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Friends and readers. You could not make this up if you tried. An organised cover up,a determination to lie at all costs,and a knowledge and acceptance of institutionilised bullying.

This is a charge we lay today at the door of Criminal Justice Service Manager Harry Robertson. We have it from a very reliable source that Robertson knew what was going on in The Muirhouse Social Work Centre long before his promotion which was a payment for his part in the cover up.

We also know that Robertson was the bully’s senior when they were both based in Alva Street,so objective he is most certainly not. Our reliable source tells us that there is a clear line between the two,and that there is no question that Robertson knew that he was protecting a deviant.

It had been brought to his attention while he was manager of the Leith Social Work Centre that there was a growing problem in Muirhouse re- bullying but he chose to turn away hoping to secure his own position. We understand that staff within the Leith Office raised concerns about interference in their way of working from this no-necked thug but again Robertson did nothing and it was left to another to do the dirty work.

Robertson knew that any wiff of scandal might prevent him from replaceing the soon to be retireing Don Millar,who himself had a number of unanswered questions,in particular his own personal relationship with the bully in question and the £60,000 given to the former Muirhouse Six Circle Project,where he sat on the management committee,and was part of a very dubious merger with the then Pilton Elderly Project. Mr. Millar never fully explained the relationship between an elderly project and a project set up to work with Offenders and what happened to the statutory grant he had responsibility for.

Corrupt practices and cover up’s by people who themselves have been corrupted by their own greed and self interest. This in turn has allowed a deviant thug to roam free and abuse people as he see’s fit,and lo and behold what is Robertson’s answer to all this? Why he holds Muirhouse up as a shining example of good practice,because he has to,he knowes if he tells the truth he would be finished as well,such is the depth of corruption and cover up.

From an acceptance of a culture of bullying comes the reality of how such allowable behaviour impacts on the victims. the protective shield of an organisation that should but dosen’t deal with such behaviour allows those that should take action to hide behind it and plead innocence.

Pilton Sucks through it’s own in depth investigation has uncovered a line management system rotten to the core but safe in the knowledge that their own created system will protect them from any kind of accountability.

This door of accountability is firmly closed in the face of justice and many have told us of their fear of victimisation if they speak out. The arrogance is mind numbing but very much a day to day reality for those who choose to speak out and then be condemed to an ever decreasing circle of de-humanisation by an organisation desperate to protect the guilty.

Iain Taylor for Pilton Sucks .com

Friends and readers. We had a very interesting post which came in last night. He asked us to print his post but with-hold his name as he said he was afraid that he would be victimised.

We respect his wishes and will with-hold his name for his own safety. Our friend told us that he and his colleagues have been following our anti workplace bullying campaign and what makes it more interesting he is currently employed at the Notorious Muirhouse Social Work Centre.

Our friend tells us that bullying is still going on and in his opinion no action what so ever has been taken to prevent this behaviour. Our first reaction to this news is that it must be reported immediatly and action be demanded. We are disgusted to learn that bullying is still going on unchecked and confirms what we have been saying about the incompetence of senior management.

Our friend goes on to tell us that a state of near war exists hidden by fear of victimisation given what happened to the other victims of this bully. Spying on colleagues reducing a colleague to tears fear of complaining as no support would be given. We say this has got to stop and action must be taken now without delay.

Our friend has shown great courage in writing to us and we applaud that but alone it is not enough,it must be reported or it won’t stop. This has a duel effect, by complaining it will show that the previous complaints were justified,and will demand action. Senior management will have to do something or find themselves in the dock.

We have long said that senior management knew what was going on at this Centre but consistently did nothing. A concerted cover-up to protect the guilty was put in place and further harassment of the victims. This time if a report is made then this lot of wasters will have to do something to stop this deviant behaviour.

We thank our friend for his courage and taking the time to write to us. Finally he tells us more people than we think tune in to Pilton Sucks and are right behind us in our campaign to end workplace bullying.          

Friends and readers. It seems the esteemed leader of the North Edinburgh Trust has instructed a member of staff not to work with the Pennywell owners group.Is this not one of the purposes of the Trust to support groups in the Community,clearly not and was this decision taken with or without the knowledge of the board?

another non local person taking decisions which effect local people,nothing changes then does it? Was a local person not good enough to manage this project?we think this was an ideal opportunity to employ someone local who at least has knowledge of local projects,and there are certainly a number of experienced people in this Community who never got the chance to apply or were put off deliberatly,in order to appoint the chosen one.

This decision to remove support from this group shows a complete lack of understanding on behalf of the manager and once again throws serious doubt over the viability of this organisation. There are many in this Community who have no idea whats so ever what the North Edinburgh Trust actually do apart from being an arm or were an arm of the Labour Party.

