Shirley McKie’s partner in row over his role in fingerprint Whistleblower to sue police services authorityBy John Bynorth,
Home Affairs Editor A FINGERPRINT worker who blew the whistle on colleagues, accusing them of tampering with the thumbprint at the heart of the Shirley McKie affair, is to sue the troubled Scottish Police Services Authority for forcing him out of his job.
Gary Dempster, 40, will launch a civil action against his employers after claiming he was driven out, despite being exonerated by a six-month disciplinary inquiry into his involvement in BBC Frontline Scotland's programme about the case in March 2006.
Today the Sunday Herald can also reveal that Dempster, who was based with the service in Aberdeen, has been in a relationship with McKie for 18 months.
Dempster told the documentary that colleagues had deliberately cropped and distorted the print that ended McKie's police career when she was arrested, tried and subsequently cleared of perjury in 1999 and led to David Asbury's wrongful conviction for murder.
McKie was accused of disturbing the crime scene at the Kilmarnock home of murder victim Marion Ross two years earlier.
She received a £750,000 payout from the Scottish Executive in 2006 after the mis-identification by experts at the Scottish Criminal Record Office, which is now under the wing of the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA).
Dempster has been on unpaid sick leave since last year after claiming his health was wrecked by the stress of the six-month disciplinary action, which claimed he brought the service into disrepute. In fact, it transpired his line manager approved the TV interview appearance.
Dempster also co-authored a report that found fingerprint experts wrongly identified McKie's print as being that found in the house.
Dempster is claiming he was forced to take sick leave under pressure from the Glasgow bureau. His legal action is backed by the Aberdeen branch of the Unison trade union and the SNP MSP Alex Neil. Chris Morran, Unison branch convener in Aberdeen, said: "Gary followed his employment guidelines to the letter. He was shown no support whatsoever, despite that support being enshrined in the workplace policy for people who whistleblow on alleged malpractices."
Neil alleged SPSA chief executive David Mulhern broke recent promises that Dempster would be fairly treated.
The MSP said: "We are in the ridiculous situation that three people who still maintain it was Shirley's fingerprint are employed by the SPSA as expert witnesses, while Gary has been victimised by the senior management for telling the truth."
In an SPSA statement issued to the Sunday Herald, Mulhern said: "Everyone has a right to confidentiality in personal matters and we take that right seriously. We have no further comment on this particular matter."
Dempster, of Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, refused to comment.
|
|
Posted by: Justice Hunter, SPSAville on 11:46pm Sat 19 Jul 08
"We are in the ridiculous situation that three people who still maintain it was Shirley's fingerprint are employed by the SPSA as expert witnesses, while Gary has been victimised by the senior management for telling the truth." Why can't we just have some investigations which have some integrity into apparent perjury. It could change the face of Scotland!
"We are in the ridiculous situation that three people who still maintain it was Shirley's fingerprint are employed by the SPSA as expert witnesses, while Gary has been victimised by the senior management for telling the truth." Why can't we just have some investigations which have some integrity into apparent perjury. It could change the face of Scotland!
Posted by: Plobotsky on 11:57pm Sat 19 Jul 08
Why are you referring to those involved by their surnames? This is a convention that used to apply only to people accused of a crime or at least of some kind of blameworthy conduct.
Stop it, and show some respect.
Why are you referring to those involved by their surnames? This is a convention that used to apply only to people accused of a crime or at least of some kind of blameworthy conduct.
Stop it, and show some respect.
Posted by: Eyes Wide Open on 12:32am Sun 20 Jul 08
Shirley McKie's partner... ...fingerprint worker who blew the whistle on colleagues...
The screen writers working on the film will be salivating at this one.
Shirley McKie's partner... ...fingerprint worker who blew the whistle on colleagues...
The screen writers working on the film will be salivating at this one.
Posted by: Tam Hickey, Glasgow on 7:51am Sun 20 Jul 08
Yep Shug, milking the system for all it's worth. Oh, that's right the one the rest of us pay for! It makes me sick.
Yep Shug, milking the system for all it's worth. Oh, that's right the one the rest of us pay for! It makes me sick.
