Latest news with #hateincident
Times
23-07-2025
- Health
- Times
Nurse ‘questioned the being' of trans doctor, tribunal told
A veteran nurse 'questioned the being' of a transgender doctor by claiming they had no right to use female changing rooms, a senior NHS consultant had claimed. Kate Searle maintained that Beth Upton had been subjected to a 'hate incident' in a confrontation on Christmas Eve 2023, in which Sandie Peggie told the biologically male doctor, who identifies as female, they should not be in women's facilities. The senior clinician broke down in tears during her second day of giving evidence to Peggie's tribunal, in which the nurse is claiming she faced discrimination and harassment by NHS Fife and Upton as result of having to share female changing facilities with a colleague she considers male. On occasions, Searle contradicted the evidence other senior NHS Fife staff had given to the tribunal. She said she could 'not recall' lobbying against Peggie's return to work after a period of suspension.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NHS manager considered reporting trans row to police
The line manager of a transgender doctor involved in a confrontation with a nurse in a changing room considered reporting the incident to Police Peggie and Dr Beth Upton exchanged words on Christmas Eve 2023 at the Victoria Hospital in Kate Searle told an employment tribunal the incident was "extremely distressing" for Dr Upton, with Ms Peggie's words being "offensive and humiliating". Ms Peggie, who was suspended in January 2024, claims her treatment was unlawful under the 2010 Equality Act and brought the case against NHS Fife. Dr Searle met Dr Upton to discuss the Christmas Eve incident on 29 tribunal previously heard Ms Peggie is claimed to have drawn comparisons to the rapist Isla Bryson being held in a women's prison. Dr Searle and Dr Upton agreed to record the incident on the NHS's Datix system for recording witness said she felt "Beth would have grounds for going to the police" based on what was said, although she was unsure if it would fit the criteria for being a hate Searle added what she was told "met the criteria for a hate incident" but Dr Upton decided to not involve police at that stage of Upton previously told the tribunal she had been left "upset and afraid" by Ms Peggie's comments to her. Dr Searle was also asked by NHS Fife's lawyer Jane Russell about an email she had sent to consultant colleagues regarding Dr this message she said: "We all support her and condemn the actions of Sandie".She told the tribunal she had sent this message to support a Searle said: "We would always support a junior doctor who is in distress and has suffered a distressing episode and we would condemn any actions by any person which are felt to be, or defined as abusive or harassment."I felt I was acting, at the time, in the best interests of Beth's wellbeing and safety going forward and I was reporting the events as she had told which I had no reason to suspect weren't true." Timeline of the Sandie Peggie tribunal Dr Searle told the tribunal that when she met Dr Upton on 29 December, she was told the junior doctor had concerns regarding Ms Peggie's behaviour on other included a claim - disputed by Ms Peggie - that the nurse walked out on treating a patient due to Dr Upton being Searle said she was "concerned over patient safety" when this alleged incident was relayed to said she later spoke to another healthcare worker who had witnessed this altercation, but the witness was "concerned about getting involved in an incident for her own safety" due to the amount of press attention the case was getting by that witness added: "Staff involved have felt under scrutiny and [know] their views will be widely publicised." Dr Searle later discussed any risks to patient safety with Esther Davidson, a clinical nurse manager at the hospital. On Monday the tribunal heard from Charlotte Myles, a clinical service manager at the health said she was "not impressed" with the patient safety claim, as no such matter had been reported at the time, only after the Christmas Eve incident came to light. Email claims Ms Peggie's lawyer Naomi Cunningham later quizzed Dr Searle regarding email chains sent among doctors and management regarding the case, and whether messages had been deleted during Searle said she agreed messages between staff and potential witnesses should not have been sent in that way but denied deleting Cunningham accused Dr Searle of being "deliberately dishonest" regarding the email chain, and said messages had been not been provided to the tribunal to cover-up wrongdoing among Searle denied this claim as well and said that she was both a doctor and tribunal will continue on Wednesday, with Dr Searle returning to give further evidence.
