Ex-council auditor claims £750,000

Andy Sutton arriving at the hearing

A former council auditor is claiming more than £750,000 in damages from Flintshire Council because of the way it treated him when he raised concerns about financial procedures.

Andy Sutton says he is now "filled with dread" at the thought of doing the same kind of work because, he says, he might discover the same sort of thing he did at Flintshire.

Mr Sutton was giving evidence in Abergele at a two-day hearing to decide how much damages he should receive for his unfair dismissal from the authority almost four years ago.

The auditor left Flintshire Council in August 2000 and last year won his employment tribunal for constructive and unfair dismissal.

He claims he had been frustrated in his attempts to get information from senior council officers about several issues.

They included overtime payments to a woman working on the inquiry by Sir Ronald Waterhouse into abuse at children's homes in north Wales and the council's purchase of a farm.

If I was fit to work with four kids to support I'd be doing it now Andy Sutton

A subsequent district auditor's report was heavily critical of the council.

Flintshire Council admits that Mr Sutton did suffer psychological harm but says he is now fit to work.

Mr Sutton told the inquiry: "I can't contemplate the thought of a repeat of what happened over the last few years - to discover what I did in Flintshire and then being treated the way I was."

He insisted he was still unable to work and told the inquiry that he was on medication for the psychological problems he had been left with.

"If I was fit to work with four kids to support I'd be doing it now. I am in no fit state to work."

Psychiatrists

Mr Sutton is hoping for substantial damages to cover his loss of earning from the £35,000 a year post, the damage to his health and reputation, and the loss of pension rights and future earnings.

He also hopes to recoup more than £250,000 in legal costs.

North Wales Police are currently investigating several of the issues raised by Mr Sutton during his work as an auditor for Flintshire Council.

The hearing is expected to continue at Abergele for at least two days and will hear evidence from expert psychiatrists for Mr Sutton and for the council.

Last year Flintshire Council decided not to go to the Court of Appeal to contest the employment tribunal's ruling which found in favour of Mr Sutton.

The hearing was adjourned on Tuesday after evidence from psychologists.

It is due to resume on 20 July when more evidence is expected to be heard.