Kingston Bridge

by Ian Todd

  “Before you became a housewife, you had a variety of part-time jobs. Is that correct?”

  “Aye. Ah’d been a full time poliswummin when Ah’d un-expectantly fallen pregnant. Efter a few years, wae ma mother’s help, Ah went back oot tae work in local shoaps before Ah met the man that wis tae become ma husband.”

  “When did you work as an officer with Glasgow Police?”

  “Ah started as a twenty wan year auld in September 1962 and left jist under two years later.”

  “Due to discovering you were pregnant?”

  “Er, aye,” she replied, glancing across at Elvis nervously.

  “Can you explain to the court how you came to know Sergeant Collette James?”

  Silence.

  “Mrs Presley?”

  “Ah, er, she worked alongside my husband, who is a sanitation officer for Glesga Corporation…er, Strathclyde Region, fur a while last year. She turned up at ma door wan day, probably aroond aboot August efter ma husband goat assaulted attempting tae arrest some black butchers. Ah never knew her before then. She attended a concert in a bar wae me and ma husband wan night, efter Ah goat tae know her a wee bit better...ma husband is an Elvis impersonator, so he is. A few days efter the gig, she turned up at ma hoose. She explained that she’d bumped intae another ex poliswummin, a Susan McFarlane, up at the Forth and Clyde canal in Cadder a week or so earlier. She explained that Susan hid handed o’er a set ae letters that she’d received fae a number ae ex poliswummin, including masel, fae back in 1972, offering tae come forward and gie statements aboot oor ain experience at the hauns ae certain polis officers, efter we’d read that she, Susan McFarlane, hid been sexually assaulted by a colleague in a polis social club lavatory across in the Gorbals.”

  “And what did Sergeant James want?”

  “She telt me that she’d joined the force no long before the alleged sexual assault against Susan McFarlane, so hid been aware ae whit hid happened back then. She also telt me that some ae whit hid been described in the letters hid happened tae her.”

  “For example?”

  “That she’d hid a number ae affairs wae serving polis inspectors and that efter reading the contents ae the letters, realised that she’d also been a victim…that she’d been exploited and passed aroond certain polis officers...inspectors. She also said that she’d been getting bullied and wis hivving a terrible time because she’d refused tae accept a transfer fae her current work place in Possil tae another division. She claimed that her current boss at the time, Inspector Duggie Dougan, hid been trying tae pass her oan tae a pal ae his, another inspector, a notorious wumminizer, who wis based oot in Yoker. Efter refusing tae be transferred, she’d attempted suicide. She claimed that she’d been sent tae Coventry.”

  “Coventry?”

  “Black-balled…ostracized…by her male colleagues and wis being gied aw the crappy jobs in the division. She also said that there wis an aggressive campaign against her, orchestrated by her married boss, the same wan she’d been hivving an affair wae.”

  “Did you believe her?”

  “It sounded awfully familiar, so it did.”

  “Okay, let’s cast your mind back to when you were a police officer, shall we?”

  Silence.

  “You provided my learned friend, Glenda Metcalfe, with a statement of your experience in the police force, particularly your relationship with some of your colleagues. Can you describe, in your own words, what you told her?”

  “Ah wis posted up tae Maryhill efter passing oot as a constable back in 1962. Efter approximately four months in the job, Ah begun a relationship wae another constable, Willie Burke, before, er, finishing wae him when Ah discovered he’d been hivving an affair wae another new recruit who’d been posted up tae Maryhill at the same time as me.”

  “Was that a sexual relationship?”

  “Er, aye. Ah’d been a virgin up until then.”

  “Was this the same William Burke that Susan McFarlane accused, just over ten years later, of raping her in the men’s toilet of the police social club in the Gorbals?”

  “Aye.”

  “Carry on.”

  “Ah’d arranged tae meet him up at his flat, oan Gibson Street. Ah used the opportunity tae confronted him aboot being unfaithful. He flew intae a rage, calling me everything under the sun before assaulting me.”

  “What did he call you?”

  “Bitch, cow, hairy, slut and other stuff Ah cannae quite remember noo.”

  “How severe would you say the assault was?”

  “Ah wis aff ma work fur ten days…that’s how long it took fur the bruises tae heal.”

  “What happened next?”

