Cops told to explain McBride job block
Police chiefs have been ordered to explain why they are refusing to re- employ a sacked fingerprint expert.
The Scot t ish Pol ice Authority were told by the Supreme Court in London and an industrial tribunal in Glasgow to give Fiona McBride her old job back.
McBride – sacked over her role in the notorious Shirley McKie affair in 2007 – was even given a return date of February 27 this year.
But when the 52-year-old turned up for her first day of work in 10 years at the SPA offices in Glasgow’s Pacific Quay, she was turned away.
An industrial tribunal has upheld the original decision for Fiona to be reinstated.
They also ordered a new hearing for the SPA to explain why her return is being blocked and when she will get the £ 300,000 back pay the force were ordered to pay.
The SPA say it is not viable to reinstate her after so long or to give 10 years’ back pay because she would have lost her old job in 2011 during restructuring.
McBride was one of four experts who identified a thumbprint left in the home of murder victim Marion Ross in 1997 as Detective Constable McKie’s.
McKie denied being in the house and was charged with perjury but was then found not guilty and awarded £750,000 compensation from the Scottish Government.
An SPA spokesowman said:“The SPA are considering the latest judgment of the Employment Tribunal and will not comment further at this stage.”