Latest news with #UniversityOfDundee
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Murder probe as mum is found dying in street
Tributes have been paid to a scientist who was allegedly murdered in broad daylight. Dr Fortune Gomo, 39, was attacked on Saturday afternoon as she walked on South Road in Dundee. Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 4.25pm but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police confirmed that following a post-mortem examination, the incident is being treated as murder and that a 20-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with Dr Gomo's death. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal and he is due to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court today. Dr Gomo, who is believed to have had a ten-year-old daughter, had moved from Zimbabwe to Scotland to complete a PhD at the University of Dundee. An expert in water conservation, Dr Gomo led initiatives to improve water and food security in both Scotland and sub-Saharan Africa, and was hailed as a 'rising star' in her field. The mother's death has been condemned as 'truly shocking' by her friends and colleagues both in Scotland and in Africa. Angela Machonesa, who studied with Dr Gomo in Zimbabwe, wrote: 'A child will now grow up without the love and presence of a mother. A family will mourn a daughter who once lit up their home with hope and promise. 'A community, ours, will ache for a friend, a sister, a schoolmate, who inspired us all. Her future was not just her own, it belonged to all of us who saw the power of what an African girl can become when given a chance and when fuelled by brilliance.' A spokesman for the University of Dundee added: 'This has been a truly shocking event in our city and for our university community. 'It will be particularly distressing for those who knew and worked with Fortune throughout her time as a PhD student and postdoctoral research assistant in geography, and for all of those in our close-knit community of African colleagues and students. 'Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this tragic time.' Members of Dundee's Zimbabwean community gathered in the city yesterday afternoon to pay their respects to Dr Gomo and demand action on spiralling crime across the country. Choking back tears, one resident told crowds: 'Why should we live in fear? Why should our kids live in fear? We demand peace.' Detective Superintendent Peter Sharp, the officer leading the inquiry, said: 'Firstly, my thoughts remain with Fortune's family at this incredibly sad time. They are being supported by specialist officers and I would ask that their privacy is respected. 'Our enquiries are continuing and I remain satisfied that the incident poses no wider risk to the public. At this early stage of the investigation we are following a number of lines of inquiry. I am also acutely aware of content circulating on social media and would urge the public not to speculate about the circumstances of the incident. The public will notice a visibly increased police presence in the area and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns to speak with our officers.' DS Sharp said it had been a 'distressing incident for those who witnessed and attended the incident' and appealed for anyone who can assist officers to contact Police Scotland on 101 or to call Crimestoppers free on 0800 555 111.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged over death of scientist found injured on street
A man has been charged in connection with the death of a scientist after she was found seriously injured on a Dundee street. Dr Fortune Gomo, 39, who was originally from Zimbabwe, was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident, which happened on South Road at about 16:25 on Saturday. The 20-year-old suspect is expected to appear before Dundee Sheriff Court on Monday. Dr Gomo, who worked for Scottish Water, lived in the city and was a graduate of the University of Dundee. Prof Nigel Seaton, interim principal and vice-chancellor, said the university was "shocked" by the death of the former research assistant. Det Supt Peter Sharp, the officer in charge of the inquiry, said: "Firstly, my thoughts remain with Fortune's family at this incredibly sad time. "They are being supported by specialist officers and I would ask that their privacy is respected." He added inquiries were continuing and said the incident "poses no wider risk to the public". The senior officer said his team were following a number of lines of inquiry. Det Supt Sharp added: "I am also acutely aware of content circulating on social media and would urge the public not to speculate about the circumstances of the incident. "The public will notice a visibly increased police presence in the area and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns to speak with our officers." Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the force. Prof Seaton said Dr Gomo was a PhD student and then postdoctoral research assistant in geography at the University of Dundee until February 2022. Dr Gomo had recently joined Scottish Water as a senior service planner in water resource planning and was "thriving in her career". Prof Seaton said: "Her death, following an alleged attack in South Road, Dundee, on Saturday afternoon, is a truly shocking event in our city and for our University community. "It will be particularly distressing for those who knew and worked with Fortune throughout her time here at the University, and for all of those in our close-knit community of African colleagues and students. "Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues at this tragic time." He said students affected by Dr Gomo's death could find "support and solace" in the university's Chaplaincy Centre, which will open on Monday. Man arrested after death of woman found injured on street
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Finance chief at cash crisis Scots university quits after just eight days in the job
A cash-strapped university has been plunged into further turmoil after its chief finance officer left just days into his new job. Staff at the University of Dundee were yesterday told Chris Reilly had left the position by 'mutual agreement' just eight days after starting the job. Mr Reilly, who the university said had a 'wealth of experience', only joined the beleaguered university last Monday. It is the latest issue to rock the university, which is slashing its headcount amid a £35 million deficit, and comes just days after its former principal Prof Iain Gillespie said he was 'incompetent' and not corrupt. Mr Reilly was appointed to be its interim chief financial officer for 18 months, but yesterday staff were told of his departure. In a campus-wide email Prof Nigel Seaton, the current interim principal and vice chancellor, revealed Mr Reilly has 'left the university by mutual agreement'. Prof Seaton, who took over last month after Prof Shane O'Neill quit as principal following a scathing independent report into the cash crisis, said: 'We are moving quickly to appoint a new interim director of finance who will take us through the next steps of the university recovery plan for submission to the Scottish Funding Council.' Mr Reilly joined the university on June 23, and the institution said he brought a 'wealth of experience' across a range of sectors including 'higher education, charities, healthcare and multisite retailing and catering, with substantial governance experience'. Informing staff of his appointment, as part of its financial recovery plan, the university said: 'Chris is initially being appointed for an eighteen-month period. 