Motherwell after school worker who said she would 'take a gun and shoot' child handed warning

An after-school worker who said she would “seriously take a gun and shoot” a child has been given a warning.

Brogan Walker-Andrews made the remark while employed as an early years practitioner at Firtrees Nursery and out-of-school care in Motherwell on or around December 10 last year.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found she said “I could seriously take a gun and shoot him” or words to that effect in the presence of the child and a colleague.

She is also found to have said “No, seriously, if I had a gun, I would shoot him” or words to that effect about the child.

In another instance, after providing a short period of cover in the STEM area, she is found to have said “I could swing for these kids” or words to that effect while children were present.

When a colleague said she could not believe what Ms Walker-Andrews had said, she remarked “What, that I could swing for them? I could” or words to that effect.

The report said: “You made comments of a disturbing nature that suggested inflicting harm on young children.

“Some of the comments were made in the presence of children. This can be considered verbal abuse.

“Even where there is no intention to act on words, using language that threatens harm in the presence of children has the potential to cause them fear and anxiety.

“It is not known if any of the children heard what you said, but you showed a complete disregard for their well-being by making the comments when they were within earshot.”

The SSSC found that the behaviour happened over the course of a single day, and there is no evidence of similar comments having been made by Ms Walker-Andrews previously.

The report added: “We can take some reassurance from this, but you had been employed in the role for a short period only, so it is not sufficient to fully reduce concerns about the behaviour being repeated.”

A warning of two years was placed on her registration and the watchdog found her fitness to practise was impaired.