A dispute between Claire Kellerman, the adopted daughter of the late MAS*H actress Sally Kellerman, and community groups in the small Scottish village of Great Bernera has escalated, with locals claiming financial ruin and Kellerman asserting she is the victim of a targeted campaign.
Kellerman, 62, who describes herself as a mystic healer and songwriter, moved to the Isle of Lewis, where Great Bernera is located, two summers ago. The conflict reportedly began when she was denied entry into a local cafe with her Australian cattle dog, Tarkina, last summer. Kellerman claims Tarkina is an assistance dog and is suing the cafe owners, a community-run charity, for discrimination under the Equality Act of 2010. She is receiving legal aid for her case, which is scheduled to be heard at Stornoway Sheriff Court next year.
Locals, however, describe Kellerman as "rude," "aggressive," and "threatening," alleging she has "weaponized her dog" and caused staff distress. Some express fear of her legal actions. Kellerman denies these characterizations, attributing them to her height and demeanor, and states she is merely asserting her rights as a disabled person.
The legal battle has already incurred significant costs for the community. The Great Bernera Community Development Trust was reportedly forced to spend £7,500 defending itself after being wrongly sued. The Bernera Community Association (BCA), the charity operating the cafe, faces potential ruin, with appeals launched to cover legal bills estimated to reach £60,000 if they win and double that if they lose.
Scottish Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament Donald MacKinnon has urged the Scottish Legal Aid Board to review the decision to grant Kellerman legal aid, calling the case "absurd" and a threat to the BCA's survival. The board maintains that the application was processed according to all relevant rules.
Kellerman, whose adoptive father was Scottish, stated she moved to the island seeking peace and to share her healing skills. She claims to have faced hostility since her arrival, including being "attacked in church and on the streets." She asserts her dog is there for support and that no one should be attacked for being disabled, noting the lack of a UK register for assistance dogs.
Her disability, she explained, stems from severe childhood trauma, including abandonment by her birth mother, Diana, Sally Kellerman's sister. Kellerman was adopted by Sally Kellerman and her husband after her birth father, Ian Graham, fell ill. She described a difficult upbringing marked by loss, including the death of her adoptive father and her stepsister from a drug overdose. Despite a privileged upbringing that included private jet holidays and being bought a house, she claims her relationship with her adoptive parents was "always rocky."
Her stepbrother, Jack, confirmed their parents provided well for all the children but described his relationship with Kellerman as distant. He expressed surprise at the current situation, stating she "always been the kind of person who likes to make small issues into big ones."