A Highland teacher who sent bullets to his wife’s lover has avoided being struck off the teaching register.
Michael Gaffney, who taught at Ardnamurchan High School, publicly branded his love rival a rapist and drug dealer, and warned him he would be shot.
Gaffney harrassed Rudy Irion for a period of seven months in 2015 after discovering the affair, ending up with a criminal record.
Despite that, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) has decided to allow Gaffney back into the classroom.
Following a disciplinary hearing in Edinburgh just before Christmas, the GTCS decided Gaffney would not repeat his crimes and had not placed any children in harm.
In their decision, the GTCS said: “The teacher expressed remorse and insight into the impact that his behaviour must have had on the victims and accepted that it was serious.”
Referring to the community service he was ordered to carry out, they added that he “had fully complied with his sentence and completed it without issue”.
They concluded: “The panel was of the view that a finding of him being unfit to teach was not required in order to protect the public or pupils.
“The panel placed significant weight on the fact that, whilst the teacher’s conviction was very serious and racially aggravated, the teacher had not harmed or placed at risk of harm any pupil or child at any time.”
During the hearing, Gaffney said he “was appalled by his behaviour and he was sorry that he had upset and alarmed the victims involved”.
He also talked about how he adored his grandchildren, who are of Afro Caribbean heritage.
Mr Gaffney found out that his new wife Liliya was having an affair with Mr Irion.
He then engaged in a social media and in-person harassment campaign over seven months, from March 1, 2015, to November 1, 2015.
Mr Gaffney sent Rudy Irion imitation bullets to his house and stalked him on social media, saying he was a rapist under investigation by the police, and even turning up to his house.
A furious Mr Gaffney also sent Rudy’s neighbours letters falsely saying Rudy was under investigation by the police for being a rapist and drug dealer.
Along with sending two imitation bullets, Mr Gaffney’s package also included the words: “One warning only. You will be shot.
“Remove from this address in Greenock now. Last chance.
“Belfast Continuity. One warning only.”
A spokeswoman for Highland Council said: “Michael Gaffney does not work for Highland Council. We do not comment on personnel matters.”
