By Lars Niven

A FUNERAL director yesterday claimed his former employer ripped families off by charging for treatments to their loved ones that were never carried out.

Barry Brodie, from Glenrothes, told an employment tribunal the practice was carried out at the Co-operative Funeralcare home in Dunfermline.

Mr Brodie (34), sacked for “gross misconduct” after an internal investigation last year, claims unfair dismissal by the Co-op.

He was suspended from work just days before a newspaper article made damaging allegations about the firm. Among the allegations were that human ashes were put down on a disabled ramp outside the funeral home.

Mr Brodie insisted he had nothing to do with the article and had in fact sent a text “having a go” at one of those involved in the article.

The father-of-three said he was dismissed in October last year after three years with the company.

Asked by his solicitor, Derek Brady, whether he enjoyed his job, Mr Brodie replied, “I loved it.”

Prior to his suspension he had never been involved in any disciplinary action.

He told the panel his suspension followed an internal meeting at which the newspaper article was raised. Shortly after the meeting he sent a text to former Co-op funeral director Harry Webster.

“The text message was basically having a go at Harry Webster, basically saying, ‘What are you doing?’ ” Mr Brodie said.

“I take pride in my funerals and looking after my families.”

He admitted he was aware of the article, but said as far he was concerned it was hearsay. “I heard it from a couple of people,” he said. “Harry was one of those guys who blew hot and cold. He’d say one thing and do another.”

Mr Brady asked him if he had ever spoken to, or dealt with, any newspaper.

“No,” he replied.

Mr Brodie said his health had suffered as a result of his suspension, but he had since set up his own funeral home in Inverkeithing.

While suspended he was banned from going to work.

One day a colleague who still works for the firm turned up with some documents from the Co-op. Among them were pink slips relating to procedures that should have been carried out on bodies at the firm, but none had been signed to say the work had been done.

The documents also included bills.

Mr Brodie told the panel, “These families have been completely ripped off. They were being charged for hygienic treatments to their loved ones that were never carried out.”

He said he didn’t want the documents, so handed them over to Mr Brady.

He added a settlement was offered by the Co-op, which he wanted to take, but when he found out he would have to sign a confidentiality agreement he decided not to take the money.

When asked by Mr Brady how he felt about the whole incident, he said, “I felt angry, because I lost a job that I was good at.”

Earlier, one of the firm’s senior managers described how Mr Brodie was sacked for “gross misconduct.”

Kevin McAlistair, who manages Co-operative Funeralcare in the north of England, told the panel he was made aware of potential disciplinary proceedings against Mr Brodie. There was an allegation he had removed confidential documents relating to the company’s business at its Dunfermline branch.

There was also a suggestion he may have breached the company’s rules regarding confidentiality by sending a text message to a former staff member following an internal meeting.

Mr Brodie was asked to attend a hearing during which Mr McAlistair said it appeared he admitted sending a text to Mr Webster.

However, he denied it contained anything confidential and insisted he “wasn’t doing anything to bring the Co-op down.”

Mr McAlistair said, “I considered both offences were in breach of contract of his terms of employment,” adding such a serious breach of confidence amounted to an offence of gross misconduct.

He felt he had no alternative but to dismiss Mr Brodie.

Mr Brady asked Mr McAlistair, “Isn’t the truth of the matter Co-operative Funeralcare management were in a blind panic about this impending newspaper article concerning the alleged misuse of human ashes?”

Mr McAlistair replied the disciplinary hearing had nothing to do with the newspaper article.

“Can you see how Mr Brodie might be seen as an easy target?” Mr Brady asked.

“Certainly, Mr Brodie was not a scapegoat as far as I was concerned,” Mr McAlistair said.

The tribunal is expected to conclude this morning with summing-up by both sides.