Linda Ross tribunal: Mike Barile says problems went right to the top of Dundee City Council
Former Dundee teacher Mike Barile claims the city council's ex-chief executive Alex Stephen "positively encouraged" former education director Anne Wilson to abuse her power.
- By Alan Wilson
- Published in the Courier : 13.09.11
- Published online : 13.09.11 @ 12.53pm
Mr Barile lost his job at Lawside Academy after being technically found guilty of assaulting pupils at the school in December 2008 — a decision since quashed by the appeals court.
He had previously claimed the pair presided over a "school bully" culture in the education department, marginalising anyone who spoke out against the system.
He has now backed calls by Councillor Ian Borthwick for a full investigation into the Linda Ross case (link).
Mr Barile contacted The Courier to add his voice to the furore surrounding the council's handling of former Longhaugh Primary School deputy head Linda Ross, who was sacked for gross misconduct after disciplinary hearings.
The judgment from her employment tribunal severely criticised the city council and found it had dismissed her unfairly, had disregarded its own procedures and ignored its own legal team's advice.
Mr Barile said: "I support Mr Borthwick's call for an investigation as it will clearly show that ultimately the only person responsible for the unjust decision to ignore procedures/legal advice was former chief executive Alex Stephen."
Following the tribunal releasing its verdict in July, Mr Barile said Anne Wilson and Alex Stephen had "victimised" Mrs Ross.
Meanwhile another former council employee — who was sacked from his job as a concierge caretaker at the Alexander Street multis after private investigators reported him for being away from his place of work without permission — said any investigation must be held independently.
David McHardy, of Finlaggan Place, agreed with Mr Borthwick that there must be a full investigation but said it should not be run by the council.
"There has to be an investigation into the managers that were running Dundee City Council," he said. "Some of the stuff that was going on when they were in charge was utterly shocking. They are bullies, and it mirrors everything that I've read in The Courier about Mike Barile and Linda Ross.
"They didn't want to hear what you had to say. People had made their minds up already that you were getting dismissed — that was it.
Continued...
07.28am - 14.09.2011 Arthur Welsh - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Lord Provost John Letford is normally quick to come forward and voice his tuppence worth on everything so why is he being so quiet about these recent events?
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