Latest news with #SamanthaKane
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Castle-owning 'lady of the manor' who has changed gender three times says she is victim of council 'lynch mob'
A self-styled lady of the manor is planning a legal battle against her local community council after it disbanded in an attempt to remove her. At a meeting on Thursday it was unanimously decided to dissolve Ardgay and District Community Council in Sutherland. However, moments later a petition was lodged for it to be reformed. Samantha Kane – a member of the now dissolved community council – claims the move was fuelled by bias against her. The landowner wants Scotland's top court to declare the decision unlawful. Ms Kane, who owns the 19-bedroom Carbisdale Castle in Culrain, Ardgay, claimed she was the victim of a discriminatory 'lynch mob' and claimed her human rights had been breached. The barrister, who named herself Lady Carbisdale after buying the dilapidated property for £1.2million in 2022, is believed to be the only person in the UK to have changed gender three times. After this week's decision to dissolve the council, a furious Ms Kane vowed to fight the decision. She claimed: 'The meeting was pre-determined with the sole purpose of getting me out, which is discriminatory and undemocratic. 'I am petitioning the Outer House of the Court of Session to declare both the meeting which decided to put the motion and thepublic meeting last night unlawful. It was predetermined by bias against me. 'My human rights hav ealso been infringed by being deprived of representing the area as a councillor. I was not even allowed to put my case to the public meeting. 'I have never seen such a lynch mob – all that was missing were the pitchforks. 'A lot of the so-called public were not from the area and thus not eligible to vote. I believe that only 30 of those present were eligible to vote – out of a population of 800.' Campaigners hope to reform the council without Ms Kane. It comes amid ongoingskirmishes at the community council and a bitter row between Ms Kane and locals after she claimed the area was 'not ready' for atransgender custodian ofthe castle. The latest move to disband the community council marks the second time it has been dissolved. It reformed in October after seven new members were elected – months after being dissolved by Highland Council when four of its five members quit. The newly-elected community councillors had joined existing member Ms Kane, but at the body's monthly meeting on April 17 a motion to dissolve the council was passed. Chairman Les Waugh said the community council had received written and verbal complaints about Ms Kane's behaviour at meetings. He has previously criticised her behaviour at meetings as 'appalling', and said: 'She sometimes behaves like a six-year-old child who has been scolded, shouting at people, stamping her feet and banging her walking stick on the floor like a football hooligan.' Thursday's meeting was attended by 150 people, who voted unanimously for the move. Born in Iraq as a male named Sam Hashimi, the barrister had surgery in 1997 to become Samantha, before a second operation in 2004 when she changed her name to Charles Kane, and then a third surgery to become Samantha again in 2018. The wealthy barrister has ploughed millions into restoring 118-year-old Carbisdale Castle after fulfilling her dream of becoming a 'princess in her own fairytale' by buying the property.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trans Scottish castle owner ‘expelled' from council
A transgender Scottish castle owner has branded the local community council a 'lynch mob' for orchestrating a campaign to remove them from the group. Samantha Kane, who styles themself as Lady Carbisdale after buying Carbisdale Castle near Ardgay in 2022, had been accused of acting 'like a football hooligan' in meetings, stamping their feet and behaving 'like a six-year-old'. Around 150 members of the Ardgay and District community council in Sutherland voted unanimously in favour of dissolving the council on Thursday night, before signing a petition for it to be reformed – without the castle owner. Kane is the only person in Britain to have changed gender three times. Born in Iraq as a man named Sam Hashimi, they had surgery in 1997 to become Samantha, before a second operation in 2004 and name change to Charles Kane, and then a third surgery to become Samantha again in 2018. Kane said: 'The meeting was pre-determined with the sole purpose of getting me out, which is discriminatory and undemocratic. 'I am petitioning the Outer House of the Court of Session to declare both the meeting, which decided to put the motion, and the public meeting last night, unlawful. 'It was predetermined by bias against me based on malice, hatred and discrimination. My human rights have also been infringed by being deprived of representing the area as a councillor. I was not even allowed to put my case to the public meeting. 