SCS apologises to woman who was told breastfeeding no excuse for avoiding jury duty

Aileen Robertson, 39, asked to be excused from service as her seven month-old baby was still breastfeeding.

However, the Fife mother was told this was no excuse and that she should “use a bottle” instead.

This meant she would have to leave her baby, Isaac, at home and with formula milk or with enough expressed milk for a week.

Ms Robertson was even asked for a medical certificate to support her request.

Campaigners condemned the comment from an official at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, calling it “appalling”.

However, the SCS has now apologised to Ms Robertson and confirmed she was excused from the hearing which began earlier this month.

An SCS spokeswoman said: “It is not our policy to request a medical certificate for excusal on grounds of breastfeeding and we apologised that one was suggested in this instance.”