Sex-case RSPCA boss in the clear

CLEARED . . . RSPCA manager Mandy Tierney

Teen’s tribunal claims dismissed
Allegations of sexual harrassment against RSPCA Oldham staff have been dismissed following a failed tribunal case.

A former RSPCA Oldham employee claimed manager Mandy Tierney had sexually harassed him.

Matthew Lingard (19) made a string of allegations against Ms Tierney, branch manager at the Rhodes Bank shelter and former colleagues.

He said they had made inappropriate comments and actions towards him during the period he worked with them.

Mr Lingard also claimed unfair dismissal.

Yesterday, the Manchester Employment Tribunal dismissed the allegations.

In a bizarre twist, it emerged Mr Lingard had allowed Ms Tierney to etch “mum” on him with a tattoo gun intended for use on dogs.

David Yates, director at the RSPCA in Greater Manchester, is now being investigated by the Royal Veterinary College. He was in the Rhodes Bank building when the incident occurred.

Mr Lingard, of Sycamore Avenue, Greenacres, was 18 when he suffered a back injury at the shelter in March last year.

The exchange between Lingard and staff led the teenager to believe he would be sacked if he went to hospital. Further exchanges led to the shelter claiming he had resigned.

Mr Lingard began legal proceedings shortly afterwards, claiming unfair dismissal.

He said sexual remarks and actions by colleagues had led him to “hate” working at the shelter.

Ms Tierney admitted using the tattoo gun but denied sexual harrassment.

She claimed Matthew had offered to be a guinea pig, and she hadn’t used the gun since.

Another colleague said flirty banter among colleagues wasn’t unusual, and that Mr Lingard had joined in.

Peter Norbury, for the RSPCA, said Mr Lingard didn’t complain about the allegations at the time and was a willing participant

“You can’t turn around after that and say it was harassment, nor can you expect anyone to take you seriously.”

The RSPCA will face no further action.



Mr Norbury made an application for costs from Mr Lingard of £6,000 — about a third of the RSPCA’s legal costs, which would otherwise come from the RSPCA’s public donations.
The application was declined.

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