  “He hid a sister, Sally, who wis also in the force. He’d previously introduced me tae her and Ah’d become friendly wae her, even efter me and her brother hid split up. At the time, she’d claimed tae hiv been really embarrassed by her brother’s violence towards me. She introduced me tae her sergeant at the time, Daddy Jackson. Me and Sally hid bumped intae him up at The Locarno dance hall wan Friday night. It wis only later that Ah found oot that the meeting hid been pre-planned between Sally Burke and the sergeant.”

  “How did you know that she had pre-planned it?”

  “Because Jackson told me later, efter Ah started gaun oot wae him.”

  “Were you aware that Sergeant Jackson was married at the time?”

  “No. He’d telt me that he wis single.”

  “How long did you ‘go out’ with Sergeant Jackson?”

  “Aboot a month tae six weeks. Everything seemed tae be gaun fine and then suddenly, he stoapped seeing me. He widnae come tae the phone at the station he wis based in or reply tae ma letters. It wis as if Ah hidnae existed.”

  “What happened next?”

  “During that period, Duggie Dougan, another sergeant, hid been hinging aboot wae us socially. Efter being dumped by Jackson, he seemed the obvious shoulder tae cry oan. He came across as very attentive and understanding and before long, we started gaun oot. Ah wisnae aware that he wis married at the time either. Two months intae oor relationship, Ah…Ah found oot that he’d been cheating oan me wae a WPC fae another division. No long efter that, Sally Burke introduced me tae another good pal ae hers.”

  “And that was?”

  “Teddy Bare,” she replied, looking across at the accused fur the first time since she’d entered the witness stand.

  “And you started a relationship with him?”

  “No, bit it wisnae fur the want ae trying oan his part. Ah wis always fearful ae being left alone in the same room as him. Even in company, his hauns wur everywhere and that sleaziness ae his always gied me the creeps, so it did. Wan Friday night, Sally threw a party up at her flat, which wis jist across fae her brothers in Gibson Street. Ah wis never good wae drink. Even noo, Ah hiv tae watch how much Ah consume. Whitever happened seemed tae happen fast. Wan minute everywan wis up dancing and singing and the next it wis only me, Sally and Teddy Bare left in the room.”

  “You said in your statement that you thought your drink had perhaps been spiked.”

  “Ah’d only two small bottles ae sparkling Babycham Perry the whole night, so Ah wisnae convinced that the state Ah wis in wis due tae the effects ae that. Ah suddenly realised that Sally hid disappeared aff tae her bed. Bare…Teddy, hidnae hung aboot either and basically jumped oan tap ae me, where Ah’d been sitting oan the end ae the couch. His hauns wur everywhere. Ah made every attempt tae staun up, bit he grabbed me by the throat…and it wis then…it wis then that he raped me,” she said, quickly glancing across tae Elvis in the public gallery, before continuing. “Ah…Ah called oot fur Sally tae come and help me, bit there wis nae response.”

  “Was that because she was sleeping, under the influence of alcohol perhaps?”

  “Efter Bare tore…ripped, er, ma underclothes aff and wis hivving sex wae me, Ah caught sight ae Sally. She wis staunin watching whit wis happening fae the living room door. She…she hid a strange look oan her face, as
if…as if she wis enjoying whit she wis seeing. Ah called oot tae her…her name, tae come and help me, bit she jist turned and disappeared.”

  Silence.

  “Did you report the assault to the police, Pricilla?”

  “N…no. Ah’d no long turned twenty two, drunk, in a flat in the middle ae the night wae an aff-duty polis sergeant. Tae be honest, Ah didnae think anywan wid believe me,” she confessed, starting tae sob. “A few months later, Ah…Ah discovered that Ah wis pregnant. Ah didnae know whit tae dae aboot it. It wis then Ah goat in touch wae Bare and telt him.”

  “What was his reaction?”