'I have never seen such a lynch mob – all that was missing were the pitchforks. A lot of the so-called public were not from the area and thus not eligible to vote. I believe that only 30 of those present were eligible to vote – out of a population of 800.' The dissolution motion had been proposed by vice-chairman Robert Sawyer and seconded by chairman Les Waugh, with all of the councillors present except Kane in favour. Mr Waugh said the community council had received written and verbal complaints about the castle owner's behaviour at meetings. He previously said: 'Her behaviour at community council meetings has been appalling. She sometimes behaves like a six-year-old child who has been scolded, shouting at people, stamping her feet and banging her walking stick on the floor like a football hooligan. 'All we ever hear about is Samantha Kane and Carbisdale Castle and the community benefit from it is nil. 'She also bangs on about the Highlands not being ready for transgenders – that is b------. We have several transgender people in our community and several gay couples. Sexuality is nothing. We like nice people and she has not been very pleasant.' Mass resignations in February last year caused the council to collapse but failed to depose Kane, at the time the vice-chairperson, who was the only councillor not to resign. However, dissolution means a new council must now be elected. Kane, a trained engineer, barrister and business tycoon, said: 'Some of the behaviour I have been subjected to belongs to the Middle Ages. 'I have experienced such outright hate. No matter what I do, they are all set upon expelling me from the castle and the area.' Kane has recently put the castle on the market for £3.5m, claiming the rural area is 'not ready' for a transgender owner. Kane bought Carbisdale Castle in 2022 to fulfil the dream of becoming a 'princess in her own fairytale', and has since ploughed millions of pounds into restoring the dilapidated 118-year-old, 19-bedroom castle to its former glory. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trans Scottish castle owner ‘expelled' from council
A transgender Scottish castle owner has branded the local community council a 'lynch mob' for orchestrating a campaign to remove them from the group. Samantha Kane, who styles themself as Lady Carbisdale after buying Carbisdale Castle near Ardgay in 2022, had been accused of acting 'like a football hooligan' in meetings, stamping their feet and behaving 'like a six-year-old'. Around 150 members of the Ardgay and District community council in Sutherland voted unanimously in favour of dissolving the council on Thursday night, before signing a petition for it to be reformed – without the castle owner. Kane is the only person in Britain to have changed gender three times. Born in Iraq as a man named Sam Hashimi, they had surgery in 1997 to become Samantha, before a second operation in 2004 and name change to Charles Kane, and then a third surgery to become Samantha again in 2018. Kane said: 'The meeting was pre-determined with the sole purpose of getting me out, which is discriminatory and undemocratic. 'I am petitioning the Outer House of the Court of Session to declare both the meeting, which decided to put the motion, and the public meeting last night, unlawful. 'It was predetermined by bias against me based on malice, hatred and discrimination. My human rights have also been infringed by being deprived of representing the area as a councillor. I was not even allowed to put my case to the public meeting. 'I have never seen such a lynch mob – all that was missing were the pitchforks. A lot of the so-called public were not from the area and thus not eligible to vote. I believe that only 30 of those present were eligible to vote – out of a population of 800.' The dissolution motion had been proposed by vice-chairman Robert Sawyer and seconded by chairman Les Waugh, with all of the councillors present except Kane in favour. Mr Waugh said the community council had received written and verbal complaints about the castle owner's behaviour at meetings. He previously said: 'Her behaviour at community council meetings has been appalling. She sometimes behaves like a six-year-old child who has been scolded, shouting at people, stamping her feet and banging her walking stick on the floor like a football hooligan. 'All we ever hear about is Samantha Kane and Carbisdale Castle and the community benefit from it is nil. 'She also bangs on about the Highlands not being ready for transgenders – that is b------. We have several transgender people in our community and several gay couples. Sexuality is nothing. We like nice people and she has not been very pleasant.' Mass resignations in February last year caused the council to collapse but failed to depose Kane, at the time the vice-chairperson, who was the only councillor not to resign. However, dissolution means a new council must now be elected. 'Outright hate' Kane, a trained engineer, barrister and business tycoon, said: 'Some of the behaviour I have been subjected to belongs to the Middle Ages. 'I have experienced such outright hate. No matter what I do, they are all set upon expelling me from the castle and the area.' Kane has recently put the castle on the market for £3.5m, claiming the rural area is 'not ready' for a transgender owner. Kane bought Carbisdale Castle in 2022 to fulfil the dream of becoming a 'princess in her own fairytale', and has since ploughed millions of pounds into restoring the dilapidated 118-year-old, 19-bedroom castle to its former glory.
