Past President Sandy Bannerman introduced
his lawyer son Rory to speak at last Thursday night's meeting of the Rotary
Club. Rory, a practising, local, solicitor, adjudicates at Tribunal
Hearings with the SRU, SFA, Mental Health Board, Immigration and Benefit
Hearings but it was in his role as a judge at Immigration Litigation Hearings
that he based his talk. It is a complicated and ever-changing scenario and
involved the UK Border Agency and virtually the whole world but 70% of the cases
are of an Iranian, Afghanistan, Libyan and European origin. He explained
the extremely complicated and delicate issues at stake with appellants pleading
their case to be allowed to stay in the UK and highlighted examples of what
could happen if their appeal failed and they were returned to their country of
origin, matters not to taken or treated lightly, as their liberty, safety and
even life, could be risked. After reading the written submissions and
hearing the verbal evidence he gives his written decision on the appeal which
can be further scrutinised. In a most interesting and compelling talk he
took the members into a world where they knew very little but, by the number of
questions, had struck a chord with members who were keen to learn more
after which President Mairhi Trickett gave the vote of thanks.
Last Saturday's coffee morning resulted in
a tremendous success and over £720 was raised which will go towards local
charities and Convenor Kerr Scott thanked club members for their efforts and the
townspeople for their support.