member's debate on condemning misogyny and harassment at Holyrood to raise the whistleblower's case in a speech she described as "probably the most difficult" one she had ever made.

Ms Grant claimed a manager at Marine Scotland "referred to women in extremely derogatory terms".

'The abuse continues'

She added: "I cannot repeat the language used here in the chamber, but it was racist, sexist, vicious and degrading.

"DeeAnn has been subject to institutional racism, sexism, harassment and abuse at the hands of Marine Scotland, a Scottish government directorate."

Ms Grant said "the abuse continues", despite her raising the matter at senior levels in government.

Over years "the oppressive behaviour is constant and undermining", Ms Grant said, adding that her constituent was "constantly being held to a different standard than others".

"I'm told by a colleaguethat this was deliberate and systematic conduct by others in the office and in the line of command in Marine Scotland, designed to wear her down and force her out," she said.

The MSP claimed Ms Fitzpatrick had not been suspended but had been given no reason why she was not allowed to return to work and was being "pursued by Marine Scotland with further disciplinary action".

'Completely unacceptable'

Last year Leslie Evans, permanent secretary to the Scottish government, was asked by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to review the case of Ms Fitzpatrick and concluded the chair incident was "completely unacceptable, whatever the circumstances".

But Ms Grant told the chamber: "The first minister's investigation only looked at the incident with the photograph, neither was it independent."

She demanded "a truly independent inquiry" into