Dave Mitchell (right) meets Cupar posties who walked out in support of him on Saturday
Sacked Cupar postie Dave Mitchell has accepted a pay-out of almost £57,500 as Royal Mail remain adamant he won’t be reinstated despite the ruling of a tribunal judge.
Royal Mail, who dismissed Dave (57) amid claims that he stole mail, were told back in August by tribunal judge Ian McFatridge to give him his job back, but they refused to do so and asked for a second hearing at which they said he would not be reinstated ‘under any circumstances’.
Dave delivered mail in the area for 27 years but was pursued by Royal Mail investigators in an operation he likened to the ‘Keystone Cops’. No stolen mail was ever found but he was sacked anyway.
This week, Mr McFatridge issued his judgement following the second hearing, saying: “I have found that there is really no reason why it is impracticable for the respondents to reinstate the claimant other than they are not prepared to accept the verdict of this tribunal.”
He ordered Royal Mail to pay Dave £56,493.71, which Dave has now accepted ‘with the greatest reluctance.’
He said: “The Tribunal have made a financial award in my favour which is the only remaining award they can make in the circumstances and is one which I have to accept although with the greatest reluctance as it represents but a fraction of the loss I will likely incur over the forthcoming years if I am unable to gain paid employment. My real wish remains to go back to the job that I loved and to serve the customers who have supported me throughout this ordeal.
“I am concerned for other postal workers who for whatever reasons find themselves in the future in a similar position to myself.”