TWO LAWYERS ON FRIDAY CLAIMED THAT THE MANAGEMENT

TWO LAWYERS ON FRIDAY CLAIMED THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF A

COMMUNITY LAW CENTRE PLOTTED TO SACK THEM, AN INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL

HEARD.

BARRISTER ADE ADELAJA, 29, AND LAW GRADUATE TONY PHILPOTT, 36,

WERE DISMISSED FROM THE NORTH LAMBETH LAW CENTRE FOR ALLEGEDLY

REFUSING TO WORKITH A GAY SOLICITOR – WHO WORKED THE

SWITCHBOARD – BECAUSE THEY COMPLAINED HE WAS AN AIDS RISK.

THEY CLAIM THEY WERE SACKED BECAUSE THEY THREATENED TO EXPOSE

‘IRREGULARITIES’ IN THE WAY THE CENTRE WAS RUN.

LAW CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MR RICHARD GRIMSHAW

TOLD THE TRIBUNAL THAT ADELAJA THREATENED TO HAVE THE CENTRE CLOSED

DOWN.

AT THE END OF A STORMY MEETING ADELAJA STOOD UP AND SAID: ‘YOU

KNOW THE LAW CENTRE IS FINISHED.

ITS GOING TO CLOSE’.

BUT CROSS EXAMINING MR GRIMSHAW MR ADELAJA SAID: ‘I SUGGEST

YOU KNEW WHO YOU WANTED TO DISMISS AND YOUR NEXT STEP WAS TO SET

THEM UP UNDER THE FACADE OF A DISCIPLINARY HEARING.

‘

MR GRIMSHAW REPLIED: ‘THAT’S RIDICULOUS’.

ADELAJA, OF WEST NORWOOD, AND PHILPOTT, OF TOOTING, ARE

SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR UNFAIR DISMISSAL.

THE HEARING CONTINUES.

ENDS