CLERK `SACKED FOR BRINGING POST OFFICE INTO DISREPUTE'

CLERK `SACKED FOR BRINGING POST OFFICE INTO DISREPUTE'
From PA NEWS, August 13th, 2001

By Jon Clements, PA News An official in a postal trade union who was sacked after reports that he was
involved in football hooliganism lost his job because he had brought the Post
Office into disrepute, a tribunal was told today. Michael Doherty, 33, from Archway, north London, lost his job as a counter
clerk with the company – now re-named Consignia – after allegations he was
involved in clashes with Turkish fans ahead of Arsenal's UEFA cup final in
Copenhagen in May 2000. Mr Doherty, who is also chairman of a branch of the Communication Workers
Union, claims unfair dismissal for the incident, over which his brother Tom, 22,
also a postal worker, was similarly sacked. Tom Doherty, who worked as a postman, last month won his claim for unfair
dismissal against the Royal Mail – also now re-named Consignia. Managers took action against his older brother Michael after seeing pictures
and video footage of him in Copenhagen. Jackie Ilesley, head of the retail Post Office network, told the tribunal, in
north London, that she became aware of the alleged incident when staff brought
in copies of newspapers carrying reports of the violence. “It was clear from the pictures that Michael was in Copenhagen on that day in
May and was very close to the violence,'' she said. “He was in close proximity to the fans involved in the riot and was moving in
the same direction as them. He did not look at all scared of what was
happening.'' On May 30 GMTV showed footage of Michael Doherty punching and Tommy Doherty
kicking a Galatasaray fan. “We realised that members of staff and many of our customers would have seen
the pictures on the news and agreed we needed to investigate these claims about
Michael being involved in violence,'' she said. “We also thought members of the public might be uneasy about being served by
him at the counter if they recognised him from the television reports.'' Consignia management learnt of allegations that Michael Doherty had two
convictions for criminal damage and was known to Arsenal fans as a hardened
hooligan, the tribunal was told. Ms Ilesley watched a compilation of the TV footage and on August 18 formally
charged Michael Doherty with bringing into question the suitability for
continued employment and bringing the Post Office into disrepute. She told the tribunal: “It was my view that the press coverage of particular
incidents in Copenhagen and Mr Doherty's action warranted the charge. “I felt that the behaviour he had displayed was not the sort we would have
expected from a Post Office employee, especially one in a position of trust, as
he was. “He went beyond self-defence and used more than reasonable force against the
Galatasaray fan, who was already under attack by four Arsenal fans. “I found it hard to believe Mr Doherty could not run away, he had already
been seen in the town square picking up a chair and preparing to throw it.'' She added: “It was clear that four fans were holding the Galatasaray fan and
Michael Doherty walked into the situation.'' Ms Ilesley also told the hearing that management was concerned that its action
would provoke a strike because Mr Doherty was a senior union official. She said: “There was the possibility there would be industrial action within
the Post Office because of the suspension of Mr Doherty, as he was chairman of
four thousand members of the CWU and his suspension could also affect the Royal
Mail employees.'' mflPA NEWS, 13th August 2001