Edinburgh Zoo executive was victim of 'malicious' character assassination

Published on Wednesday 11 May 2011 15:05

A SENIOR zoo official who was suspended from his post following anonymous allegations is to return to work after he was cleared of any wrongdoing.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said Gary Wilson, interim chief operating officer at Edinburgh Zoo, was the victim of a "malicious smear campaign".

It has been claimed the allegations included accusations that money had been siphoned from the 4.5 million Budongo Trail monkey house to pay for a 50,000 balcony at Mr Wilson's home in Dunblane. Mr Wilson was suspended in March.

Edinburgh Zoo, one of Scotland's leading visitor attractions, was plunged further into crisis when Iain Valentine, the director of animals credited with brokering the deal to bring two pandas from China to Scotland, was suspended in a separate inquiry two weeks after Mr Wilson's departure.

A third executive, Anthony McReavy, director of development, was dismissed.

A statement issued by Donald Emslie, chairman of the RZSS board, said the "detailed and robust" investigation had involved the examination of ten years' worth of documents.

It read: "On behalf of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, I would like to announce that, after an extensive and thorough investigation into a series of anonymous allegations made against Gary Wilson, the panel has concluded that there is no disciplinary case to answer, and the disciplinary process is therefore at an end.

"We are now in discussion with Gary about his return to work at the end of the month.

"This has been an extremely difficult time for all concerned, but especially Gary, his wife and his young family.

"Gary has been the subject of a deeply unpleasant and malicious smear campaign by person or persons unknown who have chosen a despicable method by which to pursue their own personal agenda to the detriment of the society, its staff, its members and Gary.

"Gary will resume his position with the society shortly as director of business operations. I would also like to stress that Gary has not been demoted - his position as interim chief operating officer was always intended to be temporary until the interim chief executive was recruited."

Mr Emslie said the findings would be presented to OSCR, Scotland's charity watchdog, which was called in by the RZSS to investigate the allegations made against Mr Wilson.

He added: "The investigation into Iain Valentine has not yet concluded, but we will advise the outcome in due course."

Mr Wilson said he was relieved by the decision.

He added: "I am both relieved and overwhelmed to be publicly cleared of any wrongdoing.

"What my family and I have been through these last few months is something I would not wish on anyone."I would ask the person or persons responsible to examine their own conscience.

"I have remained committed to the organisation throughout all of this and look forward to returning to work and helping the RZSS achieve their goals and objectives."

RZSS members are set to question zoo officials tonight at an emergency general meeting to discuss the recent controversy.

The RZSS has about 23,000 members, who pay 56 a year.

ACCUSATIONS

GARY Wilson had faced a catalogue of accusations after an anonymous dossier was handed to officials.

Mr Wilson is believed to have been falsely accused of taking money from accounts for the 4.5 million Budongo Trail to pay for a 50,000 balcony at his home in Dunblane, near Stirling. He was also wrongly accused of stealing building materials and a promotional Fiat Panda car the zoo had planned to auction off for charity.

He defended himself recently saying: "When I found out the dossier had been handed in against me, I was devastated. There is nothing sinister going on with my house, and the only reason my balcony looks like the Budongo Trail is because I designed them both."