Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Kids’ social worker in racist train rant
A CHILDREN’S social care worker at Dundee City Council has been fined after launching a racist tirade on a train.
Neil McLaughlin, of Greenlee Drive, also admitted at Dundee Sheriff Court that he assaulted a man and threw items at staff during the journey between Stirling and Dundee on March 5 this year.
The 58-year-old works as a social work manager at The Junction Young Persons Residential Unit in Strathmore Avenue.
A source told the Tele that McLaughlin had been suspended from his job due to the court case.
At an earlier appearance in court, McLaughlin admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at various times during the train journey by shouting, swearing, uttering threats, including threats of violence, and throwing cans at train staff.
He f urther admitted assaulting Andrew Garvie by punching him on the head.
McLaughlin also admitted acting in a racially-aggravated manner which caused, or was intended to cause, alarm and distress to Steven Wood by shouting and swearing at him, threatening him with violence and uttering racist remarks.
Sentence had previously been deferred on McLaughlin but he has now been fined £900 by a sheriff for the offences.
McLaughlin could not be reached for comment.
A spokeswoman at The Junction Young Persons Residential Unit told the Tele she was unable to comment.
The service is a purpose-built facility run by the council which provides care for a maximum of five young people.
A city council spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on individual personnel matters.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), the regulator for social service workers in Scotland, said: “The SSSC investigates the fitness to practise of registered social service workers and applicants.
“When an allegation of impairment comes to our attention, we will consider this. We cannot make any comment about individual cases.”
A ScotRail spokeswoman said: “The ScotRail Alliance does not tolerate violence or abusive behaviour perpetrated against our staff or customers and will assist police as they investigate any such crimes.”