Posted by: blackadder, troon on 8:06am Sun 20 Jul 08
The same one sided documentary was fronted by Shelly Joffre the daughter of Kay Ullrich one time SNP MSP and close friend of Alex Neil. Nothing like keeping it in the family.
The same one sided documentary was fronted by Shelly Joffre the daughter of Kay Ullrich one time SNP MSP and close friend of Alex Neil. Nothing like keeping it in the family.
Posted by: Tam on 8:21am Sun 20 Jul 08
And of course if anyone here had been accused of a crime because of an error in finger print identification, you wouldn't sue or want compensation? Just a confidential apology.
And of course if anyone here had been accused of a crime because of an error in finger print identification, you wouldn't sue or want compensation? Just a confidential apology.
Posted by: Neil, Aberdeenshire on 8:22am Sun 20 Jul 08
Maybe you'd better take a closer look at the timeline before smearing people; the story states that the documentary was made in 2006 and it also states that the relationship was 18 months old. That means it began early in 2007.
I'm willing to bet they met as a result of the documentary, rather than making the documentary because they had a relationship.
Maybe you'd better take a closer look at the timeline before smearing people; the story states that the documentary was made in 2006 and it also states that the relationship was 18 months old. That means it began early in 2007.
I'm willing to bet they met as a result of the documentary, rather than making the documentary because they had a relationship.
Posted by: girfut, quay bored on 9:45am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Neil[/bold] wrote:
Maybe you'd better take a closer look at the timeline before smearing people; the story states that the documentary was made in 2006 and it also states that the relationship was 18 months old. That means it began early in 2007. I'm willing to bet they met as a result of the documentary, rather than making the documentary because they had a relationship.[/quote] thank you Neil. YOu saved me the bother of posting.
Neil wrote:
Maybe you'd better take a closer look at the timeline before smearing people; the story states that the documentary was made in 2006 and it also states that the relationship was 18 months old. That means it began early in 2007. I'm willing to bet they met as a result of the documentary, rather than making the documentary because they had a relationship.
thank you Neil. YOu saved me the bother of posting.
Posted by: heady on 10:40am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Tam[/bold] wrote:
And of course if anyone here had been accused of a crime because of an error in finger print identification, you wouldn't sue or want compensation? Just a confidential apology.[/quote] If this McKie person had campaigned against dodgy fingerprint evidence when she was a copper and seeing people convicted I'd have some little respect for her. As it was, she was happy to pocket her wages and only discovered that all was not well when she herself was under suspicion – had that not happened then there is no indication that she would have been at all troubled by the situation.
Tam wrote:
And of course if anyone here had been accused of a crime because of an error in finger print identification, you wouldn't sue or want compensation? Just a confidential apology.
If this McKie person had campaigned against dodgy fingerprint evidence when she was a copper and seeing people convicted I'd have some little respect for her. As it was, she was happy to pocket her wages and only discovered that all was not well when she herself was under suspicion – had that not happened then there is no indication that she would have been at all troubled by the situation.
Posted by: rumbleroses, Scotland on 11:30am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]heady[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Tam[/bold] wrote:
And of course if anyone here had been accused of a crime because of an error in finger print identification, you wouldn't sue or want compensation? Just a confidential apology.[/quote] If this McKie person had campaigned against dodgy fingerprint evidence when she was a copper and seeing people convicted I'd have some little respect for her. As it was, she was happy to pocket her wages and only discovered that all was not well when she herself was under suspicion – had that not happened then there is no indication that she would have been at all troubled by the situation.[/quote] It often takes someone to be bitten by the dog before they will want to do something about it themselves which is why we have so many people content to sit on the sidelines when others suffer an injustice or [not for the good] life changing event.
I take it this SPSA will be defended by the same lawyers who defended the Scottish Executive and SCRO from the McKie scandal when it first happened ?
heady wrote:
Tam wrote:
And of course if anyone here had been accused of a crime because of an error in finger print identification, you wouldn't sue or want compensation? Just a confidential apology.
If this McKie person had campaigned against dodgy fingerprint evidence when she was a copper and seeing people convicted I'd have some little respect for her. As it was, she was happy to pocket her wages and only discovered that all was not well when she herself was under suspicion – had that not happened then there is no indication that she would have been at all troubled by the situation.
