Council to appeal in 'whistleblower' case

Andy Sutton is "not surprised" the council can appeal

A north Wales council has won the right to appeal against an employment tribunal, which ruled a former internal auditor was prevented from carrying out his work.

Last year, a tribunal found "whistleblower" Andy Sutton had been compelled to quit his job after being stopped from accessing documents linked to alleged fraud at the council.

The council will have a one day hearing in March

Mr Sutton resigned from Flintshire council in April 2001 after he was taken ill with stress and anxiety.

In a statement on Friday the local authority said they were pleased to have the chance to challenge the judgement.

The statement read: "The council welcomes the opportunity... to challenge the decision of the employment tribunal which the council considers to be based on seriously flawed reasons."

Speaking in October 2002, council leader Alex Aldridge said failure to not appeal against the tribunal's decision could send the authority into a "financial maelstrom", as other former employees were beginning actions against them.

Earlier tribunal

Mr Sutton from Wrexham said he was "not surprised" that Flintshire had been granted leave to appeal.

He said that he was pleased that this appeal has been put on a "fast track".

The one-day hearing will take place at the end of March.

The earlier tribunal hearing at Shrewsbury ruled the former auditor had been constructively dismissed after being blocked in his attempts to uncover the truth about scandals within the Flintshire authority.