  “Initially he wis angry. He accused me ae setting him up. It wis then that he telt me that he wis married and that his wife wis pregnant. He also denied raping me and telt me that Ah’d been up fur it…hivving sex wae him. He’d reminded me that a day or so efter that night in the flat, he’d phoned me up at ma work and asked me oot oan another date. His logic wis that if he’d raped me, why wid he hiv phoned me and asked me oot oan a date. He then tried tae convince me tae hiv an abortion through some wummin he knew, who he claimed wis an expert. Ma parents wur devout Catholics. Tae hiv an unmarried daughter pregnant wid’ve been a terrible blow tae them. Bare drapped me aff at a backstreet abortion clinic, up a tenement close in Hinshaw Street, Maryhill. It wis a single-end and filthy. When the wummin attempted tae use a knitting needle tae abort ma baby, Ah panicked, before jumping up aff the table and fleeing fae the hoose. Bare wis supposed tae come and pick me up efter an hour in wan ae the squad cars, bit Ah caught a bus doon oan Maryhill Road and heided hame tae ma parents hoose in Rutherglen. The next day, he…Bare, turned up at the hoose. He wis in uniform and tried tae persuade me tae go back tae the abortionist wummin in Maryhill. When Ah refused, he physically attacked me in front ae ma mother. Ma mother wanted tae get the polis and press charges against him. He jist snarled and telt her that he wis the polis and if she didnae want that man ae hers jailed oan trumped up charges, then she better keep her mooth shut. Ah resigned fae the force that same day.”

  “Thank you, Pricilla. That will be all,” Maureen Bankheid said, as Pricilla glanced across at the empty seat where her man, Elvis, hid been sitting a few moments earlier.

  “Do you wish to question the witness, Mr Howdy?” Lord Campbell asked him.

  “Yes, milord,” The QC replied, jumping up oot ae his seat. “As a young police constable, did you ever interview or question a rape victim, Mrs Presley?”

  “Ah wis present wance…when Ah wis asked tae comfort the distressed victim while wan ae ma male colleagues wis trying tae get a statement fae her.”

  “Wis that before you claimed tae hiv been raped by ma client?”

  Silence.

  “Well?”

  “Er, aye. Ah wisnae long in the job…maybe a few weeks.”

  “And what became of the perpetrator who carried oot the rape?”

  “If ma memory serves me right, he…he wis sentenced tae eighteen months in jail.”

  “So, in your opinion, the system worked?”

  “Pardon?”

  “That, if a wummin reported being raped, then there wis a good chance a charge against the person who carried oot the assault, wid’ve been successful?”

  Silence.

  “Er, aye.”

  “So, why would you not report the assault…of you being raped, by my client?”

  “Ah wis…feart.”

  “Scared? Of whit? Ye’ve jist admitted that you hid faith in the system.”

  “Ah wisnae convinced that Ah wid’ve been believed.”

  “You say that yer mother witnessed Teddy Bare assaulting ye?”

  “Aye.”

  “Ah don’t appear tae hiv a copy ae her statement corroborating that claim,” The QC said, lifting the palms ae his hauns up, exaggerating the fact that they wur empty.

  “Ma mother’s since died.”

  “So, we jist hiv your word fur the rape allegation then?”

  “Er, aye, bit…”

  “Let’s continue, shall we? When ye first met this Collette James? In your opinion, wid ye say that she wis angry?”

  “Aye, and upse…”

  “Seeking revenge?” he said, interrupting her.

  “Eh?”

  “Wis Collette James seeking revenge oan those she claimed hid been abusive tae her?”

  “Put like that, Ah suppose she wis, bit…”

  “Did you ever contact Teddy Bare efter the so-called confrontation at yer mother’s hoose?”

  “No.”

  “Did you ever claim child maintenance fae him fur yer daughter?”

  “No.”

  “You’ve admitted that you hid a number ae sexual partners during the short period that you wur wae the polis force, here in the city. How dae you know that the father ae yer child is Teddy Bare’s?”

  “Because Ah calculated at the time that it could only hiv been him.”

  “So, how long wis it before the alleged rape by ma client that you finished your relationship wae Duggie Dougan?”

  “Ah…Ah cannae remember.”

  “Wis it a week…two weeks…three weeks…longer?”

  “Ah, er…”

  “Let’s be frank here, Mrs Presley, you’re no sure who the father ae yer child is, ur ye?”

  “Bit…”

  “A man’s freedom is at stake here and you’ve the gall tae swan intae this courtroom and make such a serious claim efter aw these years…”

  “Objection your honor! Mr Howdy is berating the witness. Mrs Presley isn’t on trial here.”

  “Ah’m only trying tae establish the facts fae an unreliable Crown witness here, Milord.”

