Post worker was 'hardened hooligan'

Michael Doherty was seen on TV during the violence

A union official was sacked because he had brought the Post Office into disrepute by being involved in football hooliganism, a tribunal has been told.

Michael Doherty, from London, lost his job as a counter clerk with the Post Office after allegations that he was involved in clashes with Turkish fans before Arsenal's UEFA cup final 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, also a postal worker, was similarly sacked.

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

Jackie Ilesley, Post Office

Tom Doherty, who worked as a postman, last month won his claim for unfair dismissal against the Royal Mail, which is also now known as Consignia.

Managers took action against his older brother Michael, 33, from Archway, north London, after seeing pictures and video footage of him in Copenhagen, where the match took place.

Jackie Ilesley, head of the retail Post Office network, told the tribunal on Monday 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.

TV footage

On 30 May GMTV showed footage of Michael Doherty punching and Tom 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," Ms Ilsley said.

Consignia management learned 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 18 August formally charged Michael Doherty with bringing into question the suitability for continued employment and bringing the Post Office into disrepute.

'Beyond self-defence'

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."

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.

The tribunal continues.