His actions had a devastating impact. He has abused his position of power
Victim of shamed SNP minister reveals ordeal and calls for him to quit
A VICTIM of former SNP minister Mark McDonald has spoken out about the ‘devastating’ sexual harassment she suffered at the MSP’s hands.
She was so traumatised by his ‘inappropriate’ conduct that she ended up in hospital and needed six months off work.
The woman decided to break her silence about her ordeal after the politician refused to step down from public office.
Speaking anonymously, she called on Mr McDonald to quit Holyrood so that she can move on with her life – and so other women in the Scottish parliament can feel safe.
She said: ‘His behaviour was beyond the pale and had a devastating impact. This was more than a few improper texts but a catalogue of attempts to abuse his position of power.
‘Mr McDonald claims to be sorry but I see his attempt to return to their place of work as a blatant affront to that apology.’
Married Mr McDonald, 37, resigned from the SNP and apologised last week.
An internal sleaze probe into allegations brought by three women had concluded that his ‘persistent’ behaviour had caused distress to his victims.
The SNP said the MSP’s conduct included inappropriate and unwanted text and social media messages, unwanted attention and a willingness to exploit his position of power.
The father of two resigned as childcare minister when the allegations came to light in November, but he is planning to return to parliament this week as an independent MSP for Aberdeen Donside.
In an interview with Holyrood magazine, he insisted that he wanted to stay on ‘to demonstrate that I have learned from my mistakes’.
But his victim issued a withering riposte to Mr McDonald’s attempts to cling to his seat, accusing him of ‘spin’ to win public backing.
The woman said she had chosen to stay silent during the investigation – partly out of respect for Mr McDonald’s family – but had now decided that ‘enough is enough’.
She told how her tormentor’s media appearances had made her feel ‘abused’ all over again – and that she finally felt brave enough to speak up about her ordeal after women made allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
She said: ‘His [McDonald] constant media spin, attempts to gain sympathy and retain his salary have pushed me to the point where I now want to make my side public.
‘I only came forward when the Weinstein allegations made it more accessible to do so. Mr McDonald was using social media to repeatedly support victims of harassment.
‘I have taken this course of action only because it was right – not only for me, but for future generations of women who would work at the Scottish parliament.
‘The victims in this case are continuously being abused by Mr McDonald’s media campaign and I call for his resignation. Only then will I feel like his apology is real and that my life can move forward.’
The victim still works for Mr McDonald’s colleague, Nationalist MSP James Dornan, who intends to ask parliamentary authorities to remove the former minister.
Mr Dornan yesterday claimed that Mr McDonald had ‘no idea or apparent interest in the damage he has caused his victims’.
He told how a member of his staff had been admitted to hospital because of the pressure of ‘having to deal with his behaviour and the aftermath’. More details of the SNP’s inquiry into the allegations against Mr McDonald came to light yesterday, heaping further pressure on him to consider his position.
The probe outlined allegations from witnesses about ‘creepy’ behaviour by the MSP, according to reports in the Sunday Times, which revealed Mr McDonald had accepted in evidence that he had been ‘too flirty’ with one woman.
She had complained about unsolicited and inappropriate comments and attempted physical contact, describing his conduct as ‘grooming’.
Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar – who has represented women alleging sexual abuse and harassment, including those making allegations against Mr McDonald – called the MSP ‘grotesque’.
He said: ‘This man stands accused of repeating his abuse. His self-denial and desperate media spin is grotesque.
‘The women he abused gave him the benefit of the doubt to protect his wife and family, yet he does not give a damn.
‘If there was a scrap of decency left in this man then he would have recognised he has been exposed and given up being an MSP, as he did his minister’s post.
‘The parliamentary authorities should take every step to ensure this man never gets through the front door again.
‘He has disgraced his position, his party and his family.
‘It’s time he removed himself from public life.’
‘His attempts to gain sympathy’ ‘His self-denial is grotesque’