Tribunal rules against Cumbernauld sheltered housing officer

The conduct of Catriona Dey (41) at the Roadside-based complex gave the Scottish Social Services Council such grounds for concern that they have taken the step of extending a temporary suspension order on her registration during an appeal period.

And they have acknowledged that this is purely on the grounds of protecting the public.

Dey (41) had been an employee of North Lanarkshire Council back in 2014 when complaints surfaced about her conduct in relation to a resident, the late David Cummings. Mr Cummings (68) suffered from cancer and Dey was accused of taking advantage of him financially.

However, allegations also surfaced of a gruesome scene at the complex when Mr Cummings passed away – that was only discovered when other residents claimed about noise.

The deceased’s nephew told the tribunal that his uncle’s body had been propped up in an open coffin, wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and with a cigarette in his mouth.

The council has insisted it behaved with due dillgence and in fact raised the alarm to watchdogs once the matter was unearthed.

However,some have questioned how the situation was allowed to occur in the first place.

Village-based Councillor Paddy Hogg said: “This has got to to be the most disturbing abuse of trust and professionalism that has ever occurred in Cumbernauld.”

For more on this story, see this week’s edition.