an agent practising in Glasgow High Court.

“These are difficult times for the Court, the Bar, the wider profession and the public. We have learned a lot in the past four months, and will learn even more over the next four. There are many issues which need to be resolved if the courts are to continue to deliver justice for the people of Scotland. They will require discussion and careful consideration, but at the end of the day difficult decisions about the future will have to be made.

“The Court is confident that you will maintain the high traditions of the office of Dean. I can assure you that any representations which you make to the Court on behalf of the Faculty will always receive our closest attention.”

Mr Dunlop was the sole nomination to succeed Gordon Jackson, QC, who stepped down after four years in office.

Mr Dunlop said: “It is a huge honour to have been appointed Dean of Faculty. This high office extends back to the very origins of the College of Justice in the 16th Century. It has been held by many of the foremost legal minds in Scottish history, and I am humbled, and a little awed, to find myself in their company.

“I take office at an extremely challenging time for Faculty, and for the legal profession as a whole. I will endeavour to meet these challenges in a way that respects the efforts of those who have gone before me.”

Admitted to Faculty in 1998, Mr Dunlop took Silk in 2010. He has a broad-based, mainly civil practice, but with a keen interest in media law, he has been regularly instructed in the criminal courts in contempt matters.

Mr Dunlop served as Treasurer of Faculty from April 2017 until February this year when he was elected as Vice-Dean of Faculty. An election for a new Vice-Dean will follow.

Further material sourced from the Court of Session, including digital evidence & recordings from Neal transcribing machines in relation to proceedings in court where Dunlop and his opposite number John Campbell QC ‘sparred’ during hearings of Nolan v Advance - will be published in further articles.

112 comments:

  1. Made my week reading your blog.
    Did you ever leave anyone with their reputation intact?

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  2. @ 17 July 2020 at 16:02

    Only when the evidence shows them up for what they are ...

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  3. Good write up Peter.
    After Jackson ruined the job with his escapade in the train only asbestos would go after something so tarnished.

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  4. Different class Peter evidence produced you do exactly what it says on the tin, no bull shit here only facts produced with evidence well done for your excellent blog it give poor victims of injustice at the hands of these horrible people some hope that truth will prevail keep up the excellent work

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  5. The Vice Dean is made Dean of Vice:

    "Mr Dunlop was presented to the Lord President, Lord Carloway, sitting with Lords Malcolm and Woolman, in the First Division courtroom.

    Lord Carloway said it was not only his duty but his particular pleasure to congratulate Mr Dunlop on the high honour conferred on him by the Faculty.

    Lord Carloway said: “It is an honour which is amply justified by your professional attainments and your personal character,” added the Lord President."

    ---------------

    Lord Howloway is correct for once, Mr Dunplops has achieved the perfect character attainments to carry on the Faculties very high standards of .....

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  6. well done peter you never cease to amaze me with your blogs.You are spot on as usual,you have made my day.I totally get what you are writing as i know it is all true.Keep up the good work.

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  7. Now known as the Faculty of Asbestos!
    I am literally praising the lord because finally someone in the press has a go at FoA

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  8. Best blog since ever!

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  9. Good shout out against all that is bad in the Faculty,Peter.
    I called around to check but this 'construction' company seem to have some reputational damage as no one in the legal fraternity wants to go on the record they worked for them.
    Keep up the good work PC!

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  10. Lords of Asbestos
    Lawyers have a thing for asbestos dont they Peter? I saw one of your tweets with some lawyer from Simpson and Marwick who is busy telling the Justice Committee asbestos is good for you. Must be a lot of money in this asbestos dumping gang for the three stooges to welcome their friend to their asbestos earning club.

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  11. Employing any advocate is a fees trap - anyone with sense will stay away from this mob

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  12. tend to disbelieve advocates glowing case histories and alleged success in court.Much of their claims are made up.

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  13. What a horrible group of judges you have in Scotland

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  14. So the new dean of faculty said nothing while Lord Malcolm was sweating about anyone finding out Ewen Campbell was his son and on the same legal team as Dunlop.
    Dunlop and everyone else obviously know who Ewen Campbell is and his own dad was the judge hearing the case.
    Not one of these people are fit to serve in the legal world nor should anyone ever believe a word they say in or outside of court.

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  15. If the public would stop being taken in by these legal creeps they would be nothing and ARE nothing without their henchmen and as you rightly imply their bully boy enforcers on the bench.

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  16. I remember when a certain QC was asked to come on and give his opinion on court proceedings but he demanded an appearance fee of £2,000 in advance.He was told no then when production staff asked around for another QC they were told our original choice had called round all his friends and told them not to come on because his fee had been rejected.
    Next time you see a QC on any television channel giving their all about Scots Law or a court case consider how much they asked for in advance or the sum they were ultimately paid for taking up time and space on your television screen and talking nonsense.

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  17. Meetings and consultations with a Faculty of Advocates character for seventy three thousand pounds - what a waste of time and money they are not worth it and now everyone knows!

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  18. If you are collecting stories on dodgy advocates remember everyone's favourite Human Rights QCs who insist on their own rates for tv/radio appearances and are well known for telling their clients to stump up cash on the side otherwise no show in court

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  19. How about this when a person has a mental illness & are not in control of their mouth & faculties the advocate took thousands, bungled the case then blamed it on the client. How did it go again, it was the clients case & I can only take instruction from them for their case. This was a female advocate & she knows this is about her.

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  20. Story about a certain top qc who got a thumping from a Borders Rugby jock after an attempted sexual assault will look good in a rag if only the victim or his team chums cough to it

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  21. Anyone remember the night in the Corinthian when a high flying QC was so pished on his own praise he said he could pay off any judge to get a verdict?
    A famous tale that one and plenty witnesses

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  22. Well done Peter You put it plain, honest and straight Not like the high flying tabloid newspapers,who can only publish and print what thier lawyers will allow, so that they don't upset the establishment and the people who should really be exposed. Well the faculty of FILTH have really done it now, making Rodderick "poster boy"Deluded" Dunlop, the new Dean of Faculty .He brings with him the usual qualities of being honourable, forthright and skillfull, at filling his own pockets at the expense of the most wronged people who have fought for justice and fairness and have been treated like dirt and deposited on the ever increasing scrap heap of the Scottish justice system.You have to be commended Peter, for speaking up for the same very people who have never had any justice. Keep up the good work.

