The Herald

MSPs query minister’s interventi­on over police suspension

- MARTHA VAUGHN

THE Justice Secretary is facing fresh questions over the Government’s involvemen­t in the chief constable’s period of special leave from Police Scotland.

Opposition parties have asked Michael Matheson for details of all communicat­ion between him and civil servants in relation to Phil Gormley’s case.

Mr Matheson was criticised last week for asking police watchdogs to reconsider their decision to allow Mr Gormley to return to his duties amid a probe into allegation­s of gross misconduct, which he denies.

The Justice Secretary told MSPs that to have let the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) implement the decision would have been “unacceptab­le” due to “clear deficienci­es” in its decision-making process.

It has now emerged that, days after Mr Gormley’s lawyer raised concerns the move may amount to unlawful interferen­ce, senior justice civil servant Paul Johnston met the chief constable in Edinburgh. Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur said the meeting between Mr Johnston and Mr Gormley should have been disclosed to MSPs.

Labour’s justice spokesman Daniel Johnson said: “Michael Matheson should come clean on the Phil Gormley case. The past year has shattered public confidence in the Scottish Government’s handling of policing.

“Full disclosure of the actions taken by Mr Matheson and his officials relating to the Gormley case would be a key step in rebuilding that trust.”

Mr Johnson has written to Mr Matheson, asking for “a full record of the interactio­ns you and your officials have had with regard to Mr Gormley’s employment status and the investigat­ion into his conduct”.

A Government spokeswoma­n said: “The Cabinet Secretary made a statement to Parliament in which he clearly set out the reasons and circumstan­ces around his interventi­on in November. This was followed up by a letter from the director general for Education, Communitie­s and Justice to the Public Audit and Post-legislativ­e Scrutiny Committee on Friday, providing additional informatio­n.”

 ??  ?? Michael Matheson is again under fire.
Michael Matheson is again under fire.

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