A former lawyer had his parole denied by the Parole Board, which said he exhibited a sense of entitlement in prison.
The Parole Board also did not believe former Napier lawyer Gerald McKay was truly sorry for his offenses, The Dominion Post
said.
McKay, who was struck off in 2014, was
found guilty by a jury last year of five counts each of theft and using a document for financial gain and a representative charge criminal breach of trust. He is serving a sentence of four years and six months. The conviction stemmed from offenses the former lawyer committed between 2005 and 2010, which cost clients between $650,000 and $700,000.
During his Parole Board appearance, McKay is said to have brought “lengthy written submissions” in addition to references from members of the community.
The Parole Board said that McKay “exhibits some sense of entitlement” and that he “sometimes treats the staff like receptionists and controls the discussion and talks down to staff.”
“[The Parole Board is] not satisfied his statements are genuine, so as displaying true contrition, remorse or insight into his dishonest and fraudulent criminal propensities,” the board said in its report.
In fact, comments made by the former lawyer aim to minimise the gravity of his offending, the board said.
“The history and manner of his offending attitudes of entitlement and lack of insight tell against genuine remorse,” the board said.
The panel recommended McKay “undertake psychological interventions on a one-to-one basis to deal with issues of insight, self-justification, cognitive awareness of his risks and personality features which are unique to him.”
McKay committed his offenses at his firm McKay Hill lawyers.
Last year, the other name partner of the firm, Richard Henry Hill, was sentenced to eight months in prison and 100 hours of community service. The judge in the case said during sentencing that it was not suggested that Hill, who was not struck off, was responsible for any loss of clients’ funds.
Related stories:
Lawyer convicted for breaching trust
Lawyer jailed for stealing from a client trust account