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  23. troublesome old hack22 July 2020 at 22:10

    Before anyone asks problem with getting stories on corrupt advocates into print is because eds rely on the faculty mafia to get them out of trouble when there is a f*ck up on a story but I am certain anyone with decent leads on a legal story/scandal should contact PC with their info even if we in the paper trade cant get it past our legal.
    thumbs up for all you do, PC.

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  24. Campbell is one of many QCs who take cash from their clients on the threat of no representation unless they pay up - AND it has always been the job of their Dean to cover it up and stop any investigations into their finances.

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  25. female lawyer and Law society star charged with drunk driving managed to call her friend while in the station and she walked from any further.She hangs around a certain national television broadcaster paid for by all of you.

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  26. What you will also find is broadcasters use law firms and counsel to enforce Non Disclosure Agreements on their staff when allegations of sexual harassment, assault, bullying, fraud, false reporting, corruption or improper links between staff and industries (including legal profession) lead to whistle-blower reports, grievances and suspensions,even sackings.
    I personally know of two staff who are known for taking payoffs from law firms who then obtain prime time news slots with well rehearsed scripts on any scandal you care to name.The report typically involves a victim and a lawyer seeking justice in what is little more than an advertisement for business.
    Since the particular broadcaster where these two are still based has never once carried a report on your petition I am happy to discuss OTR.
    You may publish this comment for your readers to understand why certain news items in Scotland are higher up the list than others.

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  27. Remember the case of the Scottish lawyer accused of murder?

    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/4907112/bishopbriggs-murder-trail-cop-glasgow/

    Bishopbriggs murder trial hears lawyer’s cop husband was given name and address of person she’s accused of killing

    Wilma Rliey 1 Nov 2019, 22:37

    A LAWYER’S cop husband was given the name and address of a man she is accused of murdering by a fellow officer, a jury was told.

    William Alexander said he had gone to Blair Threshie with a handbag belonging to his wife Joanne Threshie, 37, after it was recovered following a break-in at their home.

    PC Alexander then claimed he showed his colleague a document with the personal details of Frederick McGettigan, who had handed the bag into a police station.

    Mr McGettigan, 51, later had his throat slashed at his home in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow.

    Mr Alexander told the High Court in the city: “I was reading and he was reading and I handed the document over so he (Threshie) could read it himself.”

    Prosecutor Iain McSporran QC asked: “In hindsight should you have shown him that document?”

    The witness replied: “As a colleague I showed the document to him and then asked questions, but no.”

    The officer agreed it was “an error of judgement”.

    The jury heard PC Alexander denied sharing Mr McGettigan’s details when quizzed by chiefs. But he admitted lying in a second interview in November.

    Defence QC Brian McConnachie accused the constable of “breaching data protection regulations” and then “covering his back”.

    Mr Alexander replied: “I went into panic mode.”

    Joanne Threshie denies murdering Mr McGettigan in August last year.

    The lawyer, of Bishopbriggs, is accused of giving the victim’s name and address to her cousin Kirk McIntyre and encouraging him to perpetrate serious violence.

    McIntyre, 51, was jailed for at least 20 years after being convicted of the murder last year.

    In a police statement, Threshie claimed her husband told her Mr McGettigan had been killed as they drove home from a break.

    She said: “All the way home I couldn’t stop thinking that Kirk

    McIntyre had done something or arranged for something to be done.”

    The trial before Lord Matthews continues.

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  28. Anything is possible for a Scottish lawyer

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-50331792

    Lawyer cleared of ordering cousin to kill 'thief'

    7 November 2019

    A lawyer has been acquitted of ordering her cousin to kill a man she believed had broken into her home.

    A judge dismissed the case against Joanne Threshie after hearing legal submissions from her QC Brian McConnachie.

    Mrs Threshie, 37, had denied killing Frederick McGettigan at his home at Clelland Crescent, Bishopbriggs, on 6 August, 2017.

    Her cousin Kirk McIntyre is serving life for the murder,

    Mrs Threshie, of Bishopbriggs, had been accused of giving him the name and address of Mr McGettigan and inciting and encouraging him to perpetrate serious violence.

    It was alleged that she did so because she believed Mr McGettigan, 51, had broken into her home on 29 or 30 July, 2017, and stolen items.

    But Lord Matthews told the mother-of-three, who is married to a police officer, that she was free to go.

    At the High Court in Glasgow Lord Matthews said: "With some hesitation I have formed the view there is just enough evidence that Kirk McIntyre committed the murder.

    "As far as Mrs Threshie the evidence makes it plain that she at some point communicated the name and address to Mr McIntyre."

    But the judge said that did not show she intended any harm to come to Mr McGettigan and added: "There is simply no way the jury could have reached that conclusion. The fact that she had the name and address is not enough."

    Earlier prosecutor Iain McSporran QC withdrew the murder charge and changed it to culpable homicide.

    But then Mr McConnachie put forward his no case to answer argument which he won.
    'No evidence'

    Mr McConnachie said: "The only evidence we have about someone having an animus against housebreakers is Mr McIntyre.

    "There is nothing to suggest Mrs Threshie wanted harm to come to anyone.

    "There is no evidence that Joanne Threshie did what is libelled against her."

    Mr McSporran argued: "It is all to do with context."

    Referring to the giving of the name and address to McIntyre, he said:" It was the lighting of the touch paper and can anyone properly be surprised when an explosion occurs.

    "He was a violent man aggrieved by what happened to a valued family member.

    "On the evidence Mr McGettigan had nothing whatsoever to do with this housebreaking."
    'Quite worrying'

    During the legal submissions Lord Matthews said: "Why would a man who had carried out a housebreaking go along to a police station and hand in a handbag? It's quite worrying that constitutes Police Scotland's thinking."

    The High Court in Glasgow heard Mr McGettigan found a handbag near to the Stables Bar on the canal between Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch and handed it in at Kirkintilloch police station in the early hours of 30 July, 2017.

    His name and details were then passed on to Mrs Threshie's husband William, who was a serving police officer at the time.

    Officers also told him they considered Mr McGettigan's actions "dodgy".

    In evidence Mr Threshie said he never passed on that information to his wife, but she overheard it while he was on the phone to a police colleague.

    Family and friends of Mr McGettigan made no comment as they left court.

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  29. You may be interested to know a well known solicitor in Hawick dodged arrest for possession of Class A drugs by giving up the name of his supplier,occasional client and drug dealer also located in Hawick.Too hot for the Southern apparently!

