Equality and diversity consultant Alison McDermott said her contract at the nuclear processing plant ended after she wrote a damning "whistleblowing" report about the human resources (HR) leadership team, claiming they had failed to address complaints about bullying and harassment.
After refusing a 160,000 settlement, she took her case to an employment tribunal. But Employment Judge Philip Lancaster dismissed her claim and ruled she was not a whistleblower, following a hearing in Leeds.
She was then ordered to pay 40,000 to help cover the legal costs of Sellafield Ltd and its parent company – the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Ms McDermott, from Burley in Wharfedale, has been granted an appeal and she is now raising money to cover her legal costs, ahead of the next hearing in January.
Her legal team have challenged the ruling, but also criticised the judge for refusing to look at the alleged “toxic culture” at Sellafield and alleged failure of the HR team. They said this provides vital context, as it explains Ms McDermott’s decision to become a whistleblower.
“I am doing everything I can because I'm really concerned about what's going on at Sellafield,” she said.
“If I wanted an easy life and I was a gold digger, I would have just taken 160,000 and walked away, but instead I chose to put myself through a court process and spend the money.
“Even though I'm not earning any money at the moment and now they're coming after me for the costs.”
“It’s almost broken me,” she...
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