London,
20
January
2012
|
08:30
Europe/London

Northern Ireland public relations consultant expelled for unprofessional behaviour

Correction. We are happy to acknowledge that Jennifer Maguire is Director and owner, not Managing Director, of Core Communications; that she resigned from the CIPR before she was notified of the formal complaint against her; and that the description of her as having fabricated evidence, lied and acted vindictively, aggressively and unreasonably at two employment tribunals was in fact given at two sessions of the same tribunal. We have amended our public statement accordingly.

Belfast-based Jennifer Maguire, Director of public-relations consultancy Core Communications, has been expelled from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations for unprofessional behaviour.

Maguire is on public record as having fabricated evidence, lied and acted vindictively, aggressively and unreasonably at two sessions of an employment tribunal in 2008 and 2009. At a hearing in London on 20 October 2011, the CIPR’s Professional Practices Committee imposed its most severe penalty on her for breaching the Code of Conduct which members of the Institute agree to uphold.

Maguire had been a prominent member of the CIPR in Northern Ireland, acting as voluntary chair of the regional committee and gaining three awards for her work between 2006 and 2009. She allowed her membership of the CIPR to lapse around the time when the formal complaint was made against her.

In the case of Jennifer Maguire, the CIPR itself took the rare step of making the complaint against one of its own members.

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations is the only professional body for public relations to hold a royal charter, which includes a duty to set and enforce high standards of professional behaviour.

Maguire entered no defence against the complaint and did not attend the hearing.

 
Phil Morgan
Complaints are normally made by individuals who feel some wrong has been done to them or to others. But Jennifer Maguire has had a high profile in Northern Ireland, and the allegations were serious, so we decided it was in the public interest for the CIPR itself to act as the complainant. This way, everyone can see that we act firmly and impartially to uphold standards of professional conduct among our members. Members renew their commitment to the Code of Conduct every year when they renew their membership. It is a guarantee to the organisations which hire them that they will act ethically and professionally at all times.
Phil Morgan
Notes to editors

Notes to editors

About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.

The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).

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