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  30. Free advice to your readers.
    A waste of time giving information on corrupt lawyers to a newspaper or the BBC because they dont run the story and whoever you spoke to will end up handing your details to the lawyer in your case.I did same last year the reporter never got back to me after asking I email her all my documents.The same lawyer who ripped us off received a glowing story about herself in the newspaper 2 weeks after I spoke to the reporter and no reply to my emails asking what she thought of the documents and the SSDT hearing.

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  31. @ 18 July 2020 at 10:32

    Always keen to hear of [or from] any legal rep who pride themselves for representing the construction company ...

    @ 18 July 2020 at 10:55

    There is video footage of Dr Pamela Abernethy (formerly Simpson & Marwick) who gave evidence to the Justice Committee which essentially claimed that asbestos is good for you - during questions put by Bill Butler MSP.

    @ 19 July 2020 at 12:31

    A vested interest in silence in court ...

    @ 20 July 2020 at 19:56

    Often hear of such incidents with lawscot/faculty members demanding appearance fee rates in advance ... wonder if any are paid in cash and go undeclared ...

    @ 23 July 2020 at 11:05

    A Criminal Defence solicitor confirmed many advocates are on the cash take to the point it would be easier to list who doesn't demand cash bungs from their clients ...

    @ 23 July 2020 at 19:27

    Happens often ...lawyers use their connections to avoid prosecution.

    @ 22 July 2020 at 22:10

    Ta ...

    @ 24 July 2020 at 20:37

    Keen to hear more on this ... email or comment further marked DNP

    @ 26 July 2020 at 15:27

    Cops have sleazy PR agent who spikes stories & PR's for his boss so no surprise papers wont touch - however am keen to hear more on this - contact blog with further info thanks.

    @ 26 July 2020 at 20:52

    Not all bad. If you find the right journo the story will be printed ...

    ReplyDelete
  32. A Hawick lawyer on drugs giving up his drug dealer to avoid charges we need to hear more about this!!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. "There is video footage of Dr Pamela Abernethy (formerly Simpson & Marwick) who gave evidence to the Justice Committee which essentially claimed that asbestos is good for you - during questions put by Bill Butler MSP."

    Thanks I found this and watched.Very good Peter for keeping us informed.

    ReplyDelete
  34. No wonder no one really wants to find the Nairn banker killer because he/she is probably from or hired by the legal mafia AND being shielded by those who are involved in it

    ReplyDelete
  35. Fair point about the Nairn banker murder as in no one really wants to solve the case but you will have to watch the comments because the cops regularly turn their lapdog journos on anyone who dare debate what happened and the events have since attracted all manner of experts charging up fees for their opinions and clueless coppery on the side.
    I remember watching a public appeal by officers for information however it was noticeable from their on-screen demeanor the cops were not serious nor expected any new information to come in.
    Some people claim there are links to cases involving millions of pounds and a corrupt banker in Edinburgh linked to lawyers.Among the names are those who are on business terms with many advocates and higher up the tree of wigs.
    No surprise then there is no willingness from any of the legal fraudsters to give up a body eh?

    ReplyDelete
  36. substitute "Loans" with "to lawyers"

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jun/27/ukcrime

    Bank manager jailed over Scotland's largest fraud case
    Published on Tue 27 Jun 2006 13.44 BST

    Donald Mackenzie, 45, had earlier admitted carrying out Scotland's largest single fraud case while working as business manager at city centre branches of the bank in Edinburgh. The high court in Edinburgh heard that he accessed the money through the bank's loan system by setting up false accounts in the names of fictitious customers.

    Mackenzie had worked in the banking industry since the age of 19, and in recent years won three consecutive Manager of the Year awards. The fraud stretched back to April 1999 but the police were only first informed of suspicions in 2004.

    Before sentencing, defence lawyer David Burns QC told the court that Mackenzie had not carried out the £21m fraud for personal gain, but to improve the bank's business loan record out of a "misguided sense of service".

    Passing sentence, Lord Kinclaven said the term reflected the "grave breach of trust" which the offences represented.

    Mackenzie also admitted the theft of £31,170 that he took while working for the bank and he was also sentenced today for two years for theft, to be served concurrently.

    A team of 16 investigators were confronted by a complex web of thousands of transactions made over five years by Mackenzie, who lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two young children.

    The court heard that his actions had led to the collapse and early closure of at least three businesses. Some of the £21m has not been recovered, despite Mackenzie helping police to try to track the money.

    Mr Burns said the bank's "best case scenario" would be a loss of between £4m and £10m.

    He said Mackenzie had created the accounts over a period of five years due to "substantial pressure to satisfy loan requirements at the bank".

    In most cases the accounts were disguised as those belonging to law firms that would be expected to have high sums of money passing through. In some cases Mackenzie had actually made payments to the loans in order to avoid arousing suspicion.

    Mr Burns told the court: "His intention, albeit a misguided one, was to accommodate the loan requirements and he allowed that through this fraud. Mr Mackenzie accepts that he had obtained funds from the bank and accepts that this is a crime of a serious nature and a breach of trust."

    Lord Kinclaven said: "I have taken into account everything that has been said about your offences and your action, which was described as a misguided sense of service. However, I must also consider other factors including the serious nature of the offence."

    He said that if Mackenzie had not admitted to the fraud - which would have meant the possibility of an eight-week trial with 142 witnesses - his sentence would have been 15 years.

    Outside court, Detective Constable Mike Harris, of Lothian and Borders police, who was involved in the investigation, backed the judge's decision. He said: "I welcome the sentence, if for no other reason than people will realise that white collar crime is a serious offence, albeit this was restricted within the banking sector."

    ReplyDelete
  37. How much did the three weegies collect for flipflop? (his nickname)

    ReplyDelete
  38. No wonder he plead guilty
    Well known certain bent L&B cops who mix it with their gangsters friends benefited big time from the MacKenzie bank caper

    ReplyDelete
  39. The lawyer from Hawick who grassed up his supplier wouldn't by any chance be a star of the local community would he?

    ReplyDelete
  40. How did Advance destruction arrange for all their judges to welcome in their own QC???
    and why are the newspapers mute all of a sudden? payoff payoff

    ReplyDelete
  41. Stop it! All the messages about your twitter and blog tonight are heating up my phone!

