Woman left ‘sickened’ by ruling over QC’s texts

A WHISTLEBLOWER who accused a top QC of sending a sexually explicit text about an anti-rape campaigner has said she is ‘sickened and appalled’ by the disciplinary process.

Ex-High Court prosecutor Brian McConnachie, 63, was alleged to have sent the message about Rape Crisis Scotland boss Sandy Brindley.

But the Faculty of Advocates stopped short of a finding of ‘professional misconduct’ as it deemed his behaviour was not ‘serious and reprehensible’ enough. Mr McConnachie has instead been found guilty of ‘unsatisfactory’ conduct after he also allegedly called a client a liar.

The woman who reported him said she feels let down. She told the Daily Record: ‘I am sickened and appalled by the faculty’s failure to tackle sexist, misogynistic behaviour.’ Mr McConnachie has so far refused to comment.

After the verdict, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates Roddy Dunlop, QC, sent a memo to members with a warning about claims of a ‘culture of misogyny at the Scottish Bar’.