Who? Kevin Donoghue, 35, solicitor director of Donoghue Solicitors, Liverpool.

Why is he in the news? Won £60,000 in compensation plus legal costs for Nigel Lang, who was wrongfully arrested on suspicion of sharing indecent images of children.

Hertfordshire Police identified an internet protocol (IP) address linked to sharing indecent images of children. They contacted an internet service provider to trace its location but mistakenly added an extra digit to the IP address query, resulting in the ISP incorrectly stating Lang’s home in Sheffield as the source.

Police arrested Lang in front of his partner and two-year-old son and seized the family’s computers. He was interviewed and bailed, but unable to live at home or have unsupervised contact with his son. Three weeks later the police confirmed nothing had been found on the computers.

Hertfordshire Police blamed ‘an administrative error’ for the incorrect IP address entry.

Thoughts on the case: ‘Mr Lang worked as a drug recovery worker, mostly with vulnerable teenagers. The arrest and subsequent investigation were devastating personally and professionally. He suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, lost his job and the heinous allegations greatly affected his family.

‘It is astounding that the police could make such a basic error when investigating these life-changing allegations.’

Dealing with the media: ‘Nigel wanted the police to know the consequences of their actions and to bring the issue to the public’s attention. We have been impressed with the sympathetic way his story has been reported.’

Why become a lawyer? ‘I joined a law firm straight from school and was struck by the positive impact solicitors had on people’s lives.’

Career high: ‘Setting up my own firm and overseeing its growth. Also, regularly winning cases for our very deserving clients against well-funded and often unscrupulous opponents.’

Career low: ‘Having a client decline to pursue their case due to the uncertainty surrounding qualified one-way costs shifting.’

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