    ReplyDelete
  42. The banker plead guilty due to threats - a result of involvement with Edinburgh's legal filth and their gangland thug clientele.
    Advocates and lawyers involved up to their necks and all still practicing.
    One who took cash sent his son to a private school in Europe and then faked an illness to avoid interview.Still alive and working and his son now a lawyer.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Are the Nairn and Edinburgh cases linked?I always suspected this to be the case.
    Years apart I know however MacKenzie's fraud was on the go for some time and the figures higher than reported.
    I understand there was a similar but smaller fraud to the RBS case which HBOS kept quiet.Similar terms, linked to lawyers and false valuations for securities.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I dare say Law Detective Cherbi will remember the Scott Moncrieff & Dove Lockhart fraud where numbers were similarly under-reported.
    McCabe went to jail and others involved were protected by their friends at the Law Society and in the judiciary of the early 1990s.

    https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12655115.solicitor-admits-4m-fraud-charges/
    https://www.scotsman.com/news/sleazy-side-legal-profession-2463920

    ReplyDelete
  45. Didnt realise Dunlop linked to Watson and Levy Mcrae/Advance thanks for the enlightenment!

    ReplyDelete
  46. If you list the names of all lawyers and advocates who exchange info with authorities on their clients for favour or other you will end up listing most solicitors and their creepy counsel in the High Courts.Must be a shock to anyone facing charges to read this but the fact is an accused's defence solicitor will do deals with the PF and Police on a regular basis.Seen it all folks.You know its true because you were there.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Cops blew the Nairn case when they spent too much time trying to fit the evidence around someone too close to the investigation

    ReplyDelete
  48. Your comments section alone has the possibility to solve a murder and major frauds!

    ReplyDelete
  49. The video you posted on Twitter of Brian Gill and the MSP
    Gill obviously caught out by John Wilson because you can see from Gill's first answer he said he did not suspend any judges and Gill did not expect Wilson to come back to him as fast as he did.

    Gill said "None that I know of"
    John Wilson replies and says "Acting Sheriff Watson"
    Gill caught out big time you can see from his face then flaps around for an answer and turns his reply into a snobbish lecture
    John Wilson presses the question again and forces Gill to answer properly
    BRILLIANT!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. @ 26 July 2020 at 23:14

    A good summary of the case you refer to.

    @ 27 July 2020 at 18:21

    Noted and also noted cops & vested interests with something to lose appear to have eagerness to close down speculation or new leads in this investigation.

    @ 27 July 2020 at 18:32

    Yes, it appears most of the reported and undisclosed losses were to lawyers and other groups in the legal profession.

    @ 27 July 2020 at 20:26

    Often in investigation of cases involving local legal celebs their carefully crafted image of being a leading light of their local community is all a myth, built on theft, legal aid cash take, relationships with criminal clients and local associates employed to bully anyone who raises a complaint or takes issue with their provision of legal services.

    Keen to hear more about these references to a Hawick solicitor as am looking at cases involving one of their number.

    Additionally, as the Scottish Borders are known to have a number of well known corrupt solicitors and law firms, any cases of interest please send in details or post in the comments section marked DNP

    @ 27 July 2020 at 22:08

    Oh yes I remember the John McCabe case and also agree there were others involved in the size of the financial scam operated by McCabe and his associates & clients - including corrupt businessmen and others.

    ReplyDelete
  51. @ 27 July 2020 at 22:48

    Clients should be told - they have a right to know what deals and other interests their legal reps have with the Prosecution, and anyone else in court including the Sheriff or judge.

    @ 28 July 2020 at 13:11

    Lord Gill's response to John Wilson typifies the judiciary's disdain for transparency and accountability - and this was echoed throughout both Lord Gill and later Lord Carloway's evidence to the Public Petitions Committee at Holyrood - on MSPs consideration of the petition calling for a Register of judges' interests.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Always suspected the Nairn banker case and the Edinburgh scandal were carve ups with lawyers and their business you can always tell because no one is ever caught and the money disappears while the story and those involved are written in glowing terms for the usual crop of headline seekers.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Lawyers and even advocates have been known to hold firearms for their criminal clients.
    Remember the lawyer in Glasgow who held a stash of guns in his safe for clients there are plenty more who do it for a favour here or a few quid there.

    ReplyDelete
  54. After reading this I asked my solicitor for a copy of all faculty services fee notes to our civil damages claim in the Court of session and I got a letter back this morning saying he has been refused permission to send them out but he will allow me to view the fee notes if I go into his office.Our case is currently frozen and waiting for new dates because of the virus restrictions but he is still charging up fees and so is the advocate.Any ideas or help appreciated Peter.

    ReplyDelete
  55. @ 30 July 2020 at 15:28

    You are entitled to see and have possession of any fee notes or bills and accounts for legal services.If the solicitor is refusing to send you copies of Faculty Services accounts or copies of the solicitor's legal fees it is likely the fees may have been exaggerated or contain false claims for work which did not take place.

    Whatever your case is in the Court of Session it sounds like your solicitor and potentially the advocate have already decided to exaggerate fees and keep charging fees to the point they will end up withdrawing from acting for you or advise to take a small settlement - from which they will extract most of what you settle for their own fees.

    If you want, please send in a copy of any material to the blog along with name of the solicitor & advocate, also which judge is hearing your case, law firms involved and any other information - but honestly - when you reach the stage your own solicitor is concealing accounts of legal fees in your case from you ... clearly there is a level of dishonesty and financial impropriety which has in many other cases, ended in either a claim being talked out in court, or some sleazy deal between counsel and potentially the solicitors to prolong the case for fees and then present a small settlement offer on threat of dropping legal representation if you do not accept.

    Of note to all those reading the comments on this article - if anyone is in a similar position with their solicitor or advocate by way of being denied access to fee notes and other accounts, please email in the documentation which will be treated in confidence - and please take note of has already been said.

    ReplyDelete
  56. WILL EVERYONE PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT PETER SAYS RIGHT HERE!!!!!!!!

    "but honestly - when you reach the stage your own solicitor is concealing accounts of legal fees in your case from you ... clearly there is a level of dishonesty and financial impropriety which has in many other cases, ended in either a claim being talked out in court, or some sleazy deal between counsel and potentially the solicitors to prolong the case for fees and then present a small settlement offer on threat of dropping legal representation if you do not accept"

    WELL DONE PETER YOU ARE THE ONLY TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE FOR PROPER ADVICE AGAINST THE LEGAL THIEVES!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Anonymous said...
    After reading this I asked my solicitor for a copy of all faculty services fee notes to our civil damages claim in the Court of session and I got a letter back this morning saying he has been refused permission to send them out but he will allow me to view the fee notes if I go into his office.Our case is currently frozen and waiting for new dates because of the virus restrictions but he is still charging up fees and so is the advocate.Any ideas or help appreciated Peter.

