Ampersand QC to head Council culture inquiry

The City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed that Ampersand’s Susanne Tanner QC will lead the independent inquiry into the circumstances concerning the sudden death of a Council employee.

Ms Tanner has a 23-year career in the legal profession in Scotland, including an appointment as an Advocate Depute with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and has been a QC since 2016. Her areas of practice include public inquiries and fatal accident inquiries, reparation, criminal and regulatory matters. She is a certified arbitrator, mediator and a tribunal chair. She is dual qualified as a barrister in England and Wales.

She will be assisted by a UK investigation team from independent legal firm, Pinsent Masons, who have considerable experience in this area. Pending the appointment of the Chair, the firm have been ensuring that all governance arrangements are in place to allow the inquiry to proceed on an independent basis, and in accordance with the decision of Council on 15 October 2020.

Council Leader Adam McVey said:

The appointment of Susanne Tanner to head this independent inquiry will be welcome news for everyone. She commands great respect in the legal profession and her experience, ability and impartiality is unquestionable. Her track record speaks for itself and we can already see real progress in the inquiry under her as Independent Chair.

We expect to finalise a very clear and thorough terms of reference, setting out exactly what we are aiming to achieve through this inquiry – getting the assurance we need as elected members as well as identifying recommendations for positive changes that can be made to strengthen the culture of the Council.

Depute Leader Cammy Day said:

I’m pleased this decision has cross-party support and this appointment now means the inquiry can move forward to look into the serious matters that have been raised. An important element will be the investigation team hearing from staff on any concerns they may have so I would urge anyone who wants to share information to come forward – everyone’s voices will be heard.

The terms of reference for both aspects of the inquiry will be finalised by the Chair in consultation with the Council’s political leaders. These will be published shortly, together with a call for evidence.

In the meantime, anyone who wishes to provide information to the inquiry or to contact the inquiry team in confidence should do so by emailing CECReview@pinsentmasons.com

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Inquiry report into University of Strathclyde University’s handling of complaints of sexual misconduct published

The report by Craig Sandison QC, commissioned by the University of Strathclyde as an independent QC-led Inquiry into the University’s handling of past complaints of sexual misconduct against Kevin O’Gorman, a former staff member, has been published.

This followed his conviction of a range of offences, some of which were carried out when he was an employee of the University.

Mr Sandison conducted a thorough and detailed independent examination of the systems, processes and actions to ascertain the true facts pertaining to O’Gorman’s recruitment to and promotion within the University, his activities while at the University, the disciplinary processes, and his exit from the University. He was also asked to make any recommendations as he saw fit. Mr Sandison’s report made six recommendations.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude for the thoroughness of the investigations, the professionalism of the approach and accepted the recommendations fully and unreservedly. He said that he is confident that not only Strathcylde, but the sector at large will benefit from the work and the report’s findings.

Download the full University of Strathclyde Inquiry Report (PDF).

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Infected Blood Inquiry: Scots victims to give evidence

As the UK-wide inquiry into infected blood continues, the evidence moves to Edinburgh over the next 2 weeks, to hear from victims and their families in Scotland.

An estimated 3,000 people were infected with blood products in Scotland in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff will examine why men, women and children in the UK were given infected blood and/or infected blood products, the impact on their families, how the authorities (including government) responded, the nature of any support provided following infection, questions of consent and whether there was a cover-up.

Ampersand’s Aidan O’Neill QC with Jamie Dawson (and Kirsten Sjovoll of Matrix Chambers) as junior counsel, act for Haemophilia Scotland and the Scottish Infected Blood Forum instructed by Thompsons Solicitors (Scotland). Ampersand’s Simon Bowie QC (with Barney Ross of Compass Chambers) is for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Health Boards is instructed by the Central Legal Office, NHS National Services Scotland.

Details of the Inquiry can be found on the Inquiry website here.

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