Claim levelled at worker

Aug 17 2006 By Daniel Thomson, The Journal

A social worker who claims she was bullied into leaving her job following the murder of baby Aaron O'Neil was yesterday accused of resigning to get more money from her wealthy husband during their divorce.

Lisa Chambers, 43, claims her former employers at Newcastle City Council "singled her out" for discipline after they suspended her child protection duties following the infant's death.

She claims she was forced to resign after her bosses implied she had done something wrong and is claiming constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal.

But Neil Ashley, representing Newcastle City Council, yesterday claimed Ms Chambers' decision to resign was not due to bullying, but was motivated by greed.

He also suggested she left her job before a review into Aaron's case could reveal the "glaring omissions and substantial failings" in her work.

Ms Chambers strongly denied this, claiming she had lived off her own savings since her divorce and had resigned because she felt she was being made a "scapegoat" as her bosses searched for someone to blame for Aaron's death.

Mr Ashley said: "At the time of the baby's death, you were involved in some aggressive divorce proceedings with your husband. I understand your husband is a wealthy man.

"I suggest to you, far from being a disastrous step, your resignation may well result in you getting a greater financial settlement in your ancillary relief proceedings. Your husband is saying you threw yourself into unemployment. The respondent altered your duties pending the outcome of the serious case review. It was you who chose to resign before the outcome of the report. It was you who threw yourself into this situation."

Aaron was just 92 days old when he was murdered by his father, Paul O'Neil, at their home in Banbury Road, Newcastle, in February 2005. O'Neil, 33, was given 22 years while the child's mother, Jodie Taylor, 21, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for neglect.

Ms Chambers claimed she was not treated the same as her colleagues, Kati Francis and Sharon Williams, who were also involved in the case, and felt as if she was being bullied.

She said: "I did not take the decision to resign lightly. I reached a point where I'd had enough and it wasn't acceptable to continue. I was treated as if I had done something wrong while being told I had done nothing.

"After eight weeks of not being able to carry out my job, I had had enough."

The tribunal continues.

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