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
'Haunted' Scottish castle for sale with £1.5million slashed off price
A Scottish castle believed to be haunted by a ghost has just hit the market. The unusual property is on sale for £5million, with a whopping £1.5million slashed off the price Carbisdale Castle near Ardgay in Sutherland is now being offered at £3.5million. It is on sale amid an ongoing dispute between the owner and the local council. The property is being marketed by Strutt & Parker as "one of the Highlands' most iconic castles, occupying the most prominent position of any building in Scotland". It follows owner Samantha Kane's decision to pull the plug on a proposed transfer of the castle to a community interest company. Kane, a London barrister, had planned to hand over the property. However, she has since reversed the decision as a result of alleged discrimination. She commented: "I have now halted that and decided to put the castle back on the market as a direct result of the discrimination I have suffered. Obviously the big loser is the community but the hatred and discrimination I have endured is too much." Ms Kane, 65, purchased the castle in 2022 for £1.2million. She has since undertaken "vast" restoration work to key parts of the property. According to selling agents, improvements have been made "to suit 21st century living and the potential development of a spa and swimming pool". A major factor in the listing of the castle has been an ongoing dispute within Ardgay and District Community Council (A&DCC). The conflict is said to have escalated in recent weeks. The group, of which Kane is a member, has called an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to dissolve the council. It cited concerns about the castle owner's conduct at meetings. Chair Les Waugh accused Kane of behaving "like a football hooligan", with the community council writing in a statement: 'Following six months of very difficult meeting and very difficult operating conditions in between meetings, the chair and the vice chair took the view that the intimidation of members of the public at the meeting on April 17 made the continuation of A&DCC, in its current form, untenable." Ms Kane has strongly denied the allegations, stating: "Allegations about my alleged behaviour are entirely untrue—totally false. If anything it is the other way around and I have evidence to support that. I am considering claiming damages from the community council or individual members for the harm they have caused me." One described as "Britain's poshest youth hostel", the 19-bedroom Carbisdale Castle is known for the ghost dressed in white named Betty that is set to haunt its 29-acre grounds. People who have stayed in the hostel have even named one of its top-floor bedrooms the 'spook room'. Built in the early 1900s, Carbisdale became known as the Castle of Spite due to its original resident's bitter dispute with her husband's family. Mary Caroline, Duchess of Sutherland, was the second wife of George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland. However, the marriage was not approved by the Duke's family. Following his death, the Duchess' inheritance was contested by her stepson. acEventually, a financial settlement was reached and the family agreed to build the Duchess a new castle. However, it was required that the castle be constructed outside the Sutherland Estate boundary. In response, the Duchess built her home on the most prominent hillside site just outside the estate. The new property overlooked her former family's land and railway line, and it is widely believed the she located the castle to spite her husband's family and the settlement agreement.
The National
24-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish Highland castle put on sale again amid 'transphobia' row
Carbisdale Castle, located near Ardgay in Sutherland, is on the market for around £5 million. The property, which dates back to the early 20th century, was previously bought by barrister Samantha Kane in 2022 for £1.2 million. Kane previously told BBC Scotland that she had finished the job of saving the property from going to ruin and was selling up as she needs to be in London for her work. READ MORE: Bishop to represent Scottish Catholics at funeral of Pope Francis But she went on to remove the castle from the market after holding talks to transfer the property to a community interest company with a pledge to benefit local residents. The transfer was set to be concluded on Friday, however a row between Kane and Ardgay and District Community Council (A&DCC) of which she is a member, is understood to have led to the castle being placed back on the market. Kane, a barrister from London, said: 'I have now halted that and decided to put the castle back on the market as a direct result of the discrimination I have suffered. 'Obviously the big loser is the community but the hatred and discrimination I have endured is too much. 'One option now could be to have shared ownership with a boutique hotel of 14 of the rooms involved. I was close to selling the castle last time and a hotel group were among the interested parties." Members of the A&DCC are set to host an extraordinary general meeting to dissolve the body after claiming Kane was "disruptive" and "intimidating". The claims come after Sutherland councillor Michael Baird, a LibDem, was suspended after he was found to have been 'disrespectful towards the chair and committee". Baird accepted he breached the code of conduct and has since 'apologised unequivocally". A statement from members said: 'Following six months of very difficult operating conditions in between meetings the chair and vice chair took the view that the intimidation of members of the public at the meeting on April 17 made the continuation of A&DCC, in its current form, untenable given our duty of care to the many members of the public who attend." Kane also said she is exploring a "judicial review" and denied the allegations made, claiming she faced transphobic abuse. Kane said: 'I am also going to launch a judicial review of the community council's decision to hold an EGM as its sole purpose is to get rid of me, which is discriminatory in its nature, is unfair and bias and nothing to do with democracy. 'This is fundamentally an attack on my female identity and not receiving the respect of a woman of my age. 'The allegations are seriously offensive in nature and will have a direct effect on my private life. READ MORE: Reform UK names Tory defector as candidate for Holyrood by-election 'Allegations about my alleged behaviour are entirely untrue – totally false. 'If anything it is the other way around and I have evidence to support that. 'I am considering claiming damages from the community council or individual members for the harm they have caused me.' She added: 'I came here, really driven, with a vision of seeing the castle renovated and back to its former glory, really serving the community, and really being where it should be; one of the most iconic landmarks in Scotland." The castle was previously built for the Duchess of Sutherland, Mary Caroline, with the property dubbed the 'castle of spite' as she was embroiled in a feud with her in-laws. Over the years, it has been used as a war-time sanctuary for members of the Norwegian royal family and a youth hostel, operating as the latter for 60 years from 1945. There is also currently a planning application for 12 one-bedroom lodges around the loch area.
