MICHAEL Matheson will be grilled by MSPs after he allegedly intervened to block the return to work of Police Scotland’s chief constable, we can reveal.
The convenor of Holyrood’s Public Audit committee, Jenny Marra, yesterday said the Justice Secretary will be asked to give evidence to MSPs.
Laywers for Chief Constable Phil Gormley, who is on special leave after being accused of bullying, have claimed Mr Matheson intervened to block his return to work.
They say the SNP minister interfered with the supposedly-independent Scottish Police Authority after overturning the unanimous decision of the board that Mr Gormley could return to his desk.
Yesterday, pressure was piled on Mr Matheson, who has been at the helm during a series of controversies at Police Scotland and the SPA, after the watchdogs leading the bullying probe said they would have no problem with him returning to work.
Phil Gormley has been absent from his £214,000-a-year job since September while claims against him are investigated.
Ms Marra says seeking clarity over the “ongoing crisis” at the SPA is a priority for her committee.
Mr Gormley went on “special leave” in September after bullying allegations were made. He strenuously denies them all.
Evidence to the Public Audit Committee states that he was given a return to work date which was then postponed “following a meeting between [former SPA chair] Andrew Flanagan and the Justice Secretary.”
But evidence to the committee from Kate Frame, Scotland’s Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), revealed that she was not even consulted on the possibility of Mr Gormley’s return.
Ms Frame said putting the chief constable on gardening leave was correct as she had “significant concern” that some witnesses would not feel free to speak up if he remained in post. But she added: “Had I been consulted in advance of the meeting, I could have confirmed the investigations had progressed to a stage where most, if not all, junior staff had been interviewed.”
When asked for her views on December 4, she said: “There would be no prejudice to the PIRC investigations if he was not suspended.”
The Sunday Post asked the Scottish Government why Mr Matheson thought Mr Gormley should not return to work when the SPA board had backed the move and the PIRC had no issue with it.
A spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government sought assurances that decisions by the SPA were being made on a fully informed basis including seeking the views of key individuals and organisations. The commissioner’s letter to the committee confirms that this had not been done when the board met.”
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