Official told top brass of tribunal claim over top police officer

THE former deputy chairman of Scotland’s police watchdog yesterday admitted alerting top brass after an employee blew the whistle on claims of a financial scandal.

Dr Nicola Marchant said she told Police Scotland about a tribunal claim from an employee who raised concerns about Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick’s house move.

Mrs Fitzpatrick, pictured, had faced criticism in December after the Audit Scotland public sector finance watchdog disclosed that the police chief had a £53,000 tax bill paid – and had been given £67,000 to help move house.

Dr Marchant, who recently quit the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), said she had told a senior police official about whistleblower Amy McDonald’s imminent tribunal claim because she feared it could place Mrs Fitzpatrick in danger.

Mrs McDonald, 44, launched the tribunal after claiming she was sidelined in the SPA and frozen out of key meetings when she spoke out about alleged misuse of public funds.

The tribunal has heard previously that Mrs Fitzpatrick contacted Mrs McDonald’s lawyer when she found out legal documentation relating to Mrs McDonald’s claim against the SPA would contain the address of her property in England.

In a series of tense exchanges at a hearing in Glasgow, Dr Marchant said: ‘I accept that DCC Fitzpatrick was made aware that as part of a tribunal, documentation had her address in it, or an address linked to her.’

The tribunal has heard that Mrs Fitzpatrick complained she had been put at risk of terrorism because the tribunal documents contained her address.

Dr Marchant stressed that when she contacted Police Scotland human resources chief Louise Haggerty in June 2017, after learning Mrs McDonald’s claim was about to be made, her sole concern was the ‘safety’ of a police officer.

Advocate David Hay, representing Mrs McDonald, said this was a ‘grossly exaggerated representation of things’.

The tribunal continues.