It often takes someone to be bitten by the dog before they will want to do something about it themselves which is why we have so many people content to sit on the sidelines when others suffer an injustice or life changing event.
I take it this SPSA will be defended by the same lawyers who defended the Scottish Executive and SCRO from the McKie scandal when it first happened ?
Posted by: Phil1, Edinburgh on 11:40am Sun 20 Jul 08
I thought what I consider to be the useless, conniving cheats had been sacked for trying to fit someone up - cropping fingerprints, pressurising junior colleagues to aggree to the fit up, hiding evidence from the enquiry.
I mean would anyone in the world believe their evidence in a trial now? - I would't. They should be sacked from public employment and go away and hide their heads in shame.
I thought what I consider to be the useless, conniving cheats had been sacked for trying to fit someone up - cropping fingerprints, pressurising junior colleagues to aggree to the fit up, hiding evidence from the enquiry.
I mean would anyone in the world believe their evidence in a trial now? - I would't. They should be sacked from public employment and go away and hide their heads in shame.
Posted by: Patrick O'Shaunnessy on 12:14pm Sun 20 Jul 08
One of the most shameful episodes in the history of Scottish Criminal "Justice".
It matters not one jot how sophisticated and well conceived a system of criminal justice is.
It is the type of people who occupy positions of influence within the system that more than anything else will determine the quality of justice delivered.
Banging on about Scotland having one of the best legal systems in the world is of little consequence when so many of the players - judges, police officers, clerks of court, prosecutors - are batting for the establishment, not for the truth.
One of the most shameful episodes in the history of Scottish Criminal "Justice".
It matters not one jot how sophisticated and well conceived a system of criminal justice is.
It is the type of people who occupy positions of influence within the system that more than anything else will determine the quality of justice delivered.
Banging on about Scotland having one of the best legal systems in the world is of little consequence when so many of the players - judges, police officers, clerks of court, prosecutors - are batting for the establishment, not for the truth.
Posted by: Joe Stirling, Glasgow on 12:21pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Want to know the whole scam about this story ?
Even her father banned me from his website forum.
www.joestirling.com or www.ljpr.info
Want to know the whole scam about this story ?
Even her father banned me from his website forum.
www.joestirling.com or www.ljpr.info
Posted by: blackadder on 12:32pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Is this the same Gary Dempster who claimed he found a Crown Production of Shirley’s print in a dead colleague’s desk when it should have been under lock and key?
Was wined and dined with the man who is now the first minister after the programme was shown?
Was in cahoots with the much discredited Alan Bayle and John MacLeod, and supported loudly by Alex Neil in yet another pathetic attempt to slur the SCRO in another case? And was later forced to apologise to the Scottish Parliament
End the careers of six honest experts by accusing them of tampering with the evidence?
Refused the offer of a settlement because he would have to sign a gagging order and he says he plans to write a book?
I think we should be told.
and Joe she be grateful you were justed banned. I wouldn't have bothered with it. There's no way that man would allow anything that gets near the truth. It's all about him and what he thinks is his reputation.
However it looks like things are beginning to fall apart, just in time for the Inquiry!
Is this the same Gary Dempster who claimed he found a Crown Production of Shirley’s print in a dead colleague’s desk when it should have been under lock and key?
Was wined and dined with the man who is now the first minister after the programme was shown?
Was in cahoots with the much discredited Alan Bayle and John MacLeod, and supported loudly by Alex Neil in yet another pathetic attempt to slur the SCRO in another case? And was later forced to apologise to the Scottish Parliament
End the careers of six honest experts by accusing them of tampering with the evidence?
Refused the offer of a settlement because he would have to sign a gagging order and he says he plans to write a book?
I think we should be told.
and Joe she be grateful you were justed banned. I wouldn't have bothered with it. There's no way that man would allow anything that gets near the truth. It's all about him and what he thinks is his reputation.
However it looks like things are beginning to fall apart, just in time for the Inquiry!
Posted by: Iain McKie, Ayr on 12:40pm Sun 20 Jul 08
This is another accident waiting to happen and the tragedy is that with a little integrity and honesty from the authorities it could still be avoided.