'This is a vital appointment as we move through the next stages of our financial recovery.' University bosses are now on the hunt for their fourth finance chief in less than a year. Mr Reilly replaced Helen Simpson, who served in the role for seven months before her own exit. Before then, in early October 2024, Peter Fotheringham left. The university, which has secured a £62m taxpayer bailout, is seeking to cut as many as 300 jobs to cope with its multi-million pound deficit. In an excruciating Holyrood appearance last week former principal Prof Gillespie, who was paid £305,000 a year before he quit in December, denied being a liar, a coward, and a 'good time Charlie' but did admit he was 'incompetent'. When the university was hit with a scathing report by Prof Pamela Gillies last month, Prof O'Neill and two senior members of the university's governing body immediately quit. It found that poor financial management and bad decisions were behind a 'self-inflected' black hole, with red flags clearly visible on Prof Gillespie's watch. She found there were numerous points in which a 'reasonable person' could have realised the financial situation was worse than presented.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Swinney: Reasonable for ex-Dundee University principal to return £150,000 payout
First Minister John Swinney has said it would be 'reasonable' for a former principal of the cash-strapped University of Dundee to return a £150,000 payment he received when he stepped down. Professor Iain Gillespie told MSPs on Thursday it was not in his 'thought process' to hand back the cash, although he accepted the 'buck stops with me' for the university's difficulties. He stepped down from his post at the university – which is looking to cut hundreds of posts as it tries to deal with a £35 million deficit – in December. He told Holyrood's Education Committee, which is examining the difficulties faced by the institution, that the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the cash. Prof Gillespie insisted it was 'not in my thought process to repay a contractual obligation to me for my work at the university' – although he added later he would 'reflect' on the matter. Mr Swinney however later insisted: 'I think that would be the right thing to do because the University of Dundee is facing an acute challenge.' A report into the situation at Dundee by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies last week heavily criticised Prof Gillespie. Asked if Prof Gillespie should give back the money, the First Minister said: 'Given the awfulness of the Gillies review of the handling of the finances of the University of Dundee, I think that would be a reasonable thing to do.' His comments came after Education Committee convener Douglas Ross branded Prof Gillespie a 'coward' and accused him of having 'created this mess and walked away into the sunset'. Pressing the former principal over his time in charge, Mr Ross asked him if he was 'incompetent or corrupt' – with him replying he was 'certainly not corrupt' so he would 'have to choose incompetent'. Prof Gillespie began his evidence to the committee with a 'heartfelt apology' to staff and students at Dundee – which is to receive an additional £40 million from the Scottish Government to help its financial situation. 'Let me start off with an apology to the staff and students,' he told MSPs. 'I think staff and students deserve better than they have had with the management and the governance of the University of Dundee over quite some time, but particularly over the period of 2024. 'It's a heartfelt apology for a university that I love, and a city that I hugely respect. 'I accept the buck stops with me. That is why at the end of last year I left.' Mr Ross said the Gillies report showed Prof Gillespie had 'dangerous over self-confidence and complacency', and an 'overbearing leadership style'. Prof Gillespie said that description was 'not something I recognise' – although he later told how a complaint had been made against him in a previous job at the Natural Environment Research Council about his 'overbearing behaviour'. Prof Gillespie stepped down as principal at the University of Dundee in December, recalling this happened after others at the institution told him they had 'no confidence' in his leadership. He told MSPs it was 'possible' he had then resigned by text – though he said he may instead have sent an email confirming his decision. Mr Ross told him: 'The only thing I thought about you was you are a coward. 'You couldn't go back to the university and face the staff who were losing their jobs, face the students whose studies were so badly disrupted. 'You just created this mess and walked away into the sunset.' Challenging him on the payout, Mr Ross told Prof Gillespie he had been given 'over £150,000 to walk away from a university you almost destroyed'. He asked the former principal: 'At any point have you considered paying that money back?' Prof Gillespie said the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the money. While he said he took 'overall management responsibility for what happened at the University of Dundee', he told Mr Ross he would 'push back' against the claim that he 'almost destroyed it'. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie also pressed for Prof Gillespie to give back the money. He told the former principal: 'To hold on to that just seems astonishing with the pain other people are feeling. 'I just genuinely want you to think about that, because I think it would send an important message. 'It wouldn't repair the damage but it would send an important message.' Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said giving back the money could be a way for Prof Gillespie to 'send a message to students, to the staff who are left at Dundee, that you understand your role in this saga'. The former principal told him: 'You are one of several members of the committee who have suggested that and I will reflect on that.' Prof Gillespie also hit back at claims from former Holyrood minister Wendy Alexander, who was vice-principal international at the university for almost a decade. In a submission to the committee, Baroness Alexander had said she was 'frozen out' and then 'asked to leave' her post after raising concerns about university finances. Prof Gillespie insisted he did 'not want to get into a slagging match about people's characters', he told MSPs: 'Wendy's performance in terms of delivering student numbers wasn't what we needed it to be.'
