Oliver Mosley
Head of Press, Easter 2014
Mobile: +44 (0) 798 880 7962
Email: pressofficer@cus.org
PRESS RELEASE – 09.02.2016
Presidential Investigation into Mr Conrad Landin and Ms Jessica O’Driscoll-Breen
On Tuesday, 9 February 16, Union members Mr Conrad Landin and Ms Jessica O’Driscoll-Breen were found guilty of
breaching the Constitution of the Cambridge Union Society by disrupting a Union event on Friday, 7 March 14.
As a charity, the governance of the Cambridge Union is dictated by its Constitution, which empowers the President to
discipline members found to be in breach of it. Following their protest against the Rt. Hon David Willetts MP, both Mr
Landin and Ms O’Driscoll-Breen were both found to be in breach of Chapter 1, Paragraph 1 (a) of the Laws of the
Cambridge Union Society. Neither member took the opportunity to review or comment on the evidence, nor to make a
final statement, when they were invited to do so under Chapter L, Sections 14 to 18 of the Laws of the Cambridge Union.
Under Chapter H of these Laws, Mr Landin and Ms O’Driscoll-Breen were informed that they were free to appeal the
decision reached, which would then require a final decision by members of Review Committee (formed of past Union
officers). Neither member has taken this opportunity.
Protests of the kind displayed by Mr Landin and Ms O’Driscoll-Breen are disruptive for the vast majority of Union
members, and only necessitate costly security presences at future events. They thus must be discouraged in the strongest
sense.
The full text of the investigation and subsequent verdict can be found at www.facebook.com/CUSPressOffice and
www.cus.org, and is attached to this release.
Attached (1): Verdict of Investigation into Mr Conrad Landin and Ms Jessica O’Driscoll-Breen
Notes to Editors:

If anyone would like further information on the Constitutional process, please email Nick Wright (Executive
Officer and Vice President-designate) on executive@cus.org

The full text of the Constitution of the Cambridge Union Society can be found at
https://www.cus.org/members/running-your-union/constitution
—
Oliver Mosley
Head of Press, Easter 2014
THE CAMBRIDGE UNION SOCIETY, 9A Bridge Street, Cambridge, CB2 1UB, United Kingdom
Registered Charity, No. 1136030
Oliver Mosley
Head of Press, Easter 2014
Mobile: +44 (0) 798 880 7962
Email: pressofficer@cus.org
Presidential Investigation into the Conduct of Ms Jessica O’Driscoll-Breen and Mr Conrad Landin
On Friday 7th Match Ms O’Driscoll-Breen and Mr Landin unfurled a banner bearing an obscene message during
a speaker event featuring the Rt Hon David Willetts MP. On Monday 10th March they both received messages
from the then President, Ms Imogen Schön, informing them that they had been placed under investigation
following witness testimony accusing them of disruption of a Union event, an offence under the Society’s Laws.
In the same messages they were both given the opportunity to review and comment on the evidence and make
a final statement, in accordance with Chapter L Paragraph 7 of the Laws, although none of these options was
taken.
As per Chapter L, Paragraph 1 (a) of the Laws of the Cambridge Union Society, disruption of a Union event is
an offence against the Society. Seeing as none of the defences of Paragraph 4 of Chapter L, namely that the
action was constitutionally compelled or reasonable in the circumstances, applies in this instance, Ms
O’Driscoll-Breen and Mr Landin are duly fined £20 each for their disruption of the aforementioned event.
Michael Dunn Goekjian
President, Easter 2014
THE CAMBRIDGE UNION SOCIETY, 9A Bridge Street, Cambridge, CB2 1UB, United Kingdom
Registered Charity, No. 1136030