Independent report details that “bully” Anne Dyer openly derided and harassed disabled victim

The Scottish Episcopal Church commissioned the eminent Professor Sir Iain Torrance, a retired minister and current pro-chancellor at the University of Aberdeen, to investigate allegations of misconduct against Anne Dyer.

Torrance examined a limited number of the allegations and was sufficiently convinced of their merit that he found that Dyer should “be immediately granted a period of sabbatical leave and step back permanently from the diocese” for the “good of the diocese” and stated that “he [could not] recommend the continuation of a tenure in which I fear that more people will be made to feel diminished and discouraged”.

The SEC had agreed to publish Torrance’s report but reneged on that promise. It ultimately published only part of the report and withheld the “Record Apart”, which details some of the most egregious elements of Dyer’s conduct.

You can read the report and the Record Apart, which the SEC consider to be confidential, here and here.

Dyer’s treatment of a disabled person employed by the Diocese at the time was detailed in the Record Apart. It noted that Dyer:

“[R]esorted to openly deriding [PERSON A], telling her off in front of others, and opposing any ideas which she suggested… This was notable at meetings…, where [Dyer] publicly admonished and ridiculed [PERSON A].”

“Any attempts to defend [PERSON A] were seen by [Dyer] as a personal attack on herself. [PERSON A] was eventually signed off on sick leave due to stress, and was made redundant…”

A member of the SEC said, “Dyer’s conduct is abhorrent. As well as publicly abusing her victim, Dyer also harassed her in particular connection with her deafness. That’s discrimination. It makes me feel sick and, frankly, makes me ashamed to be part of the SEC.”

“Dyer isn’t just a bully – she’s willing to sink so low as to target a disabled person.”