Cluness and Shannon appointed honorary sheriffs
Peter JohnsonFormer SIC convener Sandy Cluness and deputy chief executive Willie Shannon have been appointed honorary sheriffs at Lerwick Sheriff Court.
The two former leading council figures, both from a legal background, were “installed” at Lerwick Sheriff Court at a ceremony last week.
Sheriff Principal for Grampian and the Highlands and Islands Derek Pyle was on hand to swear in the two new sheriffs, who will stand in for sheriff Philip Mann when he is holding court in Orkney.
Mr Cluness acted as a defence lawyer in the Lerwick court for many a year and was reporter to the children’s panel for 12 years. Before that he was the first full-time procurator fiscal in Shetland. His first job involving the court was actually as a reporter for The Shetland Times.
Mr Shannon, the director of NAFC Marine Centre, was deputy chief executive of the SIC for a number of years and has been a solicitor for the last 23 years.
Following the official ceremony the two new honorary sheriffs were treated to a reception at the
town hall where they had once worked closely.
Honorary sheriffs are appointed to the voluntary post by the sheriff principal and act as unpaid public servants.
David Clark
….assistant chief executive…
Allen Fraser
Jobs for ‘da boys’ that were at the helm and charted Shetland’s course towards bankruptcy. They get rewarded while Shetland’s rural schools and communities pay the price for years of misdirection. Such is public life in Shetland.
Ian tinkler
Allen, as long as these positions are truly “honorary” I can see no objection. However if commending a large salary, that would be different. I would be interested to know.
Allen Fraser
Ian,
“Honorary” public appointments (paid or unpaid) should go to those with a track record that has earned the confidence of the public – nothing to do with salary.
Michael Inkster
As to remuneration, there’s a clue in the last sentence of the report, Michael Inkster
ian tinkler
Thanks Michael, missed that!!! With regard to public confidence, in the legal aspect of these gentleman’s experience, I see no problems in these appointments. We should thank them for undertaking this public duty, not my idea of a fun undertaking.!!
Sandy McMillan
Does this mean Cluness, and Shannon wear there Sheriffs badges, along with there Holster and guns, and patrol the streets wearing there stetsons, riding there Shetland ponies.