    30 July 2020 at 15:28
    ===============================================================================

    The fact that you have asked for the invoices tells them that you are on to them & their fleecing is coming to an end so they will end their interest in your case & send you a whopper of a bill to get their last of the gravy. Then unfortunately you will have to go round Firms to get someone to take the case forward, but no one will because the real money has already been spent & its not worth their time. You will then report them to the Law Society of Scotland, they will then advise you to go to the SLCC & Faculty of Fuckwitts & none of them will do a thing to help. The best way out is to put it down to bad experience & don't go near them ever again. I'm sorry I really sympathies with you but don't spend anymore time on them they are scum.

    ReplyDelete
  58. I am the person who wrote the comment you replied to.
    Thanks for your advice Peter and for being candid.
    My wife has read what you said and we are going to think about how our case has gone on for so long without a result.
    I should also mention the defenders solicitors wrote to us directly and informed us our own solicitor failed to reply to six letters and offers of settlement.
    Our case involves medical negligence.
    We do not have a scanner however I will send you photographs of our solicitor's letter stating he was refused permission to give us the Faculty Services bills and a resume of our case.After three years in court and many delays we are both tired of legal fees and no end in sight and every time we met our solicitor he always talks as if a new development on our claim is just around the corner however after reading your comment we now realise this is all about increasing his fees rather than giving us justice.
    Perhaps I will mention to him I have read your blog and asked questions of why he refused to give us the fee notes if this is fine with you?
    Thanks for taking the time to reply and righting my ignorance of courts and lawyers.

    ReplyDelete
  59. You must be hitting the right targets because a certain Mr Angry of the Law Society is going around complaining about your prolific investigations of corrupt lawyers!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Curious as to why newspapers refuse to carry stories about corrupt QCs and Faculty of Advocates members?
    Plenty stories around of corrupt lawyers and decisions from the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal but there are no reports of crooked QCs on the make and it cant be because there are none because we know there is plenty evidence of corruption within the Advocates gang and their precious Faculty.

    ReplyDelete
  61. @ 30 July 2020 at 18:29

    Yes, a mention is fine although if you are attending your solicitor's office to view these fee notes be aware solicitors are now digitally recording their clients during meetings with a mixture of loaded and provocative questions - if the solicitor suspects their client has discovered examples of poor, negligent or dishonest legal service or a complaint is imminent.

    The recordings appear to be part of information gathering techniques used by the Master Policy Insurers and Legal Defence Union and have previously been offered up to regulators to protect a solicitor or law firm who are subject of complaints investigations.

    @ 30 July 2020 at 18:53

    When it comes to any issue of regulation, everyone at the Law Society is angry.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Anonymous said...
    After reading this I asked my solicitor for a copy of all faculty services fee notes to our civil damages claim in the Court of session and I got a letter back this morning saying he has been refused permission to send them out but he will allow me to view the fee notes if I go into his office.Our case is currently frozen and waiting for new dates because of the virus restrictions but he is still charging up fees and so is the advocate.Any ideas or help appreciated Peter.
    =================================================================================
    We have all been there that is why we are here. The system will show you no mercy. Happened to my family twenty years ago, I found Peter's blog and followed it ever since.

    As the person above stated The fact that you have asked for the invoices tells them that you are on to them & their fleecing is coming to an end so they will end their interest in your case & send you a whopper of a bill to get their last of the gravy. Then unfortunately you will have to go round Firms to get someone to take the case forward, but no one will because the real money has already been spent & its not worth their time. You will then report them to the Law Society of Scotland, they will then advise you to go to the SLCC & Faculty of Fuckwitts & none of them will do a thing to help. The best way out is to put it down to bad experience & don't go near them ever again. I'm sorry I really sympathies with you but don't spend anymore time on them they are scum.

    I never go near them they are scum and they send clients from pillar to post. The SLCC is just the Law Society with a new face, it got it's new face in 2008 and protected lawyers since. Complaining aboout a lawyer just gives them all the control then need to cover everything up.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Shocking to hear lawyers are recording their clients as part of what could be an organised policy of entrapment when a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship occurs.
    Can I ask how did you discover this?

    ReplyDelete
  64. @ 31 July 2020 at 15:14

    Refs to digital evidence in complaints files, several clients who alerted the blog to suspicious offers of meetings and a source who confirmed the client recording policy.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Anonymous Anonymous said...
    Shocking to hear lawyers are recording their clients as part of what could be an organised policy of entrapment when a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship occurs.
    Can I ask how did you discover this?

    31 July 2020 at 15:14
    ===========================================================================
    It's not a new discovery they have been recording us for years ever since the first recorder came out & before that they got their secretary to attend the meeting type the minutes & then get you to sign it (Trapped).

    ReplyDelete
  66. Lawyers recording clients no surprise in that. Lawyers will do anything.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Self regulation is the entrapment, where the lawyers hide their crimes. That's why it is set up that way.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Worked at an Edinburgh law firm where one of our senior partners placed cameras inside the toilets to film female employees.
    One of my colleagues discovered the camera and complained.A false accounting error was created in one of the large client accounts.
    Only female staff were interviewed by a team from the Law Society of Scotland.
    Each interview ended by their male solicitor asking each of us to confess to the error in exchange for no further action and a good reference or transfer to another firm.
    Three female staff including myself transferred from the firm.
    I later heard the same senior partner took around £300,000 from a client account used for property transactions.
    He quietly retired and was not asked to repay the money.

    ReplyDelete
  69. @ 31 July 2020 at 22:27 & @ 1 August 2020 at 19:52

    Yes, apparently clients have been secretly recorded by their solicitors for some time - perhaps good advice to be aware of this during any convos with legal reps, and clients should therefore take their own 'careful notes' for their own records.

    @ 1 August 2020 at 20:03

    Keen to hear more on this case, and from anyone else on examples where employees at law firms have been interviewed by the Law Society of Scotland as what could be a cover for protecting dishonest solicitors.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Anonymous said...

    "There is video footage of Dr Pamela Abernethy (formerly Simpson & Marwick) who gave evidence to the Justice Committee which essentially claimed that asbestos is good for you - during questions put by Bill Butler MSP."
    =====================================================================================
    No it is good for her (££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££) allowed her to make money covering up asbestosis for her paymasters. Well is she is an expert witness she has Legal Privilidge which means she can do what she wants in court regarding this. They all have loopholes to protect vested interests self regulation and legal privilidge.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Legal privilidge gets round the Hypoocratic Oath, even though Oaths are bull anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  72. A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly against the city.

