Threats made against lawyer opposing tour

Press, 15 July 1985, Page 4

Threats made against lawyer opposing tour

PA Auckland The Auckland lawyer, Mr Phillip Recordon, said last evening that the police were regularly patrolling his house after he received threats of violence. Mr Recordon, who with a fellow lawyer, Mr Patrick Finnigan, made the High Court challenge to stop the All Black tour of South Africa, said the threats began after the High Court granted an interim injunction on Saturday against the team’s departure. A few callers who telephoned him supported his stand, but many threatened violence, said Mr Recordon. “It is difficult when you have a family,” he said. “But I am pleased the police are keeping an eye on things.” Mr Recordon, aged 37, a barrister and solicitor who usually handles criminal and family legal aid matters, said he felt disturbed that the High Court challenge had catapulted him into the national limelight. “Some of the things said about me in the last day or so have made me sick,” he said.

“I just want to get it over and done with. We want to get to the end of what we feel we have to do, finish it, and get on with our lives. I loathe the publicity and deeply resent the suggestion that we are just a couple of smart-arse lawyers out for money.”