Pilton Sucks would like to know did Ms. McKenna ask the board for it’s approval of this daft idea to withdraw support or were the board ignored except for one or two members? Would the board have agreed,given that at least it is made up of local people for the time being anyway.

The owners group are certainly not happy and said so with a firm SHAME ON YOU and we echo that sentiment. Decisions taken like this by people who have no connection with this Community other than to earn their salary smack of ignorance, and re-inforces our opinion that local people should be given the opportunity with the proper training to run these projects.

Two names come to mind immediatly that should have been given the opportunity to manage this project,but we bet not one of them was given the opportunity of staking a claim. Give it to somebody from outwith the Community who has no feeling or real knowledge of the place and ignore anybody local who may fit the bill.

We said a long time ago that a local Labour Agreement was needed,we were right then we are right now and the NET is a classic example of why we need one.     

Friends and readers. How many of us search ourselves and then find it’s something else we see. Over the period that we have been active in our campaign to rid our workplaces of bullying,we have found out much about this dreadful practice and the horrors it can bring.

We have heard from others who have experienced this evil and have found out some of the true costs that victims have to pay. Ever since we exposed bullying right on our doorstep in the Muirhouse Social Work Centre,there has been a concerted effort by those who should have taken action but did not to cover up the facts of what went on.

This made our investigation that bit more difficult but as more people came forward we realised how big the problem actually was. We were stunned to hear that at least 5 and possibly more had suffered at the hands of a thug who was well known to his seniors to be a bully.

We heard from well placed sources that there was never any intention to take the proper action as nobody really knew what to do,given that it had gone on so long.Rumours abounded about who the victims were and several names were passed to us from those who were sympathetic to our investigation.

To say we were shocked by the abuse is an understatement but it revealed much more to us than we first thought. Abuse of staff coupled with what one senior worker called fraud,opened up to us just how the system set up to work offenders in the Community was being mis-managed,and still no action taken.

We heard from one employee who was employed at this Centre for a short time tell of physical threats made to him and the name of the person who made the threats. What happened to him,he was removed from sight even after reporting the incident. Now there’s natural justice for you.An empire builder and a bully allowed to abuse staff and no calling to account for it.

Better still we are told that victims were further harassed by those charged to make safe the place of employment but failed miserably to do so. Leak after leak emerged to build a picture of institutionalised bullying and what became more clear was that it was well known about in other districts within the City,yet it fell on deaf ears.

Pilton Sucks offered it’s full and frank dossier to the Director Mr. Gabbitas but that to fell on deaf ears. Staff at this centre are still at risk as long as this bully is allowed to carry on throwing his weight around.

Our campaign continues as we push for legislation to have this evil practice outlawed. You should feel safe and confident in your place of work and certainly not feel that you are under threat of bullying.

For victims of bullying,lost careers,ill health, loss of self esteem,just some of the ingredients that can be suffered as a result of this dreadful behaviour. If the bully is not stopped as in the Muirhouse cases then we have no doubt more will suffer but who will come forward, if all they will get is further harassment and victimisation.                

Friends and readers.It’s that time of year again when the invasion of the threatrical luvvies and all the other prententious,talentless nonentites gather to bring us mirth and merriment,at a price of course.

The party may have begun but the cost of going to see some of this shit is sky high and out of the realm of the ordinary punter. Then of course we have those that kid on they like it just to be part of the crowd and not be different. The benefit is of course the revenue it brings to the city much which disappears into the pockets of the few and certainly not the many.

But we at Pilton Sucks don’t wish to be party poopers,but why do we have an expensive arts centre here in sunny Muirhouse and no Fringe activity,surely it can’t be because the luvvies don’t want to take culture to the natives,but the suspicion must be just that.

If you can avoid it don’t go near the City Centre,between the roadworks,fire eaters and jugglers,Joe ordinary won’t get moving. Then we have the alternative Fringe in the Music Halls in George Street were that snooty bastard Burdett Coutts has the cheek to charge the punters just to get in that’s before you part with any more dosh to see or drink anything.

The restaurants and bars double their prices with a gritted determination to fleece the mug punter. The jobsworth traffic wardens rub their hands together in joy at the thought of percecuting more mortorists even if they come from foreign lands,and don’t think our foreign friends escape the dreaded parking fine,it’s easier to get away with murder,as they will chase you to the ends of the earth to collect the fine such is their small mindedness.

We wonder if the Royal Bank Of Scotland will sponser the Fireworks this year,or should we say will the taxpayer sponser the squibs. Rip off Edinburgh will come into it’s own over the next few weeks as the gloves come off as to who can over charge the most and get away with it.