    But the traitor moves among those within the gates freely, his sly whispers rustling through all alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself.

    For the traitor appears no traitor; he speaks in the accents familiar to his victim, and he wears their face and their garments and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men.

    He rots the soul of a nation; he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city; he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared. The traitor is the plague. — Marcus Tullius Cicero, from a speech given to the Roman Senate, recorded in approximately 42 B.C. by Sallust.

    Well clients The Law Society of Scotland SLCC and all the other structures of the state are the traitors who work hidden as Cicero states (ironically he was a lawyer I believe).

    All things lawyer wise are thus,

    But the traitor moves among those within the gates freely, his sly whispers rustling through all corridors of the Law Society, SLCC, Parliament heard in the very halls of government itself.

    For the traitor appears no traitor; he speaks in the accents familiar to his victim, and he wears their face and their garments and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men.

    Stay away from lawyers because they have all the power in the secretive world of self regulation and corrupt government to take all you have worked for, spit on you when you complain and leave you with no legal remedy. The are a small formidably dangerous powerful bureaucracy. And the know no mercy except for their own.

    ReplyDelete
  73. If the complaints process got justice for ruined people and jailed corrupt lawyers this blog would not be necessary. All lawyers are corrupt.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Very good comments on this posting sounds like you have enough for fifty new scandals of the lawyers and judges!

    ReplyDelete
  75. We lawyers love self regulation we can and do steal and not face court because our colleagues handle all the complaints and we are left alone to steal from other clients. It's a wonderful system.



    ReplyDelete
  76. The fact that you have asked for the invoices tells them that you are on to them & their fleecing is coming to an end so they will end their interest in your case & send you a whopper of a bill to get their last of the gravy. Then unfortunately you will have to go round Firms to get someone to take the case forward, but no one will because the real money has already been spent & its not worth their time. You will then report them to the Law Society of Scotland, they will then advise you to go to the SLCC & Faculty of Fuckwitts & none of them will do a thing to help. The best way out is to put it down to bad experience & don't go near them ever again. I'm sorry I really sympathies with you but don't spend anymore time on them they are scum.

    30 July 2020 at 17:34


    Yes that is their modus operandi get as much money as possible and then dump the client before the ficticious court date. It's a scam and you better learn from us folks because they are making lots of money and here is another fact. Lawyers, doctors, and the Scottish Parliament all share the same insurers, even your MSP won't help you. It is about ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ not justice. The people who control the money, George Carlin called them The Real Owners have the legal and medical professions in their back pocket.

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  77. Here is where the lawyers belong all bought and paid for it is the same everywhere folks. The Law Society all bought and paid for too. Justice does not apply those with the deep pockets control everything. George knew the score.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK7FPSFdkEc

    ReplyDelete
  78. Anonymous said...

    'I am the person who wrote the comment you replied to.
    Thanks for your advice Peter and for being candid.
    My wife has read what you said and we are going to think about how our case has gone on for so long without a result.
    I should also mention the defenders solicitors wrote to us directly and informed us our own solicitor failed to reply to six letters and offers of settlement'.

    You never had a solicitor. Your solicitor and the defenders solicitor are on the same side and it is not yours. That's how they work, your solicitor is there to provide the illusion you can get justice. I have been there (as have many other people) they are scum. This fact will be reinforced if you complain or seek another solicitor to help you. They scam as much money as they can then the whole legal establishment and our MSP's send you to Coventry when you dare complain. I wish I did not have to tell you this but we all know the way it works, and they all share the same insurers too. You will be seeking justice 20 years from now if you keep persisting that long. One music teacher had a litigation case at the last count that went on for 15 years with no conclusion. You are fighting the whole system now been there and never again. Sorry I am not being negative I am being honest unlike the scum lawyers out there.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Anonymous said...


    After reading this I asked my solicitor for a copy of all faculty services fee notes to our civil damages claim in the Court of session and I got a letter back this morning saying he has been refused permission to send them out but he will allow me to view the fee notes if I go into his office. Our case is currently frozen and waiting for new dates because of the virus restrictions but he is still charging up fees and so is the advocate. Any ideas or help appreciated Peter.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Your case will never get to court. You are in the shut down phase where you will be abandoned to fight it yourself. It is the wort place you can be, we all know that and I have every sympathy with you. Pure bastards they are. And the Law Society hate the DOI
    team and not once have they ever tried any legal action and they never will because the Law Society are a lawyer protection racket.

    ReplyDelete
  80. When you go to a lawyer you have a traitor sitting in front of you. Your home is at risk if you don't keep up the payments the banker warns. Your home is at risk if you trust a lawyer the Law Society should state. The former is a liar because if it was your home they couldn't reposess it. The latter hide the lie all lawyers are decent and honest. The lawyer does not break into your house to steal, he steals the house so never make a lawyer your executor unless you want your offspring to lose it all. Complain to the Law Society, SLCC, and all their other colleagues. Just don't go there cut the lawyer out of the loop. :awyers don't have clients they prey on people to steal everything they worked for.

    ReplyDelete
  81. I am the person who wrote the comment you replied to.
    Thanks for your advice Peter and for being candid.
    My wife has read what you said and we are going to think about how our case has gone on for so long without a result.
    I should also mention the defenders solicitors wrote to us directly and informed us our own solicitor failed to reply to six letters and offers of settlement.
    Our case involves medical negligence.
    We do not have a scanner however I will send you photographs of our solicitor's letter stating he was refused permission to give us the Faculty Services bills and a resume of our case.After three years in court and many delays we are both tired of legal fees and no end in sight and every time we met our solicitor he always talks as if a new development on our claim is just around the corner however after reading your comment we now realise this is all about increasing his fees rather than giving us justice.
    Perhaps I will mention to him I have read your blog and asked questions of why he refused to give us the fee notes if this is fine with you?
    Thanks for taking the time to reply and righting my ignorance of courts and lawyers.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    You will need medical reports to go to court, doctors, lawyers, NHS or private healthcare providers, Judges, Sheriff's Scottish Parliament, what chance does anyone have of claiming damages from this lots insurers when they are all the decision makers? They bury the evidence all the time. The system is set up to protect them all, unfortunately we find out too late what they are. Lawyers, Doctors, Politicians follow the money not the truth. Coverups are their forte, stay away from lawyers that's what lawyers taught me in the most ruthless way. Had a bike accident, my Yamaha was repaired and the No Win No Fee vultures were on the phone countless times. I got my bike repaired, that was enough for me than trusting lawyer scum again and my compensation was that the No Win No Fee vultures got £0.00. Even though I was not injured they were on the phone constantly. I told them lawyers are selective in who they represent. If you stitch me up I have no legal remedy so no way I told them. Never again, it was a hard lesson but I swore I would never trust another one.

