Ex Labour MP Jim Devine’s ‘hoax’ call left office manager sick with stress – tribunal to rule over dismissal claim

By Cara Sulieman

DISGRACED former Labour politician Jim Devine persuaded a friend to call his office manager pretending to be a journalist looking into MPs expenses, it was claimed today.

But when she took time off for stress after discovering his actions had been an elaborate hoax, he told other staff that it was her being investigated for fraudulent expenses claims used to fund a non-existent gambling habit.

The bizarre series of events were described to a hushed Edinburgh Employment Tribunal today (Thurs) as part of office manager Marion Kinley’s case against her former employer.

Even the judge – Jane Porter – appeared to gasp as the full details of Devine’s behaviour was relayed to the hearing.

Woman behind Sick Kids scandal denies wrongdoing

Elaine McGonigle (left) with Jack McConnell and George Foulkes

By Cara Sulieman

A WOMAN at the centre of a fundraising scandal affecting a famous Scots children’s hospital has slammed her critics – and insisted she has done nothing wrong.

Elaine McGonigle, who headed of New Pyjamas fundraising campaign to raise cash for the Sick Kids in Edinburgh, has been suspended while alleged irregularities in campaign finances are investigated.

It was also claimed that she had kept on a job a second job at Rosslyn Chapel that the bosses at the fundraising appeal for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh didn’t know about.

But in a statement released yesterday (Tues), Ms McGonigle denied that she had done anything wrong and that she had herself raised concerns with the charity.

Director of New Pyjamas suspended ahead of finance investigation

Elaine McGonigle (left) with Jack McConnell and George Foulkes at a New Pyjama event at the Parliament last November

By Cara Sulieman

THE director of a fundraising campaign has been suspended while the chairman has resigned amid concerns about how much money the initiative has raised.

Elaine McGonigle has been suspended from the New Pyjamas Campaign for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh ahead of crisis talks with NHS Lothian due to take place tomorrow (Wednesday).

Chairman Graeme Millar has also stepped down from his position.

NHS Lothian Chairman, Dr Charles Winstanley, said the health board called an emergency summit after expressing their “deep concern” when brought up to date on how much had been raised.

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation said they were beginning an “urgent review” of the fundraising campaign.

Suffering dog found at roadside

The sick dog at the vets before it was sadly put down

By Cara Sulieman

ANIMAL welfare chiefs were last night investigating why a suffering dog was left wandering a Scots street to die.

The animal was rushed to vet surgeons for emergency after being found on a roadside in West Lothian.

But the dog was in such a bad state she couldn’t be saved despite receiving urgent treatment for dehydration and vomiting and diarrhoea.

Her coat was particularly badly affected, with her rear covered in matted faeces.

The Scottish SPCA were called in after a passer by found the animal next to the road in Strathlogie, Westfield.

Stressed out teachers took 250 years off

By Oliver Farrimond

SCOTLAND’s beleaguered teachers took more almost 250 years’ worth of time off during the last two school years – due to STRESS.

New figures reveal the true extent of Scotland’s chaotic classrooms, with more than 3,000 teachers claiming days off due to excessive mental strain.

Since the beginning of 2007, almost 90,000 days have been lost, robbing pupils of valuable teaching time and Scottish schools of much-needed manpower.

A spokesman for Scotland’s biggest teachers union, the Educational Institute of Scotland, blamed large class sizes and a lack of support for the shocking figures.

Fifteen year old arrested over North Berwick rape

By Cara Sulieman

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested by police in connection with the alleged rape of a young woman in a popular Scots seaside town.

Detectives detained and charged the suspect yesterday – a little more than a week after the sickening attack took place.

He has also been charged with an earlier serious sexual assault in the town on Sunday, July 19.

The youth is expected to appear at Haddington Sheriff Court today.

Swine flu toddler symptoms mystery to West Lothian mum

By SHAUN MILNE

THE MUM of one Scotland’s youngest ever swine flu victims says she is baffled as to how her tot could have caught it.

Elaine Wallace, 36, from Livingston, West Lothian, was left stunned when docs told her son Scott was infected.

The tot – who has just turned two while in quarantine – was diagnosed three days after being tested.

And she fears the only way he might have picked up the infection was on a visit to hospital.

She said: “It’s all a bit of a mystery.”