A Colchester company unfairly sacked a cancer sufferer in "distressing circumstances", an employment tribunal has ruled.
Quantity surveyor Peter Conner lost his job with civil engineers R & P Long in November after being blamed for a series of costly mistakes.
The tribunal yesterday upheld his unfair dismissal claim, saying Mr Conner had been given no chance to defend himself and the company had failed to use its own disciplinary procedure.
Mr Conner, of Chaplin Road, East Bergholt, will get an undisclosed sum in compensation.
Tribunal chairman Christopher Ash said: "The dismissal was sudden, it was unexpected and it was not reasonable". He added: "It is hard to imagine a dismissal that was more unfair. It was made in distressing circumstances".
Two other claims made by Mr Conner of disability discrimination and breach of contract were thrown out.
Mr Conner, 57, told the tribunal that he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in October 2001. He insisted the directors of R & P Long, of Hythe Quay, were fully aware of his illness despite denials by managing director Raymond Long.
On the day he was sacked, Mr Conner said he had advised the company he would be going into hospital.
He denied an allegation by Mr Long that the reason for his departure had been a series of costly mistakes.
Mr Ash said it was accepted that Mr Conner had not kept company directors informed of his illness and that it had formed no part of their decision to dismiss him
Published Thursday August 26, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article