The shocking photograph at centre of workplace bullying claims

A WOMAN claims she was gagged and taped to a chair as part of a bullying campaign but her male colleagues say they were only having a laugh.

A WHISTLEBLOWER has alleged she was taped to a chair and gagged by two male workers in a decade-long campaign of bullying and harassment at a government agency in the United Kingdom.

DeeAnn Fitzpatrick, 49, claimed she was targeted as a warning to keep quiet at Marine Scotland, a civil service directorate within the Scottish Government responsible for coastal waters and seas.

A tribunal heard that colleague Reid Anderson told her: “This is what you get when you speak out against the boys.”

The Canadian national also claimed she was mocked over a miscarriage and was the victim of threatening behaviour and racist language at the body’s Scrabster office in Caithness, The Scottish Sun reports.

Colleagues allegedly told her they didn’t want “a woman, especially a foreign woman” at the watchdog, the BBC said.

Rhoda Grant, Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), has supported Ms Fitzpatrick, 49, since 2010, when a concerned colleague of the fisheries officer alerted the politician to the alleged treatment.

DeeAnn Fitzpatrick claims she was gagged and bound as a warning to keep quiet about bullying claims. Picture: BBC

The alleged incident happened during her time at government agency Marine Scotland.

After seeing the photo, Ms Grant told the broadcaster: “It’s horrific. I’m kind of speechless.”

The MSP said she had been told it had happened but seeing the picture seemed to make it “10 times worse”.

“She’s been subject to a long period of harassment, horrendous behaviour towards her,” Ms Grant said.

“In some of my dealings with DeeAnn it’s very clear that there is a culture in that office that people can get away with what they say and what they do.”

The Canadian national claims she was also mocked about having had a miscarriage. Picture: Facebook

Ms Fitzpatrick’s sister-in-law Sherry Fitzpatrick also spoke out about the photograph of the alleged restraint incident, taken in 2010.

“We were horrified. We were sickened. We worry about what this has done to her,” she said.

Ms Fitzpatrick’s sister-in-law said the Canadian national’s home had been in Scotland for 25 years.

“She’s not giving up and now her family is behind her, and we’re not giving up until someone is made accountable for their actions,” she said.

The BBC said they had seen emails showing Ms Fitzpatrick tried to raise the alleged attack with one of her managers soon after it happened, but it appears to have not been taken seriously.

The manager said he would have “a word” with the men allegedly involved — Reid Anderson and Jody Paske.

The alleged incident happened during Ms Fitzpatrick’s time at government agency Marine Scotland. Picture: BBC

“I am sure they meant no harm and that was the boys just being boys,” he said.

Mr Paske, who no longer works at Marine Scotland, told the BBC that the allegations were “lies”.

“These are false allegations. I can’t remember the event you mention, but if it did happen, it would have been office banter. Just a craic (joke). Certainly nothing to do with abuse,” he said.

The BBC reported that Mr Anderson who remains employed by Marine Scotland and has recently been promoted, did not respond to the allegations.

Since her father’s death in November 2016, Ms Fitzpatrick has been signed off from work.

“The Scottish government has clear standards of behaviour which apply to all staff,” a Scottish Government spokeswoman said.

“Any concerns raised by staff are taken seriously and investigated fully.”

Originally published as The shocking photograph at centre of workplace bullying claims