Caroline Connolly v Western Health & Social Care Trust [2014]

The claimant was a Band 5 Staff Nurse. Against the background of ongoing conduct concerns, an initial meeting was held followed by suspension from work with immediate effect pending further investigation. An investigatory meeting was followed by a formal disciplinary hearing which narrowed down the charge to the issue of removal of an inhaler from a medical unit. The claimant was informed that the charge was taken as proven and that the actions of gross misconduct led to the outcome that she was to be summarily dismissed. The claimant exercised her right to appeal, albeit unsuccessfully.

The tribunal was critical of the Trust’s investigation, mainly that a number of material issues of fact