IN the end, the matter did not take long to resolve. It’s only five days since Robert Ian Finlay received a suspended sentence for downloading hundreds of indecent images of children.

In that time, the matter had been referred to the Attorney General by an MP and numerous others and the decision made not to review the punishment. Many will feel senior council officer Finlay got off very lightly, not least because of his child protection role at the council. In all respects, it’s a very unsatisfactory ending, leaving the feeling there’s something very wrong with the system.