New York Times
11-07-2025
- New York Times
Police Investigate Burning of Migrant-Boat Effigy in Northern Ireland as a Hate Crime
The police are investigating the burning of an effigy depicting Black migrants on a boat as a 'hate incident' after it was set alight as part of annual loyalist celebrations in Northern Ireland. A boat containing life-size mannequins wearing life jackets was set on top of a tower of wooden pallets in Moygashel, County Tyrone, above banners reading 'stop the boats' and 'veterans before refugees.' The bonfire was set alight in front of a large crowd on Thursday night as part of wider events marking the start of Twelfth of July, which commemorates the 1690 victory by a Protestant king, William III, over a Catholic king, James II. For more than a century, members of the Protestant community have taken part in annual marches and parades around July 12. During the Troubles, the sectarian conflict between Catholic and Protestant communities, 'marching season' was a source of tension and, at times, violence. While the marches have become less fraught in recent years, the bonfires remain a source of concern to police, some of whom fear they can stoke lawlessness. A statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said they had received several calls about the fire and the 'material that has been placed upon it,' which was being investigated as a 'hate incident.' The force said that officers were working to 'help those who are or who feel vulnerable, to keep people safe,' but cautioned that they can 'only do so within the legislative framework that exists.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
PSNI investigating loyalist bonfire refugee effigies as hate incident
Police in Northern Ireland are investigating a loyalist bonfire that featured effigies of refugees sitting in a boat as a hate incident. Crowds in the County Tyrone village of Moygashel cheered on Thursday night when the towering pyre was lit and flames engulfed the vessel and a dozen dark-skinned, lifesize mannequins with lifejackets. Placards beneath the boat stated 'stop the boats' and 'veterans before refugees'. An Ireland flag also burned in the bonfire, which was part of wider loyalist commemorations. In a statement hours before the pyre was lit, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said it was investigating it as a hate incident. Earlier in the week politicians condemned the stunt as hateful and racist and called for the effigies to be removed or the entire bonfire to be dismantled. A separate bonfire in Belfast, which is to be lit on Friday night – one of an estimated 300 bonfires across Northern Ireland – has caused controversy because it is on a site that contains asbestos and is close to an electricity substation that powers two hospitals. Northern Ireland's environment minister, Andrew Muir, urged people not to attend the bonfire out of safety concerns. Images of the flaming pyre at Moygashel fuelled fresh condemnation of the refugee boat effigies, following anti-immigrant riots in Ballymena last month and renewed political focus in Britain on small boats crossing the Channel. Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland programme director, said: 'It is shameful that the authorities allowed this despicable display of hate to go ahead. What a shocking message to send to local migrant families. It is just weeks since migrant families were forced to flee for their lives when their homes were attacked and set on fire – a chilling pattern of escalating hostility.' The Sinn Féin assembly member Colm Gildernew said the effigies were abhorrent and an attempt to dehumanise people. 'I welcome that police are treating this as a hate incident. It's vital those responsible are held accountable for their disgusting actions.' Mike Nesbitt, the Ulster Unionist party leader and health minister, said the refugee effigies should have been removed. 'This image is sickening, deplorable and entirely out of step with what is supposed to be a cultural celebration,' he wrote on X. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Earlier in the week Jamie Bryson, a prominent loyalist activist, defended the pyre, saying: 'Every year Moygashel bonfire combines artistic protest with their cultural celebration. Their yearly art has itself become a tradition. This year the focus is on the scandal of mass illegal immigration.' Bonfires form part of the annual celebration of the victory of King William III's Protestant forces over Catholics at the battle of the Boyne in 1690. Parades are to be held across Northern Ireland on Saturday. A Belfast city council committee voted on Wednesday to send contractors to dismantle the contentious pyre on Meridi Street off Donegall Road, but it is still due to be ignited late on Friday. Police refused a request to help, saying letting the bonfire go ahead was less risky than trying to stop it. Paramilitary groups had warned of 'widespread disorder' if the pyre was removed, while Sinn Féin said letting the bonfire proceed would be giving in to mob rule.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Effigy of migrant boat burns on top of Northern Ireland bonfire
A bonfire featuring an effigy of migrants in a boat was lit in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, prompting a hate incident investigation. The pyre, which included placards reading "stop the boats" and "veterans before refugees", was one of around 300 expected to be lit across Northern Ireland ahead of the Orange Order 's annual 12 July parades. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed they are investigating the bonfire as a hate incident. The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, John McDowell, and Amnesty International 's Northern Ireland director, Patrick Corrigan, condemned the bonfire. Watch the video in full above.
