Bell Island woman bullied in Scotland considered assisted suicide
A Bell Island-born woman alleging harassment at her workplace in Scotland clewed up a two-day tribunal Thursday.
Deeann Fitzpatrick’s case sparked a political scandal in Scotland when she went public last month alleging a decade of harassment amidst a sexist, racist workplace culture at Marine Scotland’s office in Scrabster.
Her sister-in-law, Paradise resident Sherry Fitzpatrick, flew to Scotland to support Deeann.
“I had to come here because she confided in me a few weeks ago that she was going to take her own life through an assisted suicide in Switzerland,” said Sherry, referring to the Dignitas clinic there which provides assisted suicide to people with a terminal illness, or severe physical or mental illness.
Deeann had contacted her family several weeks ago advising she had contacted Dignitas because “she had enough,” said Sherry.
“She was going to end her life because of this bullying and harassment.”
Meanwhile, Sherry said Deeann feels relieved to have the tribunal done with and to have family there to support her.
She added the tribunal “ended as well as it could have” and they were told the panel of judges would make a decision within six to eight weeks.
Sherry supported Deeann during the tribunal, but is also pressuring the government do more to help her sister-in-law.
“I don’t want to have to come back here to bring her back (to N.L.) not living,” said Sherry, who spoke with The Telegram over the phone while the two were driving back to Deeann’s home after the tribunal ended
in Aberdeen.
Sherry said she has an appointment Friday morning to speak with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Aside from discussing the harassment claims, Sherry hopes to convince Sturgeon to intervene in a disciplinary hearing Deeann faces from her employers because she was “overzealous” in her duties and rude to a client.
“We know they are trumped up charges,” said Sherry, adding she thinks they were trying to come up with something to dismiss Deeann because she was complaining about the workplace culture.
In a hearing ahead of this week’s tribunal, Deeann said she was taped to a chair and gagged by two male co-workers in 2010. A photo of the incident shocked people around the world when it was published by the BBC last month.
The incident was not considered during the tribunal because it took place more than three years before the complaint was laid, but the Scottish government and police are each conducting separate investigations into the harassment claims and are taking the photo into account.
Deeann spoke at the tribunal on Wednesday about becoming a recluse because of the alleged bullying and harassment.
The tribunal revealed further details about some of the ongoing harassment Deeann is alleging, such as receiving intimidating cards on her birthday and Valentine’s Day for several years, which she said affected her self-esteem.
Deeann alleged the cards were sent to her anonymously and called her an “old troll” and a “Canadian jock” with male genitalia. The cards also allegedly warned her against trying to move into higher-ranking positions at the civil service office where she worked as a fisheries officer.
Sherry said her sister-in-law has had a difficult few years, with the death of both her parents and a miscarriage.
Sherry said a male co-worker said in Deeann’s presence that he should have a miscarriage so he can also get time off from work.
After Deeann’s father died and she took time off to return to Newfoundland for the funeral, she allegedly received another card that read, “We miss you — NOT!!”
During the tribunal, Deeann said the treatment humiliated her and degraded her as a woman.
Sherry said the family is optimistic about action being taken, adding that Deeann received an outpouring of support from people around the world.
“We’re hopeful now that because this has come to light … Deanne is going to have her dignity back.”