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Catholic police firearms officer wins virtually £44,000 over ‘f*** the pope’ mug

A Catholic firearms officer has gained virtually £44,000 in a spiritual harassment case after ‘f*** the Pope’ was written on his work espresso mug.

Police Sergeant Paul McCue found the message had been graffitied on the underside of his Celtic Soccer Membership mug and was so upset he needed to go dwelling.

The officer – a part of a unit devoted to defending nuclear websites – had beforehand been ‘harassed’ by colleagues writing feedback about loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Defence Affiliation, a employment tribunal heard.

The Glasgow listening to was advised there was a historical past of ‘non secular tensions’ throughout the Civil Nuclear Constabulary unit the place Sgt McCue labored, with the pressure having to carry investigations and coaching periods following allegations of sectarianism. 

Police Sergeant Paul McCue discovered the words had been graffitied on the underside of his Celtic Football Club (stock image) mug and was so upset he had to go home from work

Police Sergeant Paul McCue found the phrases had been graffitied on the underside of his Celtic Soccer Membership (inventory picture) mug and was so upset he needed to go dwelling from work

Now, the officer – who has been off work for greater than a yr – has been awarded £43,981 in compensation after efficiently suing the pressure, which protects the UK’s nuclear websites.

The firearms officer was chargeable for managing a workforce of officers at Hunterston B Energy Station on the west coast of Scotland, having joined the pressure in 2007.

Sgt McCue, a Roman Catholic, had beforehand fallings out with colleagues he believed to be Protestant on nights out, the Glasgow tribunal heard.

However in June 2020 he was left upset when he discovered a word saying ‘UDA no give up’ in his pigeon gap.

Simply weeks later, in August 2020, his spouse found one other word with the identical phrases written on it inside his work jacket.

Sgt McCue reported the notes and a ‘important incident’ was declared by his bosses – with Police Scotland even launching an investigation and inspecting them for fingerprints.

The officer spent two months on sick depart as his psychological well being was ‘not nice’, in the meantime the nuclear police launched a brand new equality coverage and Police Scotland closed their investigation as a result of a scarcity of proof.

The hearing was told there was a history of 'religious tensions' within the Civil Nuclear Constabulary unit where Sgt McCue worked, while he was stationed at Hunterston 'B' nuclear power station (pictured, with the force having to hold investigations and training sessions following allegations of sectarianism

The listening to was advised there was a historical past of ‘non secular tensions’ throughout the Civil Nuclear Constabulary unit the place Sgt McCue labored, whereas he was stationed at Hunterston ‘B’ nuclear energy station (pictured, with the pressure having to carry investigations and coaching periods following allegations of sectarianism

By June 2021, having returned to his £42,000 a yr job, Sgt McCue was focused for the third time.

A tribunal report stated: ‘Sgt McCue discovered the letters ”FTP” having not too long ago been written on the underside of his mug within the kitchen space having been away from the unit the earlier week.

‘He reported the incident to Police Scotland. FTP was shorthand for ”f*** the Pope”. The mug he used referred to Celtic Soccer Membership.

‘The ink had not totally dried which instructed it had been written comparatively not too long ago. The mug had been saved within the kitchen cabinet which was unlocked.

‘The mug was not in its traditional location within the cabinet and had been moved to his part’s cabinet the place it was situated.

‘Sgt McCue reported the incident to a fellow Sergeant who was close by. He was upset and needed to go dwelling… He was unable to proceed working that day and commenced a interval of sick depart with work-related stress.

‘Sgt McCue said he would inform Police Scotland as a hate crime.’

Sgt McCue later had remedy following the incidents, it was heard. He believed he was being focused by one colleague specifically ‘and his cronies’.

An inside well being and security investigation discovered unknown colleague or colleagues ‘who’ve a dislike for him primarily based round his faith and are utilizing bigoted/sectarian phrases or acronyms to focus on him realizing it’s going to trigger him misery/psychological well being’.

However, it discovered there have been ‘no widespread issues of sectarianism’. It discovered ‘there have been clearly some private animosities and occasional allegations and counter-allegations however no extra’.

Group coaching periods have been carried out, with some suggesting ‘that is regular banter’.

On the tribunal, Employment Decide David Hoey dominated Sgt McCue was harassed on grounds of faith over the mug incident as steps weren’t adopted which may have prevented it after the earlier two incidents.

The officer Sgt McCue {accused} of finishing up the assaults was by no means interviewed and ‘bespoke’ coaching was not carried out inside six months.

Sgt McCue's religious harassment claim at Glasgow Employment Tribunal Court (pictured) over the mug incident succeeded as 'reasonable steps' including carrying out a formal investigation were not carried out

Sgt McCue’s non secular harassment declare at Glasgow Employment Tribunal Court docket (pictured) over the mug incident succeeded as ‘cheap steps’ together with finishing up a proper investigation weren’t carried out

Decide Hoey stated: ‘The Tribunal thought-about that there had been non secular tensions in place amongst sure colleagues.

‘It was clear, because the creator of the well being and security report famous, that there was at the least one particular person or individuals who had a dislike of Sgt McCue due to his faith.

‘Whereas the time between the second and third incident was vital, the Tribunal thought-about that it was possible that the identical particular person or individuals have been behind the incidents which amounted to a unbroken act of non secular harassment.’

Sgt McCue’s non secular harassment declare over the mug incident succeeded as ‘cheap steps’ together with finishing up a proper investigation weren’t carried out.

Nevertheless, his non secular harassment declare regarding the 2 ‘UDA’ incidents have been struck out because the tribunal discovered the pressure handled them significantly.

The Civil Nuclear Police Authority, which oversees the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, was ordered by the tribunal to pay Sgt McCue £43,981 in damages to cowl harm to emotions and monetary losses.

On the listening to to determine compensation, the tribunal was advised that he’s nonetheless at the least 9 months away from returning to the pressure and could also be pressured to search for one other profession.

Decide Hoey stated: ‘The affect on (Sgt McCue) has been extreme. (He) has been off work for 16 months as a direct results of the (FTP) incident and has reported scores of extreme anxiousness and despair.

‘He experiences panic assaults and is now in receipt of medicine to handle his psychological well being. The impact on [him] has been profound. It has lasted for now 16 months and that impact is continuous, that is an distinctive case.’

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