Jazz festival,book festival, this and that festival one long party with reality suspended for the time being. As  the city starts to fill up it becomes a more lonely place to be despite what you might see or hear.

Did you see this or did you see that goes out the cry,wasn’t it brilliant,did it do it for you did the earth move,fuck off.  

Friends and readers. Two of our associates Helen and Alan took a walk round Muirhouse recently to see what if any progress is taking place there.

The new school the bottom of Pennywell Road is almost complete and should be ready for the start of the new term and on first sight it looks like a splendid building,lets hope there is an open day so that all that wish to see round it can do so. Some demolition has taken place presumably so that the promised new homes can be built.

Most of Muirhouse Crescent is boarded up and hopefully soon to come down making way again we hope for better homes to come along. We hope the powers that be don’t forget to demolish that eyesore of a Social Work Centre in Muirhouse Crescent which is long past it’s sell by date and does nothing for the area.

Demolition and rebuild can be a positive move and also enhanced by consultation with the existing residents,something that was evidently missed with what loosely passes as an all weather surface in West Pilton, Terrace,complete disgrace just ask the residents. Pilton Sucks wants this new Neighbour Partnership to work and with Community chairs for all 5 action groups it has got off to a good start. This rubbish in West Pilton is not a good example of Partnership working,and shows once again that if officers and officials are allowed to have a free hand then this is the result.

Who ever put this package together should be ashamed of themselves as it is an insult to local residents and a waste of money as all we seen was a tar macadam surface which will soon lift in our weather conditions. Almost but not quite as bad as the so called all weather surface that was next to Granton Primary but thankfully no longer exists.

But what of the permanent pain that still exists in Muirhouse,the dreaded shopping centre,if you can call it that. Yesterday it was brightened up with a fun day but that is only a light relief from this every day pain.

What if anything can be done to make this dreadful place a decent shopping area? big question few answers,that don’t cost a fortune. Very few venture through this shopping delight of an evening but prefer to go round it passing The Gunner public house to get to the Arts Centre.

Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will be the new Muirhouse,but a start has been made something the previous administration washed their hands of. So we give 7 out of 10 for trying to tackle what is a huge task,and in some cases a thankless one. For where do you end,now that’s it’s started the residents both within and around Muirhouse will rightly expect action on the ground and growing signs of rebirth.

Pilton Sucks applauds this start and hopes the momentum can be kept up. For decades Muirhouse received publicity for all the wrong reasons,now the corner is being turned and there are at last visible signs of regeneration,let us not loose sight of this and couple it with regeneration of the employment kind,with a local jobs local people inititive.

Ian Turner–Pilton Sucks .com 

Friends and readers. While out and about yesterday scouting for news our associate Helen Spotted Community heavy weight Fred Marinello and ex Councillor Bill Fitzpatrick deep in conversation.

With heads locked together and much gesticulating these two long time friends clearly were animated about something,we know not what but we thought a bit of fun speculation might be in order.

There is much history between these two stretching back many years,before our Bill was even elected to office. On two occasions Fred had been Bills election agent and both times he won. Whatever happened we do not know but Fred was not invoved last time round and Bill lost,although Fred stood as an independent candidate.

Strong rumour has it that if Fred had been at Bill’s side during the last campaign things may well have turned out differently. What happened between them no-one seems to know or wishes to say and we have asked. We are also told that a video tape exists of one of the campaigns they fought together beating a very strong candidate in Fiona Hyslop the now Executive Education minister.

No question it was a winning partnership and one that will go into the Community history book. Bill the Community politician who was well liked even by his opponents,and Fred who cultivated that image. Rumour has it that it was Fred who may have encouraged Bill to stand as a candidate in the ill fated selection meeting which resulted in a number of Labour activists refusing to work for the selected candidate.

We can only speculate what may have happened if Bill had won the selection meeting,would he have approached his old  friend to run the campaign? indeed even with Labour falling in the polls the smart money would have been on the Fitzpatrick ticket,as Fred even now the most experienced campaigner this Community has might have been persuaded one more time to push Bill past the winning post.

So what were they talking about? When two such characters get together it’s not the weather they are discussing. We deduce there are three possible subjects. 1] the state of Scottish football,that wouldn’t take long. 2] The possible closure of Royston School,perhaps. 3] Or a long shot,a resurection of the most sucessful political partnerships,between the two most unusual bedfellows that this Community has witnessed.

The orange and the green as one activist put it. Whatever they had no one got close enough to find out,but as another activist told us some time ago tongue in cheek. While the rest of the country had Little and large, Laural and Hardy, and Morcambe and Wise, we had the Frank and Jesse James of politics Fitzpatrick and Marinello.

Ian Turner–Pilton Sucks.com