Ex-Bridgnorth Town Council worker must pay costs in lost tribunal
Friday 16th December 2011, 10:59AM GMT.
A former Bridgnorth Town Council worker was today facing a bill of at least £10,000 after losing a claim for unfair dismissal against the authority.
An employment tribunal panel sitting yesterday in Birmingham ruled Mary Merrifield should pay a proportion of the authority’s costs.
Panel judge Mr John Macmillan said there was no reason Bridgnorth council taxpayers should foot the bill.
Mrs Merrifield was personal assistant to former town council clerk Rachel Humphries who quit last December and is also taking the authority to tribunal, claiming she was sexually discriminated against.
The tribunal had been told that Mrs Merrifield, of Cartway, Bridgnorth, was the subject of disciplinary proceedings in July last year for leaking confidential documents to help Mrs Humphries in her grievance.
Mrs Merrifield was sacked for gross misconduct last August. Her subsequent appeal was rejected.
Mr Macmillan said it ‘simply beggars belief that the claimant seems to be incapable of recognising the enormity of her actions’.
Mrs Merrifield was ordered to pay the council’s costs incurred since October 14. The exact sum, which the council said would be in excess of £10,000, will be decided by a civil court.
Mrs Merrifield was unavailable to comment today but her husband David said they would be seeking further legal advice over the case.
He said: “This has taken a great deal out of Mary and affected her health.”
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