Barrister disbarred for professional misconduct over sexual harassment of pupils

A barrister has been disbarred after a tribunal found he had sexual harassed two pupils and a person on a mini-pupillage.

Robert Michael Kearney, called by Inner Temple in 1996, was disbarred by a five-person panel after it found eight charges of professional misconduct proved and that his behaviour ‘constituted repeated misconduct’.

The charges by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS) related to sexual harassment of two pupils and, separately, to a person on a mini pupillage. The tribunal ordered Kearney to be disbarred on both sets of proceedings.

The Bar Standards Board said the disciplinary hearing took place following remittal by the High Court. Earlier this year, Kearney successfully appealed a sanction imposed by a previous tribunal, which suspended him from practice for six months. ‘This followed separate disciplinary action for similar conduct,’ the BSB said.

A BSB spokesperson said: ‘Mr Kearney’s actions were unacceptable and repeated and constituted a breach of the BSB Handbook. This conduct is not compatible with the standards expected of the profession and this is reflected in the decision of the tribunal to disbar Mr Kearney.’

The tribunal, whose findings remain subject to appeal, also ordered that Kearney should not be issued with a practising certificate pending any appeal.