Teacher lied to make my life difficult
Dad denies 10-year harrassment campaign
A DAD yesterday accused an ex-head teacher of “fabricating lies” to have him labelled a child abuser.
Richard Russell is defending himself against a legal bid by Geraldine McWilliams to end an alleged decade-long campaign of harassment.
The former head of St Monica’s Primary in Pollok, Glasgow, says she has been the victim of a smear campaign in which he branded her a paedophile.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the alleged harassment began after she called in social workers over concerns for Russell’s children, who were pupils at her school.
The dad of three, who is representing himself, yesterday quizzed Geraldine’s solicitor Martin Stephen on documents from the Children’s Reporter which state “no action” was taken after the teacher raised concerns for his children.
Russell told Mr Stephen: “I put it to you that your client fabricated and deliberately told lies in that report to make life difficult for me.”
The witness said he disagreed. The dad also accused Geraldine of denying his chidren free school meals in 2006 and accused her of “emotionally abusing” them, saying she left his disabled son alone in a corridor.
Russell added: “She has perjured herself in an attempt to appear ordinary and respectable.”
The solicitor, who is giving evidence in the case for his client, said he refuted all of the statements and a further allegation from Russell that the former head was trying to harass him.
He told Russell: “It’s the way you behaved that leaves Mrs McWilliams with no alternative to having to subject herself to being in the same room as you, which I can tell you causes her extreme stress and anxiety.”
The court heard that Russell wrote a series of emails, notes and tweets slandering the retired head, including memos to Nicola Sturgeon.
He accused her of molesting his daughter in her office and attacking his son in the playground of St Monica’s.
Russell also sent a letter in 2007 which Geraldine read as a death threat.
She wants the court to grant an order against him with the power to arrest him if he breaches it.
He declared to the court yesterday: “I’m fighting to clear my name.”
Russell is one of just 10 people listed on the Scottish Courts website as “Vexatious Litigants” – people who persistently try to bring legal proceedings without reasonable grounds and have been banned from doing so.
The case continues later this month.
Being in the same room as you causes her extreme stress and anxiety MARTIN STEPHEN