Officials ‘hatched plan’ to get rid of bullied woman, MSP claims

0 Deeann Fitzpatrick is said to have been subject to bullying and harassment while at work Scottish Government officials have been accused of “hatching a plan” to get rid of an employee who allegedly suffered a shocking catalogue of bullying, harassment and abuse over a decade.

Deeann Fitzpatrick, 50, who is originally from Canada, is alleged to have suffered physical and verbal abuse while working as a fisheries officer with government agency Marine Scotland in Caithness.

Yesterday her MSP, Rhoda Grant, claimed government human resources staff had intercepted Ms Fitzpatrick’s emails, including those with her trade union representative, and had “hatched a plan” to have her moved to the Outer Hebrides office or “failing that, to find grounds against her – any grounds – to dismiss her”.

Describing her speech as the “most difficult” she has had to make at Holyrood, Ms Grant used parliamentary privilege to make the allegations.

The Scottish Labour MSP said Ms Fitzpatrick’s line manager had mocked her being off with stress after a miscarriage, threatened to move her to work in an office where her former partner was based – despite knowing a non-harassment order was in place – and used “extremely derogatory” terms in referring to women.

Ms Grant also said that “Scottish Government HR intercepted Deeann’s e-mails, including sensitive exchanges with her trade union representative”, adding there had been “a fully hatched plan between Scottish Government HR and Deeann’s line management… which showed they intended to move her to the Outer Hebrides. Failing that, to find grounds against her – any grounds – to dismiss her”.

Ms Fitzpatrick’s case came to public attention last year when a photograph was revealed showing her gagged and taped to a chair. At the time, the First Minister said an inquiry would be carried out. However, Ms Grant yesterday said: “That investigation only looked at the incident with the photograph – and it certainly wasn’t independent.

“Deeann has been subject to institutional racism, sexism, harassment and abuse at the hands of a Marine Scotland, a Scottish Government directorate.”

Calling for an independent inquiry into the case, she said: “Despite me raising this at senior levels of government, the abuse continues.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Harassment or abuse of any form is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the Scottish Government.

“We have robust policies and procedures in place to deal with instances where behaviour falls below the standard expected.

“This matter is the subject of an ongoing internal process. We do not discuss internal staffing matters.”