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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| McKie print expert wins tribunal | McKie print expert wins tribunal |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A fingerprint expert who lost her job in 2007 over the Shirley McKie affair has won her case for unfair dismissal. | A fingerprint expert who lost her job in 2007 over the Shirley McKie affair has won her case for unfair dismissal. |
| Fiona McBride was one of four experts who said a fingerprint left at a murder scene was that of Ms McKie, one of the investigating detectives. | Fiona McBride was one of four experts who said a fingerprint left at a murder scene was that of Ms McKie, one of the investigating detectives. |
| Scottish ministers later accepted that a mistake was made and paid the former policewoman £750,000 in compensation. | Scottish ministers later accepted that a mistake was made and paid the former policewoman £750,000 in compensation. |
| Ms McBride was sacked from the Scottish Criminal Records Office. The tribunal has ordered her re-instatement. | Ms McBride was sacked from the Scottish Criminal Records Office. The tribunal has ordered her re-instatement. |
| Ms McBride's solicitors, Turcan Connell, said she was "delighted" at the judgment. | |
| A spokeswoman said: "Not only does the judgment vindicate her fully, it allows her to return to a profession which she loves and in which she has many years of experience. | |
| We will be studying the details of the tribunal's judgement and its implications, including any grounds for appeal Jo BrighamScottish Police Services Authority "It marks the end of what has been a significant ordeal for Fiona, not just since her dismissal a year and a half ago, but over the last 10 years during which time she has co-operated fully with a number of investigations and inquiries. | |
| "Fiona would like to thank her colleagues in the fingerprint bureau and other people across Scotland and the international fingerprint community for their unwavering support throughout." | |
| Her solicitors said the judgment ordered that Ms McBride should be "treated in all respects as if she had not been dismissed". | |
| The judge has ordered that all her rights and privileges, including pension rights, to which she was entitled at the time of her dismissal, be restored to her. | |
| In 2007, the Scottish Criminal Records Office was incorporated into the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). | In 2007, the Scottish Criminal Records Office was incorporated into the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). |
| Its interim chief executive, Jo Brigham, said the authority may consider an appeal against the tribunal decision. | Its interim chief executive, Jo Brigham, said the authority may consider an appeal against the tribunal decision. |
| "This has been a complex and involved case," she said. | "This has been a complex and involved case," she said. |
| Appeal considered | Appeal considered |
| "Dismissing a member of staff is a major decision and not one the organisation enters into lightly. | "Dismissing a member of staff is a major decision and not one the organisation enters into lightly. |
| "We are clearly disappointed that the tribunal has found against us on this occasion. | "We are clearly disappointed that the tribunal has found against us on this occasion. |
| "We will be studying the details of the tribunal's judgement and its implications, including any grounds for appeal." | "We will be studying the details of the tribunal's judgement and its implications, including any grounds for appeal." |
| The Shirley McKie affair - and its continuing fallout - has been one of the most controversial cases ever handled by the Scottish justice system. | The Shirley McKie affair - and its continuing fallout - has been one of the most controversial cases ever handled by the Scottish justice system. |
| Shirley McKie accepted £750,000 damages from Scottish ministersMs Mckie was found guilty of perjury after a fingerprint, said to be hers, was found at a house in Kilmarnock where a woman had been murdered in 1997. | Shirley McKie accepted £750,000 damages from Scottish ministersMs Mckie was found guilty of perjury after a fingerprint, said to be hers, was found at a house in Kilmarnock where a woman had been murdered in 1997. |
| She had always denied entering the property, but four fingerprint experts - including Ms McBride - maintained that the print belonged to her. | She had always denied entering the property, but four fingerprint experts - including Ms McBride - maintained that the print belonged to her. |
| The case drew international attention with many independent analysts disputing the findings. | The case drew international attention with many independent analysts disputing the findings. |
| Despite the controversy, the four experts stood by their initial identification. | Despite the controversy, the four experts stood by their initial identification. |
| Ms McKie had her perjury conviction overturned but the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO) still maintained the print analysis was accurate. | Ms McKie had her perjury conviction overturned but the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO) still maintained the print analysis was accurate. |
| A subsequent inquiry by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary in 2000 backed Ms McKie and recommended an overhaul of procedures at the SCRO. | A subsequent inquiry by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary in 2000 backed Ms McKie and recommended an overhaul of procedures at the SCRO. |
| Redundancy deal | Redundancy deal |
| The four experts at the centre of the controversy were then suspended from duty but the following year the Crown Office ruled out any criminal action against them. | The four experts at the centre of the controversy were then suspended from duty but the following year the Crown Office ruled out any criminal action against them. |
| Ms McKie successfully sued the Scottish Executive and SCRO over the affair and was awarded £750,000 in compensation. | Ms McKie successfully sued the Scottish Executive and SCRO over the affair and was awarded £750,000 in compensation. |
| In 2006, the four fingerprint officials at the centre of the case were offered a deal to leave their jobs. | In 2006, the four fingerprint officials at the centre of the case were offered a deal to leave their jobs. |
| Three of them accepted redundancy in March 2007 but Ms McBride declined and was eventually sacked. | Three of them accepted redundancy in March 2007 but Ms McBride declined and was eventually sacked. |
| It was confirmed on Thursday that she had won her tribunal. | It was confirmed on Thursday that she had won her tribunal. |