Gillie Christou and Maria Ward were dismissed by Haringey Council following allegations that they had failed in their duty of care towards Baby P, now named as Peter Connelly, who died aged 17 months, his mother and her partner were guilty of causing or allowing his death.
The pair brought unfair dismissal claims against the Council after they allege they were given written warnings for their conduct in 2008 following a disciplinary investigation but two years later were dismissed for the same conduct. In a decision which has been called “perverse” by Mrs Christou’s lawyer, Richard O’Dair, the Tribunal found the pair were fairly dismissed.
Mrs Christou and Mrs Ward took appealed against the decision, and their case is currently being considered by the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
The pair were supported at the hearing by former children's services director Sharon Shoesmith, who had already successfully pleaded her case following her dismissal to the courts after it was held that the Council and former children's secretary Ed Balls acted in a way that was "procedurally unfair" when Ms Shoesmith was removed from her post and then fired in December 2008.
The hearing is expected to conclude tomorrow.
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