For a statement from Gary Dempster and some additional background see:
shirleymckie.com (breaking news)
This is another accident waiting to happen and the tragedy is that with a little integrity and honesty from the authorities it could still be avoided.
For a statement from Gary Dempster and some additional background see:
shirleymckie.com (breaking news)
Posted by: Chris Morran, Aberdeen on 3:30pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Why do everyone who can resolve this bury their heads in the sand. Why do the Scottish Government who vociferously supported Gary's case prior to taking up Government remain silent and distant.
Why did the lord advocate depart his post overnight.
The new Lord advocate promised a new era in Scottish Justice. NO NEW ERA. Same old injustices under new names.
Why will no one resolve it? It goes far to deep into the Scottish justice system and repercussions would explode world wide.
The most appalling failure of the judicial system is that Marion Ross's killer is still walking free and no one cares.
What price for injustice ?
Why do everyone who can resolve this bury their heads in the sand. Why do the Scottish Government who vociferously supported Gary's case prior to taking up Government remain silent and distant.
Why did the lord advocate depart his post overnight.
The new Lord advocate promised a new era in Scottish Justice. NO NEW ERA. Same old injustices under new names.
Why will no one resolve it? It goes far to deep into the Scottish justice system and repercussions would explode world wide.
The most appalling failure of the judicial system is that Marion Ross's killer is still walking free and no one cares.
What price for injustice ?
Posted by: Cynica on 3:41pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Supershug[/bold] wrote:
Alex Neil makes yet another attack on people who have little opportunity to defend themselves. Might the relationship call into question the objectivity of Mr Dempster\'s evidence? How much public money in total is to be set aside to set up the Dempster-McKie home?[/quote] Shug, read the article. He has been involved with her for the last EIGHTEEN MONTHS! Don't consider Jury Service ever please. You are supposed to take in the detail before arriving at a conclusion. Doh!
Supershug wrote:
Alex Neil makes yet another attack on people who have little opportunity to defend themselves. Might the relationship call into question the objectivity of Mr Dempster\'s evidence? How much public money in total is to be set aside to set up the Dempster-McKie home?
Shug, read the article. He has been involved with her for the last EIGHTEEN MONTHS! Don't consider Jury Service ever please. You are supposed to take in the detail before arriving at a conclusion. Doh!
Posted by: Cynica on 3:45pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]blackadder[/bold] wrote:
Is this the same Gary Dempster who claimed he found a Crown Production of Shirley’s print in a dead colleague’s desk when it should have been under lock and key? Was wined and dined with the man who is now the first minister after the programme was shown? Was in cahoots with the much discredited Alan Bayle and John MacLeod, and supported loudly by Alex Neil in yet another pathetic attempt to slur the SCRO in another case? And was later forced to apologise to the Scottish Parliament End the careers of six honest experts by accusing them of tampering with the evidence? Refused the offer of a settlement because he would have to sign a gagging order and he says he plans to write a book? I think we should be told. and Joe she be grateful you were justed banned. I wouldn't have bothered with it. There's no way that man would allow anything that gets near the truth. It's all about him and what he thinks is his reputation. However it looks like things are beginning to fall apart, just in time for the Inquiry![/quote] It was established that professional people LIED about the fingerprint. An independent expert also gave evidence that the fingerprint could not possibly be Shirley McKie's. Is there nothing in this country that isn't turned into a party-political battle? What if McKie had gone to the gallows? I expect you are fine with that too even when it has now been established that these professionals got it wrong.
blackadder wrote:
Is this the same Gary Dempster who claimed he found a Crown Production of Shirley’s print in a dead colleague’s desk when it should have been under lock and key? Was wined and dined with the man who is now the first minister after the programme was shown? Was in cahoots with the much discredited Alan Bayle and John MacLeod, and supported loudly by Alex Neil in yet another pathetic attempt to slur the SCRO in another case? And was later forced to apologise to the Scottish Parliament End the careers of six honest experts by accusing them of tampering with the evidence? Refused the offer of a settlement because he would have to sign a gagging order and he says he plans to write a book? I think we should be told. and Joe she be grateful you were justed banned. I wouldn't have bothered with it. There's no way that man would allow anything that gets near the truth. It's all about him and what he thinks is his reputation. However it looks like things are beginning to fall apart, just in time for the Inquiry!
