Detective sues after being demoted over sectarian comments
A DETECTIVE demoted for making sectarian comments about a Celtic birthday cake is taking legal action against Police Scotland.
Ruth Gilfillan was arrested at work after refusing to eat the cake and making remarks about children being at risk of abuse in Catholic schools.
She was a detective chief inspector in
Police Scotland’s National Rape Taskforce and National Human Trafficking Unit, but dropped three ranks to constable following an internal investigation.
The move also resulted in a significant drop in her salary and pension.
She has begun a claim for disability discrimination against her former employer, alleging that she was suffering from depression at the time the comments were made.
A preliminary judgment at an employment tribunal read: ‘The claimant has accepted that she made inappropriate comments of a sectarian nature to some of her colleagues on August 20, 2015.
‘These resulted in a criminal investigation (where no proceedings were ultimately taken against the claimant) and a disciplinary process, the outcome of which was demotion to the rank of constable.’
Judge Sandy Meiklejohn said he accepted evidence that she was suffering from a ‘moderate depressive disorder’ which had led to fatigue, disturbed sleep, anxiety and irritability.
The tribunal heard she had suffered an assault in 2003, was subject to ‘poor treatment’ by her sergeant at the time and was subject to ‘malicious rumours about her alleged association with a criminal element from where she had been brought up’.
Though an investigation ruled in her favour, Mrs Gilfillan was still moved to another department in the force.
The judge added: ‘Having looked at each element of the statutory definition and considered the guidance, I decided that the claimant was disabled... as at 20 August 2015.’
Mrs Gilfillan, who joined Strathclyde Police in 1994, was refused a department transfer three times.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘As proceedings are ongoing, we are unable to comment.’