THE wife of a "bullied" North-East teacher hopes she may be a step closer to winning an inquiry into how a local authority handled her husband's case.

Gill Hetherington's husband, Geoff, 49, of Stockton, won a claim of unfair dismissal against Darlington Borough Council earlier this year after losing his job as a deputy head teacher.

A tribunal ruled that the authority failed to follow procedures when it sacked him from his post at Redmarshall and Bishopton Primary School. It awarded him £15,142 compensation.

During the hearing, the teacher claimed that he had been bullied at work, but the tribunal ruled only on the council's failure to follow procedures.

Now Mrs Hetherington, who set up an anti-bullying website in the wake of her husband's case, has gone to Investors in People (IIP), which recognises excellent practice among employers, in an effort to force an inquiry at Darlington Borough Council.

She had hoped the authority might lose its IIP status over the case, claiming it had failed to protect her husband, as one of its employees.

After receiving a reply from an IIP representative she is hoping an investigation may be launched into the actions of the local authority.

Mike Peart, of IIP, wrote to Mrs Hetherington, saying: "We were concerned to read your account of the events concerning your husband's dismissal.

"We value the integrity of the Standard (IIP) and treat such matters seriously.

"Darlington Borough Council were recognised as an Investor in People by our delivery partner Tees Valley Training and Enterprise Council, Redcar.

"You will appreciate that we and our delivery partners are limited to taking action on matters relating directly to the Standard, and that matters concerning dismissal, or advising on, or enforcing, health and safety legislation, are not possible for us to police."

Mrs Hetherington's concerns had been sent to Tees Valley TEC for the information of "and possible action by" the members of their team working within Darlington Borough Council, he added.

Mrs Hetherington said: "I am pleased that this is going to be looked at, and hope that it leads to an investigation of how Darlington Borough Council handled this case."

A spokesman for the council said: "Mrs Hetherington is entitled to express her concerns however she sees fit."

Mrs Hetherington's website set up to fight bullying, www.bullydissolver.com, has been visited by nearly 3,500 people.

dturnbullight bullying, www.bullydissolver.