It was established that professional people LIED about the fingerprint. An independent expert also gave evidence that the fingerprint could not possibly be Shirley McKie's. Is there nothing in this country that isn't turned into a party-political battle? What if McKie had gone to the gallows? I expect you are fine with that too even when it has now been established that these professionals got it wrong.
Posted by: Cynica on 3:48pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Joe Stirling[/bold] wrote:
Want to know the whole scam about this story ? Even her father banned me from his website forum. www.joestirling.com or www.ljpr.info[/quote] I'm not surprised. Think I will pass on the invite to any site of yours.
Joe Stirling wrote:
Want to know the whole scam about this story ? Even her father banned me from his website forum. www.joestirling.com or www.ljpr.info
I'm not surprised. Think I will pass on the invite to any site of yours.
Posted by: Kelpie on 6:46pm Sun 20 Jul 08
If you have a look at Joe Stirling's site you will realise quite quickly that the guy is nuts (people in baseball caps in sunglasses with dogs are Masons, a link to the David Icke forum) it almost seems like a bit of propaganda.
I can just imagine some cunning old spin-doctor sitting somewhere "I know, raise the idea of a masonic connection, make the 'proof' so silly that anybody reading it writes it off completely...."
It will not be news to readers of the Sunday Herald that Mike Russell MSP recently resigned from the freemasons, Russell was one of the writers of 'The Price of Innocence' along with Iain McKie, Shirley's father, who posted earlier. I wonder if the former Super-Intendant McKie was ever a mason?.
The issue around Gary Dempster is not that he was a an honest whistle-blower subsequently victimised, it is that his actions with others (Allan Bayle, who boasts of doing the fingerprint work that jailed Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, John McLeod - the independent expert appointed by the Scottish Executive who reported that the SCRO work on Y7 was wrong) sought to further damage the fingerprint service in Scotland by incorrectly claimed that work in another case, known as the Sutherland case, was wrong.
Dempster, Bayle & Mcleods negligent claims were given widespread media coverage with the likes of Alex Neil claiming institutional malpractice and that the SCRO should be shut down.
Alex Neil has never acknowledged his mistake, I find it [italic]a ridiculous situation[/italic] that [italic]he[/italic] is [italic]still in a job[/italic].
Gary Dempster was a political stooge. He probably realises now that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
If you have a look at Joe Stirling's site you will realise quite quickly that the guy is nuts (people in baseball caps in sunglasses with dogs are Masons, a link to the David Icke forum) it almost seems like a bit of propaganda.
I can just imagine some cunning old spin-doctor sitting somewhere "I know, raise the idea of a masonic connection, make the 'proof' so silly that anybody reading it writes it off completely...."
It will not be news to readers of the Sunday Herald that Mike Russell MSP recently resigned from the freemasons, Russell was one of the writers of 'The Price of Innocence' along with Iain McKie, Shirley's father, who posted earlier. I wonder if the former Super-Intendant McKie was ever a mason?.
The issue around Gary Dempster is not that he was a an honest whistle-blower subsequently victimised, it is that his actions with others (Allan Bayle, who boasts of doing the fingerprint work that jailed Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, John McLeod - the independent expert appointed by the Scottish Executive who reported that the SCRO work on Y7 was wrong) sought to further damage the fingerprint service in Scotland by incorrectly claimed that work in another case, known as the Sutherland case, was wrong.
Dempster, Bayle & Mcleods negligent claims were given widespread media coverage with the likes of Alex Neil claiming institutional malpractice and that the SCRO should be shut down.
Alex Neil has never acknowledged his mistake, I find it
a ridiculous situation that
he is
still in a job.
Gary Dempster was a political stooge. He probably realises now that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Posted by: JC on 8:41pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Let's have a full public enquiry, not a series of one-sided newspaper and TV items. Let's look into all the evidence, all the theories and let's get some real experts, not the correspondence course ones to look at the prints.
Let's have a full public enquiry, not a series of one-sided newspaper and TV items. Let's look into all the evidence, all the theories and let's get some real experts, not the correspondence course ones to look at the prints.
Comment | Read Comments (21)
Print this story
Email to a friend
