Sex abuse lawyer struck off

Danskin has been struck off as a solicitor

A lawyer convicted of abusing young boys three years ago has been struck off as a solicitor.

Julian Danskin, 50, a former chairman of East Fife Football club, was found guilty of abusing the boys in Fife while he was a captain in the Boys' Brigade.

The independent Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal ordered him to be struck off after a complaint from the Law Society of Scotland.

On Monday, the tribunal said Danskin was "no longer a suitable person to remain a solicitor" and it was important that the public saw that justice was done.

The tribunal is of the opinion that he is no longer a suitable person to remain a solicitor

Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal

Danskin was jailed for 18 months and placed on the sex offenders' register in 1999 after he was convicted of indecency offences.

He was released on bail within days of his conviction pending an appeal.

But in July last year, this was dismissed and his sentence upheld at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh.

The Law Society of Scotland then brought a complaint against Danskin to the independent Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal.

At a hearing on Monday the tribunal described his behaviour as "disgraceful and dishonourable and wholly unbecoming a solicitor".

Professional misconduct

The tribunal said: "A solicitor has a duty to maintain the same standard of propriety in his private life as would be expected of his in his professional practice.

"It is imperative that the public can expect a high standard of conduct and responsibility from members of an honourable profession.

"The tribunal is of the opinion that he is no longer a suitable person to remain a solicitor."

Danskin was also found guilty of professional misconduct over a property transaction where he acted for both parties, where there was a conflict of interest and he had a personal interest in the outcome.