  “Objection sustained. Please refrain from berating the Crown witness, Mr Howdy. We won’t get to the facts, if you put the fear of God into her, now will we?”

  “Wid you consider yersel a bitter wummin, Mrs Presley?”

  “No.”

  “So, why did you write a letter tae Susan McFarlane back in 1972, efter you read in a newspaper that her allegation ae being assaulted by a decorated polis officer hid been proven false?”

  “Ah, er…Ah felt Ah could relate tae her experience.”

  “Despite no knowing the full facts behind the allegation?”

  Silence.

  “Ah mean, it wisnae heidline news at the time either, wis it? In your statement, it says that ye didnae know Susan McFarlane at the time. Wid that be right?”

  “Er, aye.”

  “Bit, ye did know the authors ae the other letters, who aw wrote tae Susan McFarlane, wae similar claims tae you, that serving polis officers, colleagues, sexually abused and assaulted them. Wid that be correct?”

  “Aye.”

  “And ye aw met regularly tae discuss yer grievances…wance Susan McFarlane’s alleged assault allegation appeared in wan ae the newspapers?”

  “Bit it wisnae like…”

  “In other words, you aw conspired tae seek revenge against colleagues that ended relationships with youse aw they years previously?”

  “No, it wisnae like that…”

  “Ah’ve nae further questions…fur the time being, Milord.”

  “Call the next witness, Sandra Henderson, please,” The Clerk ae The Court instructed the usher.

  “Ma name’s Sandra Henderson and Ah’m aged thirty six. Ah joined The City ae Glesga Polis in April 1961 as a twenty wan year auld…”

  “Ma first sexual experience wis wae Sergeant Duggie Dougan, efter being introduced by WPC Sally Burke, before being passed oan tae Sergeant Ralph Toner…”

  “Dae Ah know whit became ae Ralph Toner? Ah believe he ended up years later as an inspector in charge ae the serious crime and intelligence section before he wis sentenced tae seven years in the big Glesga corruption trial in the late 60s.”

  “Ah’d been forced tae resign fae the force in June 1963 efter becoming engaged tae the then Inspector Sean Smith, later a chief inspector…”

  “Aye, Ah’m aware that Smith
is noo deceased…”

  “Smith called aff oor engagement two weeks efter ma last day in the force. At the time, married wummin wurnae allowed tae work as polis officers. Naw, Ah wisnae aware at the time that Smith hid been married and wis jist stringing me alang…”

  “Ma name’s Bridget Fordyce. Ah’m aged thirty two. Ah joined the force as a twenty wan year auld in 1964…”

  “Ah’d been sexually involved wae Sergeant Bobby Mack efter being introduced tae him by WPC Sally Burke…”

  “Bobby Mack passed me oan tae Sergeant Colin McGregor. McGregor wis the first ae many sergeants and inspectors that Ah wis passed aroond tae, during ma short career as a polis officer….”

  “That’s correct. Ah resigned fae the force efter hivving a nervous breakdoon in October 1965…”

  “Ma name’s Susan Gilroy and Ah’m thirty three years auld. Ah joined the City ae Glesga Polis as a twenty two year auld in the same intake as Bridget Fordyce. Ah’d been a polis cadet fur three years before joining up…”

  “Aye, ma first sexual experience wis wae Sergeant William O’Donnell, efter being introduced tae him by WPC Sally Burke…”

  “Aye. William O’Donnell wis known by everywan at the time as Billy Liar…”

  “Naw, Ah don’t know why he wis called that…”

  “WPC Sally Burke hid plied me wae drink wan night at a party up at her flat before disappearing aff tae her bed, leaving jist me and Sergeant O’Donnell thegither…”

  “Ah couldnae say fur certain if ma drink hid been spiked, bit Ah woke up wae…er, Sergeant O’Donnell hivving sex wae me…”

  “Aye, at the time, Ah jist assumed it hid been consensual oan ma part…”

  “That’s right. It wis efter that night that we started gaun oot thegither…”

  “Who did O’Donnell pass me oan tae? Well, the first wan wis Mickey Sherlock, who then passed me oan tae Colin McGregor before Ah ended up wae Duggie Dougan…”

  “Wis Ah naive? Definitely. By the time Ah cottoned oan tae whit hid been happening, it wis too late. Ah wis forced tae resign fae the force under the no marriage rules in September 1965…”