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Ex-Dundee University principal says returning £150,000 ‘not in thought process'
The former principal of the crisis-hit University of Dundee has told MSPs 'the buck stops with me' for its problems – but he refused to return the £150,000 payment he received after quitting last year. Professor Iain Gillespie insisted it was 'not in my thought process' to hand back the cash. He stepped down from his post at the university – which is looking to cut hundreds of posts as it tries to deal with a £35 million deficit – in December. Holyrood's Education Committee is examining how the problems at the university arose, with convener Douglas Ross branding Prof Gillespie a 'coward' and accusing him of having 'created this mess and walked away into the sunset'. His comments came after Prof Gillespie offered a 'heartfelt apology' to staff and students at Dundee – which is to receive an additional £40 million from the Scottish Government to help its financial situation. Appearing before the committee on Thursday, he said: 'Let me start off with an apology to the staff and students. 'I think staff and students deserve better than they have had with the management and the governance of the University of Dundee over quite some time, but particularly over the period of 2024. 'It's a heartfelt apology for a university that I love, and a city that I hugely respect. 'I accept the buck stops with me. That is why at the end of last year I left.' Prof Gillespie faced MSPs after being heavily criticised in a report last week into the university's financial difficulties by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies. Mr Ross said the report showed Prof Gillespie as having 'dangerous over self-confidence and complacency, often in combination or arrogance' and an 'overbearing leadership style'. Prof Gillespie accepted the report was a 'forensic piece of work' that showed the 'challenges' Dundee was dealing with, but he added: 'As far as the way it has presented me and my management style, that is not something I recognise.' But he later told the committee a complaint had been made against him in a previous job at the Natural Environment Research Council. Prof Gillespie said one worker 'did make a complaint against me, that was about overbearing behaviour', adding this person had 'moved on to another job'. He stepped down as principal at the University of Dundee in December, recalling how this happened after others at the institution told him they had 'no confidence' in his leadership. Prof Gillespie said it is 'possible' he had then resigned by text – though he said he may instead have sent an email confirming his decision. Mr Ross told him: 'The only thing I thought about you was you are a coward. 'You couldn't go back to the university and face the staff who were losing their jobs, face the students whose studies were so badly disrupted. 'You just created this mess and walked away into the sunset.' Asked about the payoff he received, Prof Gillespie said it is a 'matter of public record' that his contract set out he should receive six months' basic salary on his resignation. Mr Ross told him he had received 'over £150,000 to walk away from a university you almost destroyed'. He asked the former principal: 'At any point have you considered paying that money back?' Prof Gillespie said the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the money, adding it was 'not in my thought process to repay a contractual obligation to me for my work at the university'. While he said he took 'overall management responsibility for what happened at the University of Dundee', he told Mr Ross he would 'push back' against the claim that he 'almost destroyed it'. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie also pushed for Prof Gillespie to give back the money. He told the former principal: 'To hold on to that just seems astonishing with the pain other people are feeling. 'I just genuinely want you to think about that, because I think it would send an important message. 'It wouldn't repair the damage but it would send an important message.' Joe Fitzpatrick, the SNP MSP for Dundee City West, told Prof Gillespie: 'You did apologise and you told us it was heartfelt, but I am still not sure it cuts it for the staff and students who will be watching.' Prof Gillespie also hit back at claims from former Holyrood minister Wendy Alexander, who was vice-principal international at the university for almost a decade. In a submission to the committee, Baroness Alexander had said she was 'frozen out' and then 'asked to leave' her post after raising concerns about university finances. Prof Gillespie insisted he did 'not want to get into a slagging match about people's characters', he told MSPs: 'Wendy's performance in terms of delivering student numbers wasn't what we needed it to be.'
