Tribunal win for priestly PR who called his Bishop a liar
THE FORMER director of communications for the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool has won a case for unfair dismissal after he was sacked last year.
The Reverend David Johnston had called the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, a “liar” in a context he believed was private — an internal grievance hearing held because of a disagreement between the two men regarding David Johnston’s divorce.
David Johnston, 56, claimed he was forced out of his job because the bishop disapproved of his divorce. He told the employment tribunal, who found in his favour, that the bishop had been working “behind the scenes” to have him dismissed and had publicly lied about giving him and his new partner support.
It all started in 2006 when David Johnston told the Bishop that his 33-year-old marriage was over. After the marriage ended he began a new relationship with Diane Pendleton, whom he worked with in the diocese’s communication office. An article appeared in a Sunday paper that wrongly accused him of having an affair and leaving his wife for a colleague. He later received an apology.
Following the story the Bishop issued a statement saying he would be discussing David Johnston’s future with him and said he had given the couple advice.
At the internal grievance hearing that followed, David Johnston said the Bishop had not given advice or support. He called him a liar and accused him of hypocrisy. His comments were relayed to the Bishop and he was fired in September 2007 because his employers claimed his views made his position as the Bishop’s PR representative untenable.
The tribunal awarded David Johnston’s £14,500 compensation. He had been awarded £19,379 but had 25 per cent deducted for his “intemperate” words when criticising the bishop.
He was backed in his case by the NUJ’s Assistant Organiser for the north of England, Jenny Lennox, who said she was “really pleased with the outcome”.