A transgender owner of a Scottish castle has started legal proceedings against a community council, alleging discriminatory treatment led to her removal from a leadership role.
The owner of Carbisdale Castle in Sutherland is pursuing £20,000 in damages after being voted out as vice-chair.
The castle owner alleges she faced victimisation from what she describes as a "lynch mob" that failed to acknowledge her female identity.
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Her petition to the Court of Session challenges the lawfulness of a May vote, in which over 100 attendees unanimously supported dissolving the Ardgay and District Community Council.
Samantha Kane faced allegations of conducting herself "like a football hooligan" during council meetings and displaying behaviour comparable to that of a "six-year-old".
The 65-year-old barrister contests these claims, she said: "The meeting was pre-determined with the sole purpose of getting me out, which is discriminatory and undemocratic."
She maintains the assembly was orchestrated by individuals harbouring "malice, hatred and discrimination" towards her.
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A transgender owner of a Scottish castle has started legal proceedings against a community council
|Kane asserts she was denied any opportunity to address the accusations levelled against her.
She said: "I have never seen such a lynch mob - all that was missing were the pitchforks."
Kane, who describes herself as Lady Carbisdale, is the only person in Britain to have undergone gender reassignment three times.
Initially born in Iraq as Sam Hashimi, she transitioned to become Samantha through surgery in 1997, then to Charles Kane in 2004, before returning to Samantha in 2018.
The castle owner alleges she faced victimisation from what she describes as a 'lynch mob' that failed to acknowledge her female identity
|Her professional background encompasses engineering, law and business ventures.
As Sam Hashimi, she led a Saudi consortium's attempt to purchase Sheffield United Football Club in 2000.
She acquired the 19-bedroom Carbisdale Castle in 2022, a property originally constructed for the Duchess of Sutherland in the late 1800s that later served as a youth hostel for approximately six decades.
Kane has secured what she terms a "prima facie" ruling to advance her judicial review petition, with court documents confirming the case was filed on August 1.
She acquired the 19-bedroom Carbisdale Castle in 2022
|She represents herself in the proceedings against Ardgay & District Community Council.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service confirmed no hearings have been scheduled at this preliminary phase.
Highland Council, which recently opened nominations for new community council positions following its dissolution, stated it cannot comment as it is not party to the legal action.
Kane demands the May vote be declared void and seeks damages for what she describes as "reputational and financial damage and trauma."