    ReplyDelete
  82. My litigation case I exposed my corrupt doctor who changed medical records depending on where they were sent to achieve the outcome he wanted covering up what happened to me. To the benefits agency nothing wrong with me, to the court I had been seeing a psychaitrist for 20 plus years and that is just the start of it. I said produce the psychiatrist and he couldnt. He was reported to other doctors for blaiming them on all the lies in my medical records. I sent them his letters. Oh what a tangled web he created which eventually caught up with him when his other patients found out.

    Oh and as for my solicitor, I told my doctor every time he has the chance to put the boot into the company that injured me he does not. That is why I know I did not have a solicitor the company that injured me had two defence solicitors. So folks learn, stay away from lawyers because they are all insured by the same company as GP's The Scottish Parliament, medical consultants, The Law Society, SLCC the Courts, that is why you cannot sue because they are paying premiums to the company who would be paying your damages. But even if that were not the case, they would still shut the case down after collecting their fees and the brown envelopes.

    ReplyDelete
  83. What is law but words on paper, without enforcement it is meaningless and lawyers take away that enforcement when it suits them. That is not a legal system, that is a business.

    ReplyDelete
  84. 'Clients - mean nothing. Cash collecting and Big Invoice are king. Take them to task and they will see you suffer. And, they do exactly that'.

    All the more reason top avoid them they make theft legal and a legal remedy for clients impossible. They are the masters of mendacity, thieves in robes and wigs that's all they are human trash.

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  85. How scummy are lawyers who take on cases against their own insurers. And don't even thing about compensation from the Law Society Master Policy. It's all a fraud like the legal profession themselves. They are the opposite of what they claim to be. It's bureaucratic tyranny it was set up to destroy people for profit in their state paid for business called The Scottish Courts. Where no lawyers are guilty by the Law Societies investigations, (thats a joke) they all are. Every lawyer in Scotland has been reported and protected. The websites are there SLCC new Law Society, the complaints process is explained and you will get nowhere complaining. They steal from clients and then cover it up in their secret courts called the SLCC and Law Society. Public courts are anathama to them. If you want to destroy them financially as much as possible you must stay away from them, no clients no income.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Anonymous said...

    After reading this I asked my solicitor for a copy of all faculty services fee notes to our civil damages claim in the Court of session and I got a letter back this morning saying he has been refused permission to send them out but he will allow me to view the fee notes if I go into his office. Our case is currently frozen and waiting for new dates because of the virus restrictions but he is still charging up fees and so is the advocate. Any ideas or help appreciated Peter.


    I went to the court my case was meant to be heard in and asked the staff to see any files they had on my case. The file has a few documents in it and the lady asked me are you sure this solicitor is representing you. That's when I knew it was going nowhere. My GP was the biggest liar of them all. And then when I found out he wanted to put is all behind us, to save his reputation. Typical scheming person who can dish it out but cannon bear the destruction of his reputation not by the NHS, not be Primary Care but by my family. He was not fit to practice.

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  87. You have your inheritance stolen.

    You are a victim of medical negligence.

    You are injured at work.

    Three cases when you need lawyers, and in the latter two doctor's reports.

    Thentou go to a lawyer, lawyers make more money covering all these things up. As Peter stated the brown envelopes full of money dished out in the Sheriffs chambers. The secret places where they do deals because they Are the Law.

    You cannot win The Law Society who have been responsible for client suicides to save the reputations of the scum they are meant to regulate (a report on this blog is available on this) so stay away from these Lawyers because if you don't you will find out that the rights you thought you had are fantasy. Starve the lawyers of fees, stay away from them.

    Equal rights in a democracy is an illusion trust a lawyer and you may find out that is the truth.

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  88. Anonymous said...

    Shocking to hear lawyers are recording their clients as part of what could be an organised policy of entrapment when a breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship occurs.
    Can I ask how did you discover this?
    31 July 2020 at 15:14


    I am shocked you are shocked. Nothing lawyers do could shock me, bad lot they are.

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  89. Anonymous said...

    I am the person who wrote the comment you replied to.

    Thanks for your advice Peter and for being candid.

    My wife has read what you said and we are going to think about how our case has gone on for so long without a result.

    I should also mention the defenders solicitors wrote to us directly and informed us our own solicitor failed to reply to six letters and offers of settlement.

    Our case involves medical negligence. We do not have a scanner however I will send you photographs of our solicitor's letter stating he was refused permission to give us the Faculty Services bills and a resume of our case. After three years in court and many delays we are both tired of legal fees and no end in sight and every time we met our solicitor he always talks as if a new development on our claim is just around the corner however after reading your comment we now realise this is all about increasing his fees rather than giving us justice.
    Perhaps I will mention to him I have read your blog and asked questions of why he refused to give us the fee notes if this is fine with you?
    Thanks for taking the time to reply and righting my ignorance of courts and lawyers.


    Makes you wonder how they sleep at night but really that's simple they are an evil profession. All cases like yours my friend go the same way as yours. They are ruthless evil people, I would never go near them again. You are claiming against his insurers but he won't tell you that of course.
    If we could all get together and discussed our cases I guarantee you the same pattern would emerge.

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  90. Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Lawyers and even advocates have been known to hold firearms for their criminal clients.
    Remember the lawyer in Glasgow who held a stash of guns in his safe for clients there are plenty more who do it for a favour here or a few quid there.

    Well of course they do, after all they control the Police they can do whatever they want.

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  91. Standard sentence on medical reports for medical negligence litigation. Legally privileged doctor writes cause of patients injury is uncertain, that's the loophole to shut the case in the defenders favour.

    The docs and lawyers cover this up all the time, just like accountants and lawyers cover up theft of clients assets. Learn from us and stay away from lawyers to rob them of their fees, for what stealing and covering everything up. Self regulation is their stay out of jail card.

