Simon Walsh

{{Short description|British barrister}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Simon Walsh | honorific_suffix = | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date =  | birth_place = | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | monuments = | nationality = | other_names = | education = | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| * University of Oxford * City University London }} | occupation = Barrister | employer = | organization = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | television = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | awards = | website =  }}

'''Simon Walsh''' (born 1962), is a British barrister who specialised in police, licensing, and ecclesiastical law.<ref name="CoL">{{cite web|url=https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=386|title=Simon Walsh MA (Alderman)|publisher=City of London|accessdate=8 August 2012}}</ref> He served as a magistrate in the City of London (2000–10),<ref>{{Cite journal| title = Court Nixes 'Border' Ticket Challenge | journal = AP Online | access-date = 9 August 2012 | date = 14 February 2007 | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1Y1-103254198.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160310060336/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1Y1-103254198.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 10 March 2016 }}</ref> and as Alderman<ref name="CoL" /> for the Ward of Farringdon Without (2000–13).<ref name="CoL" />

== Early life == Walsh was educated at Manchester Grammar School,<ref name="legal500" /> before reading modern languages at Balliol College, Oxford,<ref name="CoL" /> graduating in 1984.<ref name="legal500" /> He then studied law at City University, London, where he qualified as a lawyer in 1986.<ref name="CoL" /><ref name="legal500" /> He was called to the bar in 1987<ref name="legal500" /> and became a magistrate in 2000.<ref name="legal500" />

==Career== Walsh sat on the Central London Valuation Tribunal,<ref name="CoL" /> which he chaired from 1992,<ref name="legal500" /> and was chairman of the City of London Corporation police committee<ref name="Muir">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/oct/08/london.ukcrime|title=Battle to merge London's police|last=Muir|first=Hugh|date=8 October 2004|work=The Guardian|accessdate=8 August 2012}}</ref> from 2002 to 2005,<ref name="legal500">{{cite web|url=http://www.legal500.com/firms/9330-chambers-of-fiona-barton-qc/offices/9330-london/lawyers/22706|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127191903/http://www.legal500.com/firms/9330-chambers-of-fiona-barton-qc/offices/9330-london/lawyers/22706|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 January 2013|title=Legal500|access-date=9 August 2012}}</ref> then deputy chairman.<ref name="CoLP-2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/NR/rdonlyres/63789DC7-6812-4AFB-B1FB-4DE35B165ED0/0/20056annualreport.pdf|title=Annual Report 2005/2006|year=2006|publisher=City of London Police|access-date=9 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313095342/http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/NR/rdonlyres/63789DC7-6812-4AFB-B1FB-4DE35B165ED0/0/20056annualreport.pdf|archive-date=13 March 2011}}</ref> He also chaired the City of London Licensing Authority from 2007.<ref name="legal500" />

He was formerly an aide to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who appointed him a member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority,<ref name="GLA-1">{{cite web|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/mayor/mayoral-decisions/md914|title=MD914 London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Appointment|date=22 November 2011|publisher=Greater London Authority|access-date=9 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426000645/http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/mayor/mayoral-decisions/md914|archive-date=26 April 2012}}</ref> a position which he held until 31 October 2011.<ref name="GLA-1" />

As a barrister, he was a self-employed member of the 5 Essex Court chambers.<ref name="CP">{{cite web|url=http://www.chambersandpartners.com/uk-bar/Firms/10388-45483|title=Chambers and Partners - 5 Essex Court|accessdate=9 August 2012}}</ref>

In August 2012, Walsh was charged with possessing five images of "extreme pornography", which were not found by police on his computers, but as email attachments on a Hotmail server account. He was found not guilty on all counts. Three images were of urethral sounding, and two of anal fisting. The images were all of consensual adult sexual activity.<ref name="guardian_extremeporntrial">{{cite news|author=Caroline Davies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/aug/08/boris-johnson-aide-extreme-pornography-cleared |title=Former Boris Johnson aide cleared of possession of 'extreme pornography' |work=The Guardian|date= 8 August 2012|access-date=2013-01-04 |location=London}}</ref> He was defended by Myles Jackman.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=386 Walsh's biography as a City of London alderman]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Simon}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Manchester Grammar School Category:Alumni of City, University of London Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Category:English barristers Category:Aldermen of the City of London Category:English LGBTQ politicians