A FIREFIGHTER yesterday accused fire chiefs of having conducted a witch-hunt for racists during a "politically correct" climate.

Michael Coakley said Tyne and Wear Fire and Civil Defence Authority had predetermined the result of an investigation into two colleagues who were accused of racial abuse.

He was speaking under cross-examination at an industrial tribunal in Newcastle, where he is claiming unfair dismissal against the fire authority.

Mr Coakley, 50, of Lynthorpe, Ryhope, near Sunderland, said he was transferred from Sunderland Central fire station as punishment, a day after completing the defence of two colleagues at a disciplinary hearing into racial abuse claims.

The move to Washington brought on depression which resulted in his compulsory dismissal through ill health, the tribunal was told.

Mr Coakley said he had given up his union membership to be able to defend his station officer, Marshal Ramshaw, against what he believed were untrue allegations.

He said: "I thought the management had predetermined the outcome of the investigation, because it was politically correct at the time to find racists."

When it was pointed out that Mr Ramshaw had been cleared by the disciplinary hearing, while the case against another firefighter had been found proved, Mr Coakley replied: "Maybe they just wanted one racist."

Mr Coakley, who said he was an anti-racist, said he had told his employers he would be able to recover his health and resume work if allowed to return to Sunderland Central.

Chief fire officer Richard Bull said the transfer of Mr Coakley was to counteract an "extremely insular and unhealthy culture" within Green Watch at Sunderland Central.

Mr Ramshaw, 50, of Houghton-le-Spring is also alleging unfair dismissal and discrimination. The case continues