FORMER tourism boss David Christley, who was unfairly dismissed by council bosses, has asked political group leaders to launch an investigation into his sacking the Citizen can exclusively reveal.

Twice in the past senior officers have barred the former employee from addressing the full council and ignored his pleas for him to be given the chance to "tell the whole story."

At the moment group leaders are considering Mr Christley's request for an inquiry into the affair and it is believed opinion is divided but it has been established that there is no legal bar facing councillors should they decide to investigate the matter.

Some councillors strongly believe that Christley's sacking was poorly handled and that the criticisms levelled at council officers and procedures by the industrial tribunal chairman should have sparked a full and public inquiry into the matter. But others, including Lib Dem councillor, Pat Quinton, appear satisfied with an internal review held at the time which concluded, among other things, that various procedures could be "tightened-up".

Mr Christley has already launched a legal action against the city council in a claim for damages believed to amount to six figures. The claim is for loss of earnings, potential earnings, medical compensation and trauma and now the council is faced with the unedifying prospect of being sued by both Christley and former worker Barbara Burton, who Christley was accused of bullying. He is also contemplating personal actions for defamation against a number of officers, councillors and former councillors although he has yet to confirm when proceedings will commence.

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