A LECTURER who this week took his former bosses to an industrial tribunal for unfair dismissal is celebrating a £27,000 out-of-court settlement.

Pat Walsh, who was made redundant from Accrington and Rossendale College in December last year, claimed unfair dismissal and trade union victimisation.

But the Manchester tribunal was brought to a halt after the first day, when vice principal Tim Atkinson spent five hours under cross-examination and an hour being questioned by the chairman of the panel.

Just minutes before college principal Mike Austin was to be cross-examined, Mr Walsh was offered £27,000 - the maximum a tribunal can award for trade union victimisation. Jubilant Mr Walsh, who recently returned from a belated Crete honeymoon, said: "I won't be returning to the college and I doubt I will find a job anywhere in the area because of the publicity I have had. But I will continue my involvement with trade unions.

"I feel vindicated, although the college has not accepted liability, because I think the figure speaks for itself.

"To most people £27,000 sounds like a lot of money but I have lost my career, it has caused myself and my wife Helen a lot of pain and anxiety and the students have lost a tutor who cared a great deal about their futures."

He added: "Surely the time has come for the governors, or even members of the public, to seriously question why the college is managed like this and who is going to pay for all the legal action."

A statement from the college said: "The case brought by former history lecturer Pat Walsh against Accrington and Rossendale College has been settled out of court.

"The management confirm that the decision to settle was based upon sound financial reasons."

Mr Austin added: "The settlement is good news for all parties and, although the college would have continued to resist allegations of unfair dismissal, we are content to let matters rest.

"The settlement acknowledges that the college denies any liability and Pat Walsh will withdraw his action."

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