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  92. Familiar with the case of the ex top cop who helped his drug dealing friends get out of a major investigation which detected cops selling drugs in Edinburgh?
    Everyone wondered how he knew the search warrant was on the way but no one could prove his top cop wallet called a friendly lawyer to get a message between the lines.
    Retired with no action and swans around the press as if he is the Polis saint of auld reekie.
    Print this comment.

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  93. Adding to my 11.29 comment the lawyer involved with the retired top cop is now a sheriff.
    One of his offspring escaped arrest for possession of quantities of Class A drugs and cash.His customers are lawyers and higher.No charges.The gear and cash confiscated without publicity.

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  94. @ 17 August 2020 at 15:59

    Keen to hear more on this. Contact the blog with more info thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  95. “Everybody is deeply concerned. Some barristers are having to go onto Universal Credit because obviously there are fewer trials going on and they are at home with mounting tax bills, clerks’ fees and chambers rents,” he said. “A lot of people are going to be leaving the business.”

    Read this online. Mabe the virus will be their Law Society taking everything?

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  96. Thanks to your blog the advocate in my case cancelled two bills after I mentioned to my solicitor I read your website and asked for copies of all Faculty Services fees as published by you.I already have copies of the cancelled bills of £21,000 and now my solicitor asks if I have spoken to you and what I now want him to do on my case.What a change of relationship from before I mentioned your name where he kept asking me into his office for meetings and nothing happened for months at a time!
    I think your website has saved my case!

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  97. I wrote a comment about 15 minutes ago about my advocate cancelling bills on my case can I post copies of the accounts on the internet or I can send by email to you whichever is safer or your preference thank you again!

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  98. @ 20 August 2020 at 09:53 20 August 2020 at 10:15

    Might be a good idea to write up a summary of your case including all the meetings, fees already paid and anything else by way of legal services provided to you.

    Then sit down with a friend and read through aloud what you wrote on your summary and get a second (real world, real person) opinion on your legal fees spend compared with the time your case has already taken and whatever stage you are at in the case.

    You can email any documents to the blog via the contact email address, and fee notes or accounts are appreciated, as am looking into which advocates, QCs and law firms are charging the most fees, and who are padding their bills and especially those demanding sums of cash from clients.

    Any other readers in a similar position please send in any papers you feel relevant for consideration, and please think about how much you are spending/wasting on legal fees on the never ending and mostly false promises of your solicitors of "obtaining justice" in Scotland's dishonest courts and arbitration businesses.

    If you are going to spend tens of thousands of pounds on legal fees and lawyers, advocates and QCs who talk a good game but always fail to deliver - honestly you would be better spending your money on your family rather than going through what are basically grooming sessions with solicitors who only have cash and carnage on their mind.

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  99. Peter, this is the best advice I have read on anything to do with the law and lawyers.
    AVOID lawyers and courts at all costs.As soon as you hire a Scottish lawyer and their filthy friends at the Faculty of Advocates you already lost your case and everything you ever owned or worked for.

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  100. Fantastic writing and all those glittering careers in the law washed away with a few paras of truth.
    As you say Peter better to spend money on your family and self than employ Scotland's legal mafia to fleece all your assets.

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  101. A brutal if accurate assessment of Scotland's courts and it's legal industry.

    ReplyDelete

  102. Anonymous said...

    Peter, this is the best advice I have read on anything to do with the law and lawyers.

    AVOID lawyers and courts at all costs.As soon as you hire a Scottish lawyer and their filthy friends at the Faculty of Advocates you already lost your case and everything you ever owned or worked for.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Criminals hiding behind shady so called regulators with a licence to steal and cover it all up. But some crimes are not regarded as crimes because those crimes are legal. Why, because in the world of the self regulator there is no justice and injustice because there is no law and law enforcement. Only the ruined clients outside the lawyers loop are left rightless. No legal protection for them that is why people should neter trust a group who claim to be a profession when in reality they are simply legalized theives.

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  103. These lawyers sit across the desk from their clients and repeatedly lie to them. Their interest in what happened to the client is only to extract as much money as possible, clients are just an end to get money and kick you into the gutter once the lawyers got his fees.

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  104. As soon as you hire a Scottish lawyer you have unwittingly hired your worst enemy. STAY CLEAR AND YES I AM SHOUTING.

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  105. As soon as you hire a Scottish lawyer and their filthy friends at the Faculty of Advocates you already lost your case and everything you ever owned or worked for.

    Yes the above sentence sums them up perfectly. Case lost from the second you go to a lawyer.

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  106. There is another in the same stables as Campbell who is well known for demanding cash with menaces.All undeclared too.

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  107. Anonymous said...

    Thanks to your blog the advocate in my case cancelled two bills after I mentioned to my solicitor I read your website and asked for copies of all Faculty Services fees as published by you.I already have copies of the cancelled bills of £21,000 and now my solicitor asks if I have spoken to you and what I now want him to do on my case.What a change of relationship from before I mentioned your name where he kept asking me into his office for meetings and nothing happened for months at a time!
    I think your website has saved my case!
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    This is what The Law Society and the rest of them don't want. If he has cancelled bills of £21,000 he should be locked up for fraud. Clearly does not want to bills online for all too see, why else would he cancel it. Yes if anyone wants to know what a system does ask the people who have trusted it not those who run it. Now you see what I mean take the complaints out of the lawyers loop and they start losing control over the client. It is the only way.

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  108. OMG

    Now Lord Wolfe is drawn into this maelstrom of corruption.

    Is this scandal going to suck in any more white collar criminals.

    This is a fantastic advert for journalistic integrity and sticking rigidly to the facts and letting the truth be known though the heavens fall.

    As for the legal fraternity and associated individuals, its like reading a who's who of the criminal elite.

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  109. Hey Peter I watched that clip you posted on Twitter with Jackie Baillie asking James Wolffe about the Salmond case.
    Was it Roddy Dunlop who the Scottish Government used for their opinions on Alex Salmond's Judicial Review?

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  110. Peter I was told to look up your blog and read a statement on current circumstances of this probe can you link to your posting to save time thanks

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  111. @ 18 January 2021 at 17:14

    Latest state of play on 17/01/21 in comments here

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  112. Oh brilliant best I have seen written about lawyers forever!

    How did your comments section name Roddy Dunlop as Sturgeon's leading lawyer against the judicial review of Alex Salmond before Baillie said his name at Holyrood?

    Very good work again my lad you obviously knew all along from what you said in the blog!

    ReplyDelete

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