Sides in victim campaigner’s case ‘completely disagree’

THE two sides in a constructive dismissal case taken by a high-profile victims’ campaigner totally disagree about the events leading up to her leaving, an employment tribunal heard yesterday.

Lillian McGovern claims she was forced from her job as chief executive of the publicly funded Victim Support group, an organisation founded 20 years ago to help crime victims.

A preliminary Employment Appeals Tribunal hearing took place yesterday to decide how best to manage the case.

Four days have been set aside for the hearing proper when up to 23 witnesses will give evidence, though it is likely that number will be cut by a half dozen.

Tribunal chairman Dermot McCarthy had asked whether some of the issues raised in filed papers could be dealt with by agreement.

Ercus Stewart, senior counsel for Victim Support, said there was a complete difference between the two sides. Mary Irvine, for Ms McGovern, agreed the two sides completely disagreed.

Ms McGovern was chief executive of the organisation from 1998 until August last year. She says she was forced from her job after being subjected to a campaign of bullying and harassment.

Victim Support denies the claims.