Whistleblower wins dismissal case

Andy Sutton says he is happy with the outcome

A former Flintshire County Council auditor has won his case for constructive dismissal, and a separate whistle blowing claim against the local authority.

Andy Sutton, from Wrexham, told the four-week tribunal held in Shrewsbury earlier this year , that he had been prevented from accessing vital documents while investigating alleged council fraud.

We are disappointed by the result and we will be studying the judgement carefully when we receive it

Alex Aldridge, Leader of Flintshire Council

He said he was "delighted" at news of the judgement. It is not yet known how much compensation he will receive.

Leader of Flintshire Council Alex Aldridge said: "We are disappointed by the result and we will be studying the judgement carefully when we receive it.

"In the meantime, we will continue to carry out the important work of delivering services for the people of Flintshire."

Throughout the tribunal Mr Sutton said he was involved in a number of investigations.

He claimed officers had covered up four cases of alleged council fraud.

It is not known if the Authority will appeal

Cases he investigated included how an administrative officer had allegedly become the second highest paid employee in Flintshire during the inquiry by Sir Ronald Waterhouse into abuse in children's homes in north Wales.

He was also exploring why an employee entitled to £12,000 received a £32,000 golden handshake deal.

Other cases include the controversial purchase of a £600,000 farm in Malpas, after a tenant farmer was moved from land marked for development on Deeside.

But the business development later fell through and North Wales Police were called in to investigate the matter.

'Wall of silence'

In 2000, Mr Sutton and solicitor Mark Humphreys wrote a highly critical letter to all 70 Flintshire councillors about the problems they had experienced.

They alleged that since August 1999 efforts to gain direct access to documents, records and correspondence had either been rejected or met with "a wall of silence".

He left work on health grounds in April 2001.

Flintshire County Council have always denied the allegations.

It is not yet known whether they will appeal against the tribunal's decision.