Former residents of the Rosendael Veterans’ Residences have added their voice to allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation at the Broughty Ferry home.
After the Courier revealed an investigation has been launched after a resident’s death, one veteran told us he was even moved to do a ”moonlight flit” from the home after his rent was increased three-fold, leaving him with only £2 a week Jobseekers’ Allowance.
Another veteran, who was a close friend of 38-year-old Mark Forrest, who was found dead in his room last week from a suspected drug overdose, told of Mr Forrest’s previous worries about being evicted from the home.
Former Black Watch and Royal Navy medic Bill Simpson (53), who is not a resident at Rosendael but attended the Gardening Leave project at the home with Mr Forrest, said Mark had regularly spoken about his fears.
”I was a founder member of the Gardening Leave facility at Rosendael and used to meet Mark there,” Mr Simpson said. ”He used to worry about things a lot and he wasn’t happy with what was going on.
“The only time he was happy was when he was away from there. He would come to my house and we would talk about things.”
Mr Simpson, who was also based at RM Condor near Arbroath, home of 45 Commando Royal Marines, after he rejoined the services following demob from The Black Watch, said he also knew Mr Forrest from time spent at the Combat Stress unit at Hollybush House in Ayr.
”We were good pals when we met up again and he was telling me he was really worried about being evicted from Rosendael and three or four other residents were also telling me things.
”There were so many complaints that it really got to me and I stopped going to the garden. It was getting me down. I’ve got my own problems and I was getting overloaded.”
Mr Simpson said he still saw Dr Kate Traherne, occupational therapist from Gardening Leave, away from Rosendael and he had nothing but praise for her work with the residents and other visitors who suffered from stress-related conditions.
Claims that Dr Traherne has been barred from Rosendael have been denied, with Gardening Leave chief executive Heather Budge-Reid saying she had been moved on to other duties. She also confirmed that Gardening Leave was investigating reports that the charity’s computer data had been accessed by staff at Rosendael.
”I actually made an official complaint after I heard that private files had been accessed and confidential information from Gardening Leave’s computer had been downloaded,” Mr Simpson said. ”I was told to complain directly to Ian Ballantyne, SVR’s (Scottish Veterans’ Residences) chief executive.
”I still met up with Mark and he was going to come with me to Tayforth Veterans’ Project if I went with him to the place in Aberdeen, Horseback UK. He loved going there.
”I saw the ambulance at Rosendael last week but didn’t think anything of it at the time. But after all the things he told me I believe my mate took his own life. He was a good lad but I don’t think he could handle any more.”
Former Royal Artillery gunner and ex-Rosendael resident John Ferrier (54), who lived in the home for two years until a year ago, said he had been forced to do a ”moonlight flit” after his rent had been increased from £20 a week to £63.
”I was only told it was due to funding cuts but I only got £65 a week from Jobseekers’ Allowance. That left me with £2 a week to live off,” he said.
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”I felt I was being forced out and eventually one night I just decided enough was enough, packed up a friend’s car in the middle of the night and went to a homeless unit in Leven.
”I know exactly what has gone on there and I knew Mark. He was very quiet, a really nice man. The older residents are scared to challenge anything. They just stay in their rooms.
”The place itself is five-star. You couldn’t criticise it, it’s beautiful. I liked it at first but as time went on there were just more and more things going on and I started to challenge things.
”There are CCTV cameras all over the ground floor. Fair enough, have them at the front entrance, but you don’t need cameras showing everybody’s movements in the lounges.
”I think that’s an infringement of people’s rights. There are lots of issues and quite a few people I know have left because they couldn’t handle what was going on.
”I was paying £40 a week rent at first but the Soldiers Sailors Air Force Association (SSAFA) told Rosendael to cut that in half because I was paying too much.
”Then it rises to £65. How can that happen? I went to Citizens Advice about it all but they didn’t get any answers. I was put in a position where I couldn’t stay.
”Another resident was given 24 hours’ notice of eviction because he had the cheek to challenge things that were going on.”
Willie Ritchie (81), of Broughty Ferry, a former soldier with the 3rd Queen’s Own Reserves, is a former night doorman at Rosendael.
He said he agreed with the allegations being made and said many of the residents were too scared to speak up for fear of persecution.
”I left because I couldn’t take any more,” he said.
The Care Inspectorate for Scotland confirmed on Tuesday they had begun an investigation after receiving ”a number of complaints” regarding Rosendael.
When contacted by The Courier regarding the latest allegations, a spokesman reiterated that anyone with any complaints should report their concerns immediately to them through the national inquiry line 0845 600 9527.
Ian Ballantyne, chief executive of SVR, which runs Rosendael, said on Tuesday he would not comment on individual allegations.Allegations ‘extremely concerning’Dundee West MP Jim McGovern, who last month called for more support for veterans, said: ”These allegations of harassment and bullying at Rosendael veterans’ home are extremely concerning and they must be investigated as a matter of urgency.
”Those who have served our country must expect the highest possible standards of care. If we are to recognise their service and sacrifice then a basic standard of care must be provided.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ”This home is run independently of Government and we can’t comment on individuals cases, which would need to be investigated through the appropriate channels.
”However, we are committed to ensuring the needs and aspirations of Scotland’s veterans and armed forces community is at the centre of our policy development and delivery. And any proven cases of bullying or mistreatment are completely unacceptable.”
Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said: ”I’m concerned by the allegations around Rosendael Veterans’ Residence. It is important that the investigation by the Care Inspectorate for Scotland is under way and I hope that the concerns raised will be looked into as quickly as possible.”
List MSP Jenny Marra said: ”The Care Inspectorate should make sure that their investigations are concluded as swiftly and as thoroughly as possible so recommendations can be made to Rosendael. I hope that the investigation will look carefully at current practices and if standards of care are found to be lacking, urgent action is taken.”