A special general meeting of the law society is scheduled for a vote of confidence in relation to David Lavery’s position.

David Lavery provided a character reference for his cousin William Lloyd-Lavery, who was convicted of historical sexual offences.

The former teacher from Lisburn, Co Antrim, was sentenced to two years in prison for abusing girls at a Belfast school in the 1970s.

William Lloyd-Lavery, 77, of Richmond Avenue, Lisburn, has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Patrick Lavery, 40, of Ballynamoney Road in Lurgan was convicted at Craigavon Crown Court for sex offences from 1999 to 2009.