Female Whistle Blower Taped To Chair Should Be Compensated

Female Whistle Blower Taped To Chair Should Be Compensated

By Lucy Caulkett-

A woman who was taped to a chair and gagged as a warning for speaking out against racism and misogyny should be compensated for the humiliating assault.

DeeAnn Fitzpatrick, a fisheries officer, said the incident happened in 2010 following years of bullying at Marine Scotland, the watchdog for the country’s fisheries industry.

Ms Fitzpatrick, 49, claims to have been restrained by male colleagues in 2010 after raising concerns about a threatening and misogynistic culture at the watchdog’s office in Scrabster, Caithness.

Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has asked for full details of the circumstances. One of the men who allegedly taped Ms Fitzpatrick to the chair, who has since left the agency, told the BBC: “These are false allegations. I can’t remember the event you mention, but if it did happen, it would have been office banter. Certainly, nothing to do with abuse.”

The idea of this humiliating act could have been office banter is absolutely ridiculous.

The tribunal is unable to consider the incident as it happened more than three years before the case was brought. Ms Fitzpatrick is currently facing a disciplinary hearing from her employers at the end of May, over allegations she was rude to clients and “overzealous” in her job.

Ms Fitzpatrick, 49, said she was restrained by male colleagues in 2010 after raising concerns about a threatening and misogynistic culture at the watchdog’s office in Scrabster, Caithness.

The Canadian national told the tribunal one of the men said: “This is what you get when you speak out against the boys.” The most shocking revelation is that when Ms Fitzpatrick attempted to report it, she was told by her manager the two men “meant no harm” and that it was “boys just being boys”, according to emails seen by the corporation.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The Scottish government has clear standards of behaviour which apply to all staff. Any concerns raised by staff are taken seriously and investigated fully.

The photo, allegedly taken by one of the two men accused of being responsible, was obtained by the BBC.

Ms Fitzpatrick, 49, said she was restrained by male colleagues in 2010 after raising concerns about a threatening and misogynistic culture at the watchdog’s office in Scrabster, Caithness.

The Canadian national told the tribunal one of the men said: “This is what you get when you speak out against the boys.”

When Ms Fitzpatrick attempted to report it, she was told by her manager the two men “meant no harm” and that it was “boys just being boys”, emails are seen by the BBC revealed. Three years later cannot be too late to investigate why this awful form of bullying occurred against

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