Fury as QC gets ‘slap on the wrist’ for vile comments

A LEADING QC who was found guilty of ‘unsatisfactory’ conduct after allegedly making an obscene comment about a client has received a written sanction.

Brian McConnachie, QC, a former High Court prosecutor, is also said to have made an inappropriate sexual comment about the boss of Rape Crisis Scotland.

Under the rules of the Faculty of Advocates, he could have faced a fine of up to £3,000 but yesterday it emerged a letter had been issued to him – because he had already suffered ‘considerable embarrassment’, the Daily Record reported.

On October 27, 2020, Mr McConnachie, 63, is said to have made a ‘distasteful’ sexual comment about Sandy Brindley, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland.

Mr McConnachie was given ‘severe’ written criticism as the faculty’s disciplinary committee felt that if the message was made public, Miss Brindley ‘may well find it highly offensive, bringing the faculty into disrepute’. It said Mr McConnachie had experienced ‘considerable embarrassment’ through the scandal and ‘suffered professionally and personally’.

Scottish Tory deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: ‘It is a complete insult that this QC has been let away with effectively a slap on the wrist for making such vile and degrading comments.’

Rape Crisis Scotland said: ‘It is unacceptable that there has been no acknowledgement by the faculty of the deplorable sexist and misogynistic nature of Mr McConnachie’s comments and how they reflect troubling attitudes towards women.’

A faculty spokesman said: ‘A right of appeal exists for both parties.’

The QC was contacted for comment.