In a statement to Belfast Live, Mr Lavery said that he wanted to “apologise unreservedly” for the error in judgment.
Former Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner David Lavery has said he is “disappointed” to be leaving the post after new Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant terminated his contract with immediate effect after he provided a character reference for his paedophile cousin.
Lavery, who is also the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Law Society, was first appointed as the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner in August 2020. He was reappointed to the role for a second three-year term in August 2023, which was due to end later this month.
An independent review initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission found that Mr Lavery had breached their Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the organisation into disrepute.
In a statement to Belfast Live, Mr Lavery said that he wanted to “apologise unreservedly” for the error in judgment.
“The Secretary of State has informed me of his decision to remove me from the Human Rights Commission. I am disappointed to be leaving the Commission after six years, but I accept and understand the decision that he has made,” he said.
“I want to again apologise unreservedly for what I recognise was a serious error in judgement on my part in providing a character reference for my cousin and particularly for any hurt and distress that I caused the victims in this case. I profoundly regret that and I am committed to doing all I can to address it in the time ahead.”
William Lloyd Lavery was convicted by a jury of sexually abusing pupils at an all-girls grammar in Belfast and was handed a two-year jail sentence
The 77-year-old, from Richmond Avenue in Lisburn, will also spend the next ten years on the Sex Offenders Register.
On Tuesday, A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: “The public rightly expects the highest standards of integrity and professionalism from those in public appointments.
“An investigation and an independent review were initiated by the NI Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) after public reports revealed that its Commissioner, David Lavery, had given a reference to a relative convicted of historical and serious sexual offences.“This independent review concluded that in providing this reference, Mr Lavery had breached the NIHRC Code of Governance and was capable of bringing the Commission into disrepute and demonstrated a severe failure of judgment regarding public office responsibilities.“Having considered the findings of this independent review, the Secretary of State, as the appointing Minister, has terminated Mr Lavery’s appointment with immediate effect.”
A Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission spokesperson added: “The protection of victims of sexual violence and abuse is of the utmost importance to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
“Following media reports that Commissioner David Lavery had given a reference to a relative convicted of historical and serious sexual offences, we initiated an independent investigation under the Commission’s Code of Governance. That investigation is now complete.
“After receipt of the investigation report the Secretary of State has exercised his statutory powers and removed David Lavery from his post as Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission with immediate effect.”
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